Healthy AgingPeace of Mind in Supporting Older Adult
Partners and ParentsSponsored by:
Dr. Brandi Eijsermans
www.optimalwellnessglobal.com
https://www.facebook.com/optimalwellnessglobal/
What Is Geropsychology?
Geropsychology is a field within psychology
devoted to the study of aging and the
provision of clinical services for older adults.
(APA)
Agenda
Brain health for older adults
Balancing independence with safety
Communication skills
Effective interventions
Caregiving planning and supports
Caregiving - health and mental health
Key factors for caregiver strain vs. resilience
What resources are right for you?
What is positive aging?
Mindful attitude
Self-acceptance
Engaging fully in life
Keeping fit and healthy
Those who age positively live longer and
healthier lives, and enjoy a good quality of life.Image from GoGraph
What Promotes Brain Health?
Hype vs. Reality
Optimal outlook – Mindful attitude
Stay connected – Interpersonal neurobiology
Keep the mind and body active
Manage stress
Volunteer and/or part-time employment
Manage your health with your physician
Eat well
www.psychische-gesundheit-zug.ch
Department of Health:
10 steps for mental healthAmt für Gesundheit
Brain Health Know How: Spotting Brain
Changes and What they Mean
Warning signs of common ailments
Stroke
Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Heart Attacks
Infections
Hypertension
Diabetes
Multiple chronic illness and chronic pain
Memory and Aging
Most older adults don’t get Alzheimer’s!
<1/5 people age 65+
<1/2 85+
APA Committee on Aging
Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Warnings Signs
“Senior moments” –What’s normal?
Memory and Speech
Behavior and Sleep (Schenck, et al.)
Sundown Syndrome
Detection and Treatment
Early Detection & Trajectory
Screening
Neuropsychological
Assessment
Neurological Assessment
Pseudo-Dementia
Balancing Independence & Safety
Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
Prevention behavior & risk reduction
Use technology to help - More interventions to come!
Communication skills to ease shifting of
relational roles and stage of life
Lead with values and meaning making
Proactive communication
Non-Violent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg)
Learning to roll with resistance and validate experiences
Process your expectations
Integrate with treatment team
Caregiver Family Therapy
Practical interventions and care from abroad
To stay or to go?
Finding suitable level of care intervention
Memory aids
Best practices
Essential documents
How to create a treatment team
Technology interventions
Memory Aids
Keep “to do” lists
Establish a routine
Don’t rush
Everything in its
place
Use associations
Tag new information
Keep a calendar
Healthy caregiving – Best practices
Expectations and challenges - Mindfulness
strategies
Awareness
Acceptance
Action
Self-care planning is a priority
Support resources
KESB – Office of Child and Adult Protection
Elderly abuse protections
Diminished capacity
Proxy consent
Swiss specific regulations for:
Wills
Living wills
Power of attorney (POA)
Elder Mediation Schweizerischer Dachverband Mediation
(SDM-FSM), ProSenectute offers informal mediation for 60+
Amt für Kindes und Erwachsenenschutz
Forming a treatment team
Form geriatric specialty team
Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine
Cognitive testing and treatment options -Baselines help
Geriatric specialty recognition
Interdisciplinary Professional Organizations
Swiss Society for Gerontology (SGG)
Schweizerische Gesellschaft fürGerontologie
www.sgg-ssg.ch
Swiss Professional Society of Geriatrics (SFGG)
Schweizerische Fachgesllschaftfür Geriatrie
www.sfgg.ch
Utilize Technology
Apps
Wearable technology
Monitoring systems
Smart appliances
Podcasts
Caregiving: A Balancing Act
Positive aspects of caregiving
National Opinion Research Center (2014) found
that 83 percent of caregivers viewed it as being
a positive experience.
Sense of giving back
Satisfaction knowing loved one is getting
excellent care
Personal growth and increased meaning and
purpose in one’s life
Caregiving, health, & mental health
Resilience
High strain vs. Low strain impact
Other factors
Family caregiver well-being is important to care
recipient health (Berry, Elliott, Grant, Edwards & Fine, 2012; Elliott &
Pezent, 2008; Beach et al., 2005; Williamson et al., 2001)
Common caregiving challenges
Mental health concerns
Health concerns
Functional impairment
Secondary strains
Care decisions
Resources and eligibility for services
Family challenges
Advocacy for care
Support & household
Home help
Haushaltshilfe
Spitex
Fiduciary service
Treuhanddienst
Transportation
Fahrdienst
Pharmacy:
Medication advice
Emergency Call Devices
Meal service
Mahlzeitendienst
Nursing care
Connection & Social Support
Illustrations designed by freepic.com
Z.B. Dementia treatment
Talks with
expertsPeer Support, z. B.
Group concerned
Day care and Short-
Term Respite Care
Tagesbetreuung,
Ferienbetten
Timeout & Recovery
Knowledge and empowerment
Volunteer Visiting
Service
Freiwilliger
Besuchsdienst
At work:
Talk to Manager / HR
What resources are available in Switzerland?
Social Service
Amt für Gesundheit
Treatment management Basic care Support House work
Medical services such as
blood pressure
measurement, injections
etc.
Health-related activities
such as help with
physical care, food,
drink
Daily help (non-
professional)
Care
Financed through compulsory health
insurance
Financed by the persons concerned;
Disability benefits can be applied for;
The entitlement to supplementary benefits
should be reviewed.
Health care system in Switzerland
www.info-
workcare.ch
Professional caregiving
www.pro-
senectute.ch
www.infosenior.ch
Advice on all issues in old age
Switzerland-wide search portal for all ages, (providers
of travel services, meal services, groups of talks,
legal advice, etc.)
www.redcross.ch
www.pflege-
entlastung.ch
Relief service for caring relatives
Switzerland-wide search portal for all ages, (providers
of travel services, meal services, groups of talks,
legal advice, etc.)
www.migesplus.ch Platform of the Swiss Red Cross for multilingual
health information
www.spitex.ch Care (treatment and basic care) and care, household
assistance
www.procap.ch Counseling, support and guidance for people with
disabilities and their dependents
How to access the right resources locally
www.proinfirmis.ch Counseling, support and guidance for people with
disabilities and their dependents
www.krebsliga.ch Advice, information and guidance for people with
cancer and their relatives
www.alz.ch/zg Counseling, information and guidance for people with
dementia and their relatives
www.rheumaliga.ch Offers and courses for people with rheumatism
www.palliativ-zug.ch Information on Palliative Care for affected persons,
Relatives, professionals and interested parties
www.psychische-
gesundheit-zug.ch
Resources for mental health, advice and assistance in
the canton, self-help groups, tips and events
How to access the right resources locally
Train to learn to pace oneself
Learn the up-hills and down-hills of the lay of the
land (Illness, transitions)
Learn to replenish along the way
All are essential to successfully finish the race
Healthy Caregiving is a Marathon
References Beach, S. R., Schulz, R., Williamson, G. M., Miller, L. S., Weiner, M. F. and Lance, C. E. (2005), Risk Factors for Potentially Harmful Informal Caregiver Behavior. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society, 53, 255–261.
Beach, S. R., Schulz, R., Yee, J. L., & Jackson, S. (2000). Negative and positive health effects of caring for a disabled spouse: Longitudinal findings from the Caregiver Health Effects Study. Psychology & Aging, 15(2), 259-271. doi:10.1037//0882-7974.15.2.259
Berry, J. W., Elliott, T., Grant, J., Edwards, G., & Fine, P. R. (2012). Does problem solving training for family caregivers benefit care recipients with severe disabilities? A latent growth model of the Project CLUES randomized clinical trial. Rehabilitation Psychology®, 57, 98-112.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Healthy aging: Preventing disease and improving quality of life among older Americans. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/pdf /healthy_aging.pdf
Elliott, T.R. & Pezent (2008). Family caregivers of older persons in rehabilitation. NeuroRehabilitation, 23, 439–446.
Friedman, H. S., & Martin, L. R. (2011). The longevity project: Surprising discoveries for health and long life from the landmark eight-decade study. New York: Hudson Street Press.
Haley, W. E., LaMonde, L. A., Han, B., Burton, A. M., Schonwetter, R. (2003). Predictors of depression and life satisfaction among spousal caregivers in hospice: Application of a stress process model. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 6,215-224.
Haley, W. E., Roth, D. L., Howard, G., & Safford, M. M. (2010). Caregiving strain and estimated risk for stroke and coronary heart disease among spouse caregivers: Differential effects by race and sex. Stroke, 41, 331-336.
Harmell, A. L., Chattillion, E. A., Roepke, S. K., & Mausbach, B. T. (2011). A review of the psychobiology of dementia caregiving: A focus on resilience factors. Current Psychiatry Reports, 13(3), 219-224. doi:10.1007/s11920-011-0187-1
Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Marucha PT, Malarkey WB, et al. (1995). Slowing of wound healing by psychological stress. The Lancet, 346, 1194-1196.
National Opinion Research Center. (2014, May). Long term care in America: Expectations and realities. Retrieved from http://www.longtermcarepoll.org/PDFs/LTC%202014/AP-NORC-Long-Term%20Care%20in%20America_FINAL%20WEB.pdf
Pew, R. W., & Van Hemel, S. B. (Eds.). (2004). Technology for adaptive aging. Washington DC: National Academies Press.
Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2006). Helping caregivers of persons with dementia: Which interventions work and how large are their effects? International Psychogeriatrics, 18,577-595.
Pinquart, M. & Sörensen, S. (2003). Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging, 18, 250-267.
Roth, D. L., Perkins, M., Wadley, V. G., Temple, E., & Haley, W. E. (2009). Family caregiving and emotional strain: Associations with psychological health in a national sample of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Quality of Life Research, 18, 679-688.
Rowe, J. W., & Kahn, R. L. (1998). Successful aging. New York: Pantheon
Schenck, C.H. et al. Delayed emergence of a parkinsonian disorder or dementia in 81% of older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a 16-year update on a previously reported series. Sleep Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 8 , 744 - 748
Schulz, R. S. (2010) Discussant comments. Presented as part of a symposium, “Population-Based studies of stroke and informal caregiving: The REGARDS and CARES projects” (D. L., Roth, Chair), Gerontological Society of America meetings, New Orleans, Louisiana
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010). Healthy People 2010. Retrieved Nov. 2, 2010, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2010Haley, W.E., Brown, S.L., & Levine, E.G. (1987). Family caregiver appraisals of patient behavioral disturbance in senile dementia. Clinical Gerontologist, 6, 25-34.
Williamson, G. M., Shaffer, D. R., & the Family Relations in Late Life Project, (2001). Relationship quality and potentially harmful behaviors by spousal by spousal caregivers: How we were then, how we are now. Psychology and Aging, 16, 217–226
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