2010 March

Sugar Free Gum Can Mean the Death of a Dog!

Posted in adult children, Age Related Issues, Blog, Care Management, Caregiving on March 30, 2010

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

Abbey, our 4-year old Springer Spaniel, took a package of Orbit gum from my purse – she opened it, ate the paper, gum and most of the box. It wasn’t long before we called the vet thinking she would have a digestion problem. We were told that it was more serious and to get her in as quickly as possible.

Most of us know that chocolate, grapes, onions and garlic can kill a cat or dog – but I didn’t know that the artificial sweetener, “xylitol” could be deadly to pets. This chemical can easily put a dog into hypoglycemia. With just a few sticks of gum!

The chemical in these sugar free gums can also cause Hepatic Necrosis or destroy the liver. We were lucky. The vet made her vomit and put her on IV fluids with sugar to counter the affects of the Xylitol.

The 24/7 Emergency Veterinarian Clinic called the National Animal Poison Control Center (they have a 24-hour number 888-426-4435). The poison control wanted to know the flavor of gum Abbey, our dog, got into her system. We were lucky it was the flavor with the least amount of Xylitol – so, she didn’t have to stay overnight at the emergency clinic.

The lesson being passed to all of you – if you have a beloved dog or your older family members does – please keep sugar free gum out of their reach. What is good for us just isn’t for our best furry friends.

Abbey is back to her old self, chasing squirrels and playing with her best friend, “Happy” our cat!

Staying Connected Equals Staying Sharp

Posted in Age Related Issues, Blog, Care Management, Dementia and Memory Loss, End of Life, Uncategorized on March 23, 2010

Julianna Dickey, MSW, LCSW

My Aunt Frances turned 100 this past January. She is the eldest of four girls, including my mom, who all predeceased her. A fun topic of discussion in my family is about the fact that she took her social security early, at 62, not knowing if she would live to the age of 65! She made that and then some.

One of the things that has kept her going all of these years, besides children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, is the love of the piano. She majored in music at her alma mater, giving a senior recital at graduation, and has continued to play since then. She still plays regularly at church services and is the pianist at the town’s senior center. I asked her what had helped her keep mentally fit and she attributed this to the continued piano playing.

Her latest performance occurred three days after she turned 100 when she gave a piano recital at her church. During that same week, she was interviewed by the state newspaper and a local radio station. Of course, the repeating question asked was: “What would be your advice to others as to how to live a good, long life?” Her response: “Set a goal in mind. Continue to work at it; never give up. It takes discipline, time, and work but if you do this, you will do better in everything you try.”

In thinking about this, it seems to me that it has not only been my aunt’s devotion to an interest and a goal, but the social context in which this has taken place. Her life interest has been one which not only has been of benefit to her, but one which has allowed connection to other individuals and to the entire community. It seems to reinforce a crucial need of seniors: to feel that they are still of value, continuing to play a vital role, not just waiting to die. That, I think, was what Erik Erikson was referring to in his concept of the final stage of human development: Ego Integrity vs. Despair.

Aunt Frances is a role model for me, and for anyone facing getting older. Finding what you love in life, and letting that interest connect you to others outside yourself as much as possible, can enrich not only your own life, but the lives of all those around you as well.

A Youthful Aunt Frances (Top Left)

Aunt Frances, Playing the Piano at 100

Family Caregivers – Share the Care

Posted in adult children, Age Related Issues, Alzheimer's, Blog, Care Management, Caregiving on March 16, 2010

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

Often families try to do all the care themselves out of love or necessity – or maybe “control”. Whatever it is that causes you to be the only one caring for a dependent older adult – you need to know the importance of finding a balance and sharing the care.

Caregiver research shows that at least 50% of those caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease suffer from untreated clinical depression. Depression can lead to serious physical health issues.

Learn to ask for help from other family members. Classes, support groups or a consultation with a Geriatric Care Manager can help you with this new way of being assertive. Trying to be the only caregiver may interfere with your relationships with other family members. Not only do you miss that intimacy with spouse/children/extended family, but also you could be depriving the frail family member of the benefits or enrichment from a community respite or activity program.

Ask for help – you are important to the well being of your ill family member. A healthy you will better care for another. Self-care is a challenge and professional Geriatric Care Managers can help you get the balance you need as a family caregiver.

Your Emotional Footprint

Posted in Blog, Care Management, Caregiving, Environment on March 9, 2010

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

What will your “emotional” footprint be?

What do we leave behind when we leave this life? We hear lots of talk about our “footprints” when it comes to ecology and not wanting to be contributing to the negative consequences of the over use of resources.

When we delve into this notion of leaving a “footprint” we will often face our shadow as well as our dream of being a more positive individual. Exploring this thought in journal writing could be an introspective journey and offer a surprise that might open a new door in ones life.

Looking into our individual history we see our successes and our failures. Do you blame others for the not so successful choices you made or for the changes you didn’t make? Or, do you take full responsibility for each of life experiences – even if they were from an outside force not in your control?

How do we grow emotionally? How might we want to grow as an individual? Growing never stops – it actually happens till we take that last breath. The good news is we can have some control over how we judge our experiences and how we take those less than successful experiences and turn each one of them into a “learning experience”.

The challenge could be turning painful experiences into part of our positive footprint. Viewing this in the most existential way then every experience, even the death of a loved one, at some time can turn into a learning experience that can help us grow or support others in their journey. The risk is that we need to be brave to move forward and face the shadow in order to leave the “footprint” of our vision.

I would like my footprint to be one of bringing peace into all that I do. I realize I can’t please everyone because they have needs that I can’t fill – but I can always do my best and never take any action or reaction that would intentionally hurt another.

What will be your “emotional footprint” be? Start living that vision now – it could change your life!

The Knock on the Door & Mom’s Purse is gone…Tell your Aging family members not to open the door to strangers!

Posted in Age Related Issues, Blog, Care Management, Caregiving, Elder Abuse and Fraud, Future Trends, Uncategorized on March 2, 2010

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

Elder abuse is rising. Even though my mother is bright and doing well living alone, which she prefers, she is a target just because of her age! Mom is almost 88 and out and about going to clubs and driving friends around. She lives in a major urban city and has since her birth. The only help I provide for her is a personal assistant who acts as her personal secretary making appointments, reviewing mail and helping her with phone calls – because of her hearing loss she can’t understand accents or phone tree instructions.

A week ago, she had a knock at the door. A woman asked to use a portable phone because she said she was locked out of her home. Mom gave her the phone but of course the number was busy. Then she asked for water and when my mother went to give her a cup the woman followed her inside making comments on how my Mom’s home reminded her of her Grandmother’s. My mother became suspicious at this point and told her she needed to leave. However, the woman saw the candy dish and asked for candy. Again, Mom says, “Take some and get out of my house.”, not knowing Mom’s purse was now under the woman’s coat!

Mom of course had her keys, checkbook and credit cards in that purse. She changed her locks with the help of a grandson, notified all the credit card accounts and the bank. She has received two calls, one to cash a check for under $200 and another to charge $4,000 at an appliance store. Mom stopped those transactions.

This is a lot of stress on an elder. Thank God she has her personal assistant to help with all the paperwork that this event brought to her.

The bottom line is, tell the elders in your life not to open the door for strangers – especially if they live alone. The police officers told my Mom this and I hope she listens. It is hard for her not to always be kind.