Integrating Psychosocial Elements for Comprehensive Pain Management
As you begin reading, I invite you to notice whether you are experiencing any pain. Where is it showing up in your body? How would you describe it? If you shift your body, is there relief or is the pain exacerbated? Does the pain make you think of something else going on in your life that isn ’t physical? (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Paige Hector Tags: Communication and Culture Source Type: news
The Future of the Foundation
My connection with the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine has centered around its support for the Futures Program, which has been near and dear to my heart for many years. I clearly remember when Cheryl Phillips, MD, CMD, suggested that I fill her shoes and codirect the program with Cari Levy, MD, PhD, CMD. As I stepped into that role, I felt a strong desire to support the Foundation, especially as we moved away from pharmaceutical industry support in the early 2000s. Since I joined the Foundation ’s board three years ago, I have come to appreciate the relentless volunteer efforts of board members and ...
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Heidi White Tags: Our Foundation Source Type: news
Pain Can Be a Total Pain
Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy in 1789, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Before Franklin, in 1716 Christopher Bullock had written in his book The Cobbler of Preston, “’Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes.” “Death and taxes” is a commonly used phrase to express two inevitable things in life, but I believe there are other inevitable experiences, and one of them is pain. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Karl Steinberg Tags: On My Mind Source Type: news
Pain Management
Ms. P is a 72-year-old woman who was admitted for rehabilitation after an above-the-knee amputation for a lower-extremity ulcer that did not heal due to associated arterial insufficiency. Her past medical history includes a cerebral vascular event and left hemiparesis, diabetes controlled by diet and oral medication, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and arterial insufficiency. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Barbara Resnick, Paige Hector Tags: Interdisciplinary Team Case Scenario Source Type: news
Person-centered Ethics During End-of-Life Pain Management
Mr. Henry was the last patient on our interdisciplinary team rounds. The staff on call told us that he was one of their most difficult patients. His spouse was quite possibly even more difficult; she frequently demanded answers to repetitive questions before she would allow staff members to leave his room. Unfortunately, she had ended up in the hospital with a cardiac event before I was able to meet her. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Fatima A. Naqvi Tags: Medical Ethics Source Type: news
Highlighting Key Principles and Practices of Pain Management
Pain is a vast and complex topic with many detailed aspects. As with so many other conditions and symptoms, pain management remains challenging. There are already many guidelines and articles on the topic. Instead of covering specific clinical aspects of pain management, the goal of this month ’s column is to highlight some key considerations that I have found particularly useful over time as a medical director, across all patients and settings. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Steven Levenson Tags: OBRA Regulations and Clinical Practice Source Type: news
Managing Chronic Pain in Older Adults: Taking a Holistic and Individualized Approach
Chronic pain — the complex, multidimensional, highly personal experience that affects more than half of nursing home residents — demands assessment of both the physical causes and the emotional and psychosocial components. Holistic management incorporates nonpharmacological approaches, experts and practition ers from various disciplines told Caring. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Christine Kilgore Source Type: news
Laxton Leaves a Legacy of Growth, Change, and Innovation
Ten years ago, Christopher Laxton, CAE, became the executive director of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. He brought with him 35 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, governance, and operations, as well as firsthand knowledge of the workings of PALTC. Last year, Mr. Laxton announced that he would be retiring this spring, and Caring sat d own with him in January 2023 to reflect on his tenure with the organization, his fondest memories, and the tremendous impact he has had on the organization so many PALTC practitioners call their professional home. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Tags: News From The Society Source Type: news
Don ’t Let Pain Fall Through the Cracks
James Lett, MD, CMDR, talks about how to make sure your loved one has pain assessed and treated as they move through the care continuum. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Tags: Caregiver's Corner Source Type: news
Managing Pain: Legal and Ethical Considerations
“Is there anything you can give me for my pain?” Are there any clinicians who never had a patient utter those words? Treating pain is simple, right? Not exactly. A combination of factors — societal, legal, and ethical — have compounded the challenges for physicians and advanced practice prov iders (APPs) who earnestly attempt to ameliorate and properly manage their patients’ pain. Two examples below illustrate how clinicians sometimes walk a tightrope, balancing between prescribing too much or too little pain medication. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Alan C. Horowitz Tags: Legal Issues Source Type: news
The Case Against Universal Vitamin D Supplementation in Older Adults
Vitamin D is frequently seen as part of the medication list of older adults, particularly those in long-term care (LTC). The LTC population is more at risk of vitamin D deficiency due to factors such as little or no sunlight exposure, malabsorption, frailty, and other comorbidities. Our clinical experience has been that vitamin D supplementation is ordered either because levels were found to be low or simply as a vague expectation that it can ’t hurt or that it’s a “best practice.” But is there evidence that truly supports its universal use? (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Daniel Haimowitz, Carmen Witsken, Emily Cofsky, Brittany Henault, Emily Hajjar Source Type: news
AMDA Is Needed Now More Than Ever
I recently sent holiday cards to family and friends. The card, adorned with pictures that highlighted the memorable moments of 2022, was emblazoned with the message “What a year!” As I reflect on the recent activities of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, it strikes me that the same message applies. Since we last gathered a year ago for our 2022 Annual Conference in Baltimore, our professional society has been tireless in its m ission to develop and support the workforce and to improve quality in PALTC settings. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Authors: Suzanne Gillespie Tags: From the President ’s Desk Source Type: news
Insulin Resistance Linked to Loss of Muscle Mass
Obesity is linked to the development of insulin resistance, but older adults with a loss of lower-limb muscle mass are at risk even if they are not obese, according to a longitudinal study in Japan. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Tags: JAMDA Highlghts Source Type: news
Natural Disasters May Increase Nursing Home Admissions
Older adults who experience natural disasters such as floods are more likely to be admitted to nursing homes (NHs) than unaffected individuals, a retrospective cohort study in Japan found. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Tags: JAMDA Highlights Source Type: news
Psychological Resilience in Long-Term Care Residents
Several individual and social factors are associated with resilience in residents of long-term care facilities who experience stressful life events, according to a study in the Netherlands. (Source: Caring for the Ages)
Source: Caring for the Ages - March 1, 2023 Category: Health Management Tags: JAMDA Highlights Source Type: news
