by Jay Luxenberg, MD

Last month I was an invited speaker at The International Workshop on Continuum of Care for Older Persons, organized jointly by the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and the Federation of Korean Gerontological Societies. As a speaker, my main concern was how much I could teach during the short time allotted for my talk.

by Karl E. Steinberg, MD, CMD
Reprinted with permission
originally published in JAMDA June 2014

Nearly everyone agrees that helping patients to plan ahead by defining their goals of care is a worthy endeavor. Those who disagree probably have the good sense to keep it to themselves. Advance care planning (ACP) is one way to aspire to the triple aim of improving care, improving health, and reducing costs, promoted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other organizations.¹

by Tim Gieseke MD, CMD

On July 8th, the California Senate Select Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care will meet in Glendale California to hear from experts like our own Dr. Cheryl Phillips (now Senior VP of Leading Age). They will hear about the anticipated demographic changes in our state with the doubling of those living over 65 y/o between 2010 and 2030. This group will become much more culturally diverse with significant increases in the Latino and Asian communities. Almost 70% of this population will require LTC for some of those years. The current LTC system is complex with gaps in services and problems with care coordination.

by Robert M. Gibson, Ph.D., J.D., Rebecca Ferrini, MD, CMD, MPH

Ms. A has no friends and family to speak for her, had advanced dementia and is bedbound. She is unable to speak, but can nod.  Who signs her into your facility? What is her Code Status?

Ms. B has dementia and a conservator, her sister who lives out of state.  Who signs her in? Who manages her money? Who signs consent forms for psychotropic medications?

Mr. X signed himself into the facility a few years ago, but he is declined a lot now. You want to start him on an SSRI but he really cannot understand what you are saying. Who can sign for him?