Ask Dr. Mia: Navigating Dementia Caregiving

Dr. Mia talks with Samantha Culler, LCSW at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's Memory Counseling Program about her professional and personal journey of being a care partner.  Neither of them speak on behalf of their employer and views expressed are theirs only.

Memory Counseling Program: https://www.wakehealth.edu/locations/clinics/m/memory-counseling-program-sticht-center

Dementia care partners' support group manuals and books:  https://www.centerforloss.com/bookstore/a-support-group-for-people-living-with-dementia-the-leaders-manual/ 

Dr. Ed G. Shaw's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Edward-G-Shaw/e/B01D8Z3QKY?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1662576971&sr=8-3/

Transcript & subscribe on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders. 

Dr. Mia talks about the difficult but common safety issues in Steve & Nina's story. 
4 M's of safety problems in people with mild/early stage dementia: money, medications, meals, and mobility/driving. 

• Driving safety: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/driving-safety-and-alzheimers-disease
• Older adults & driving: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/older-drivers
• Find an OT who does driving tests: https://www.aota.org/practice/practice-settings/driving-community-mobility/driving--community-mobility-toolkit-for-professionals
• Social security scams reporting: https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-02238
• Pillbox with alarm & other technology: https://www.alzstore.com/early-stages-of-alzheimers-s/1817.htm

4 common types of dementia: Alzheimer's dementia, vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal dementia

Leave reviews on Apple Podcast or on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders. 

Dr. Mia describes the domains of memory/cognition: 

• short-term memory
• executive function
• visuospatial memory
• language
• attention
• speed of processing

Memory mimickers that can confound memory evals: 

• anticholinergic meds
• obstructive sleep apnea
• hearing loss: hearing amplifier PockeTalker on Amazon
• alcohol use: 2 or more drinks/day for men, 1 or more drinks/day for women
• head injury
• low thyroid, low B12

Transcripts & sign up for podcast alerts on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders. 

Dr. Mia talks about two composite patients: Barbara and Steve who demonstrate two very different tales of Alzheimer's disease, what's sexy vs not in Alzheimer's research, and disease-modifying therapy that is NOT aducanumab. 

Dr. Mia's prior NPR Morning Edition interview about aducanumab: 
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/11/08/1052833252/cost-and-controversy-are-limiting-use-of-new-alzheimers-drug

National Institute of Aging clinical trial search tool: 
https://www.alzheimers.gov/clinical-trials

SPRINT -Mind original article:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2723256
More SPRINT-mind discussion in a nuanced way. " [get avg SBP in 120s] reduces mild cognitive impairment or reduces the risk for mild cognitive impairment and there seems to be a signal that it reduces dementia, but it’s hard to tell because the trial was cut off early.": 
https://geripal.org/does-intensive-blood-pressure-lowering/

*Dr. Mia Yang does not speak on behalf of her current employer: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist or Wake Forest School of Medicine. Views expressed are her own. 

Transcript and more info on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders. 

Dr. Mia uses a composite patient Ms. Smith's story to demonstrate her journey through different levels of care, from home to hospital, to skilled nursing facility (SNF), and then back to home. She discusses assisted living vs nursing home vs memory care unit and insurance payment options for them.

Additional resources:
Eldercare Locator (acl.gov)

Nursing home facility ratings per Medicare: enter your zip code below
Find Healthcare Providers: Compare Care Near You | Medicare

Transitioning into assisted living, memory care, or other retirement community:
Find Assisted Living, Memory Care and Senior Living | A Place for Mom

Geriatric care managers:
What Is a Geriatric Care Manager? | National Institute on Aging (nih.gov)

Transcript & more info on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders. 

This episode I tell you the story of how I became a geriatrician and a couple who inspired me during my training. I use their example to talk about the 5M's of geriatrics: Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity, and Matters Most. I also touch upon a reason why I think there are too few geriatricians. 

More info about 5M's: https://www.healthinaging.org/tools-and-tips/tip-sheet-5ms-geriatrics. 

Where to find age-friendly health systems that put the 5M's into practice: http://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/Age-Friendly-Health-Systems/Pages/default.aspx

Transcripts and submit questions to Dr. Mia and see transcription on www.miayangmd.com

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders. 

Welcome to Ask Dr. Mia podcast: conversations on aging well. Dr. Mia introduces herself, why she started this podcast, and explores 4 different ways from her own grandparents on "aging well." 
Transcript & more info at www.miayangmd.com. 

Support the show

Video on Ask Dr. Mia YouTube channel
Transcripts on www.miayangmd.com. Transcripts are automatically generated and may contain minor inaccuracies. 
Email: [email protected]
Opinions expressed are exclusive of Dr. Mia Yang and not reflective of her or guest speaker's employers or funders.