Ramelteon for the prevention of delirium in the hospital
February 23, 2014
About half of the patients that I saw on or palliative care consult service last week were delirious. This is…
Why is Forest Laboratories discontinuing Namenda?
February 20, 2014
Why is Forest Laboratories discontinuing Namenda (memantine HCl) 5 mg and 10 mg tablets on August 15, 2014? Is it because…
An Older Pedestrian Fights Back
February 10, 2014
Older pedestrians are more likely to be killed while walking than those under 65 years of age. A lot has…
The Long Term Care Insurance Con Game
February 4, 2014
Consider this scenario: You are getting older, and are concerned about the costs of nursing homes and long term care…
“Can’t go home, can’t be admitted” – the emergency room purgatory
January 30, 2014
A 92-year-old woman with a history of stroke comes to an emergency department and is found to have fractures of…
Still Needed: Guidance for the “GeriPal” Patient with Heart Failure
January 30, 2014
As a (geriatric) primary care provider and (palliative medicine) specialist who cares for patients with heart failure (HF), the 2013…
Antibiotics in hospice
January 15, 2014
by: Alex Smith @AlexSmithMD Case 1: You have a 94 year old woman with multiple medical problems in hospice who…
One Last New Year’s Resolution: Become an advocate for better health care for older adults and those with serious illness
January 7, 2014
So you have been working hard to keep your New Year’s resolutions. Why not add one more resolution this year…
Does vitamin E and/or memantine help in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease?
January 2, 2014
Alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and dementia have had a long and confusing history. For the prevention of dementia, Vitamin E has…
Avoiding too high of a threshold for elder safety and self-neglect
December 26, 2013
My five-year old sons favorite show on TV is called Railroad Alaska. Just in case you haven’t figured out why by…