Category Archives: Living with a Neurological Condition

“Affordable Options for Grocery Delivery”

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“Affordable Options for Grocery Delivery”

Brain & Life magazine (brainandlife.org) is published by the American Academy of Neurology.  In their January 2017 issue, they address the challenge that many with neurological disorders have of getting to the grocery store.  Sometimes it’s more practical to have groceries delivered.

Brain & Life magazine investigated these options:

* houses of worship
* Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps)
* Meals on Wheels
* food banks
* online shopping

The full article can be found here:

https://www.brainandlife.org/the-magazine/article/app/13/6/10/affordable-options-for-grocery-delivery

Affordable Options for Grocery Delivery
by Frank Kritz
December/January 2017
Brain & Life

Robin

Fear of the next level of care and the need to stop time traveling – Speaker notes

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Fear of the next level of care and the need to stop time traveling – Speaker notes

WellMed Charitable Foundation, based in San Antonio, regularly hosts teleconferences for caregivers, called Caregiver Teleconnection (caregiversos.org).  A recent guest speaker was a professional counselor addressing the topic of hospital discharge planning.

Unfortunately many with neurological conditions end up being hospitalized at some point. The hospitalization and subsequent care can change the course of a person’s life (and of a caregiver’s life).

As always, Brain Support Network’s volunteer Denise Dagan listened to the teleconference and shared her notes. In looking over Denise’s notes, I didn’t find the speaker’s presentation very compelling. However, I was very interested in these three comments made by the speaker at the end of the teleconference in response to questions:

1.  When presented with discharge facility or in-home health agency options, start by using your cell phone or tablet in the hospital during the discharge planning conversation.  Use specific search terms like “Medicare home health coverage.”

2.  Nobody wants to go to the next level of care (either in-home care or any type of facility).  That is primarily due to fear.  If you have a family member in that situation you need to be firm even though it is emotionally difficult.  To ease this transition you can have someone benefiting from that level of care speak with your family member about their personal experience in the level of care you are proposing.

3.  In addition, the patient and family members need to stop ‘time traveling’ (worrying about ‘what ifs’) because your concerns may never come to fruition and in the meantime they are preventing you from living while you focus on your fears.  Do research to allay your fears into what the next level of care might be, how much it could cost, and locations most convenient to you.  Get your VA benefits application process started, if you qualify.  Use behavioral/mental health insurance for some counseling to help manage fears.  Join a support group (both patient and caregiver).

Denise’s complete notes are copied below.  This teleconference was not recorded as there was a substitute speaker.

Robin

———————

Notes by Denise Dagan, Brain Support Network Volunteer

Working More Effectively with Social Workers: Hospital Discharge Planning to Rehab, Transition Home and Long Term Care
Speaker:  Zanda Hilger, LPC, NCC

WellMed CaregiverSOS Caregiver Teleconnection
April 30, 2018

Social Workers have a master’s degree and, depending on the state are licensed (sometimes clinical, with more training).  You find them in any medical organization, including senior/geriatric clinics, like the intended speaker, Christine Casbeer.  The substitute speaker, Zanda Hilger, recommends connecting with a social worker in a senior/geriatric clinic if you are helping a senior.

When does a social worker step in?  Most caregivers will encounter a social worker in a hospital (not the ER), but after the person has been admitted. Their primary interaction with families is in discharge planning, which is determining if the patient is ready to be discharged into a safe and supportive environment.  In most cases the mindset is that the patient will go home to be cared for by family or to a rehabilitation center from the hospital.

Discharge will be to home (with or without a home health agency) or to a rehabilitation center if there is medical necessity.  There should be an assessment to determine whether the person has medical need after discharge to reduce risk of readmission to the hospital. That assessment is done by the discharge social worker or nurse prior to discharge.  A social worker or nurse will follow up with the patient to ensure the patient and family are aware of community resources to support them after discharge.  When the medical need is no longer required, home health or rehab will be discontinued, but community resources should be in place before medical support is removed.

[Medicare does NOT cover home health for activities of daily living – bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.  Medicare DOES cover home health service for intermittent skilled nursing care (like injections, wound care), physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, occupational services.]

Families should advocate for home health if they feel their family member has medical need or if the hospital is expecting family to perform medical tasks with which the family ill equipped to handle. Advocating for home health ensures their family member is evaluated appropriately for medical need.

Zanda’s experience with her own mother was to accept the hospital’s discharge plan.  The facility the hospital transported Zanda’s mother to was old and not some place she wanted her mother to be placed.  Zanda admits she should have done a visit to the place the hospital was recommending her mother be discharged to and worked with the discharge planner to determine the best location for her mother to be discharged to before the transport happened.  She recommends working closely with the discharge planner, slowing the process, and doing your homework to determine the best place for your family member before the transport happens.

It tends to happen that the family is told discharge will happen at a particular time and the family waits all day.  Then, when the discharge social worker finally shows up they present the couple of facility options and say the decision needs to be made within 2-3 hours.  In that case, the family needs to push back and tell the discharge social worker that it is not possible to evaluate the facility or home health agency options within that time.  If the discharge social worker is inflexible, the family should learn the name of the discharge social worker’s head of department and take your appeal for more time or more information up the chain of command.

The social worker discharge planner’s mandate is to discharge patients from the hospital, but also to ensure the patient is going to a place with enough support to reduce their readmission to the hospital.  The discharge planner’s job and level of information does not include discharge to assisted living or retirement living.  If you want to discharge to that level of care, you need to research those options yourself.  Discharge social workers should not be recommending these for-profit facilities.

To research assisted living or retirement living you might use A Place For Mom or New Life Styles online information.  These resources are paid by the residential facilities they recommend so their lists may be incomplete if all the facilities in your area do not subscribe to their services.  They are both reputable organizations with which to begin your search.

Social workers job is to advocate for your family member’s best care.  If you feel your social worker is not providing enough information or devoting enough time to your situation, be assertive and direct but not aggressive.  Tell them directly that you need more information about X, or say something like, “It seems you are too busy to discuss this now, can we make an appointment to discuss this in depth at ?’o’clock.”  You can also tell your social worker you are not getting enough information or support from them and ask if you can work with their supervisor.  Be kind, not aggressive or angry and you should be able to get what you need from the system.

eldercare.acl.gov – purpose is to help people in the US locate non-profit/government resources like adult day programs, Alzheimer’s disease, behavioral health, caregiver support, elder abuse prevention, financial assistance, food and nutrition, health insurance, healthy aging, home repair and modification, housing options (not for-profit), in-home services, legal assistance, long term care, nursing home and long term care facilities, transportation and volunteerism.

You can use eldercare.acl.gov to check out resources your social worker is recommending or to find resources and run them past your social worker to get their opinion about the usefulness of a particular resource.

Question and Answer:

When presented with discharge facility or in-home health agency options, start by using your cell phone or tablet in the hospital during the discharge planning conversation.  Use specific search terms like “Medicare home health coverage.”

Nobody wants to go to the next level of care (either in-home care or any type of facility).  That is primarily due to fear.  If you have a family member in that situation you need to be firm even though it is emotionally difficult.  To ease this transition you can have someone benefiting from that level of care speak with your family member about their personal experience in the level of care you are proposing.

In addition, the patient and family members need to stop ‘time traveling’ (worrying about ‘what ifs’) because your concerns may never come to fruition and in the meantime they are preventing you from living while you focus on your fears.  Do research to allay your fears, as into what the next level of care might be, how much it could cost, and locations most convenient to you.  Get your VA benefits application process started, if you qualify, also allays fears.  Use behavioral/mental health insurance for some counseling to help manage fears.  Join a support group (both patient and caregiver).

 

“Reframe Your Experience” (with a neurological disorder)

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“Reframe Your Experience” (with a neurological disorder)

This recent blog post on the seven key steps to take after a Parkinson’s diagnosis doesn’t really have much that’s new.  However, I liked step #7, titled “Reframe Your Experience.”  That step is worth sharing because it applies to all of us — whether we have a neurological diagnosis (not necessarily Parkinson’s) or a family member with a neurological diagnosis.

Here’s #7 — “Reframe Your Experience”:

In addition to getting support, thinking positively can help you come to terms with your diagnosis. One of [neurologist Dr. Melita] Petrossian’s patients has taken to viewing Parkinson’s as a friend (he calls him “Mr. P”), while others repeat mantras like, “I have Parkinson’s, but Parkinson’s doesn’t have me.”  Petrossian acknowledges that this approach may feel a little cliched or trite, “but having a mantra that recognizes your struggle without diminishing who you are and without overemphasizing the role Parkinson’s plays in your life can help you cope and become more resilient.”  [Another of her patient’s said]:  If you live with Parkinson’s, “you have to recognize that you have to play a different game, you have to change the rules of the game.” In other words, [Petrossian] says, “you have to re-imagine your life.”

The full blog post is copied below.

Robin

——————–

www.seniorhomes.com/w/7-key-steps-to-take-after-a-parkinsons-diagnosis/

7 Key Steps to Take After a Parkinson’s Diagnosis
by Katherine O’Brien
SeniorHomes.com
April 26th, 2018

Finding out you have Parkinson’s disease, a progressive brain disorder characterized by tremors and changes in speech and gait, is a hard pill to swallow.

There’s a lot to take in, and it can be incredibly overwhelming not only for the person with the diagnosis, but for their family. But with more research into the disease now than ever before, there are a number of smart strategies you can take to help slow down the disease’s progression, allowing you to live life to your full potential.

1. Connect With a Neurologist
Step number one: Ask your primary care doctor to refer you to a neurologist, preferably one who is a movement disorders specialist. Patients who work with neurologists tend to have better results than those who don’t, says Melita Petrossian, Director of the Pacific Movement Disorders Center in Santa Monica.

But don’t just take her word for it—this study published in the journal Neurology shows that patients treated by neurologists may live longer and are less likely to be placed in a nursing home or to break a hip. Even if you can only get to a specialist once a year, it can still can help, says Petrossian. Another option for those who live far from major medical centers: video conferencing.

2. Find Meds That Work for You
Although there’s no cure for Parkinson’s yet, medications can often dramatically help control symptoms. Do be aware that PD drugs can produce significant side effects like involuntary movements. Additionally, you must take meds exactly as directed to avoid side effects such as gait freezing, unpredictable incidences of being unable to move or keep moving.

Another caution: keep your protein and fat intake in check, as too much of either can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb Parkinson’s medication. If medication doesn’t adequately control your symptoms, deep brain stimulation, which involves the implantation of electrodes in the brain, is another–albeit riskier—option.

3. Participate in Research
Taking part in clinical trials — particularly those seeking treatments to slow or stop disease progression – is a direct way to contribute to finding a cure for PD. “I support patients enrolling in clinical trials because there is a tremendous amount of work left to understand Parkinson’s disease and how to prevent it,” says Dr. Karl Dhana,” Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at MorseLife Health System in Florida. “We need to continue to develop new and more effective treatments for Parkinson’s which will hopefully lead to a cure.”

4. Get Moving and Keep Moving!
Exercise is another key way to manage Parkinson’s. “All the research shows that the earlier you get on a very Parkinson’s-specific exercise routine, the better it goes for your long-term quality of life,” says physical therapist Brian Keenoy, who treats PD patients at the Generation Care rehab facility in Michigan.

Several exercise programs have been specially designed for people living with Parkinson’s, including Rock Steady Boxing and Dance for PD. Keenoy says that dancing is a good choice for people with the disease, as it involves conscious and purposeful movement that increases the brain-body connection.

Both dancing and Tai chi, another exercise that involves conscious movement, can also improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling. “When you have Parkinson’s, you can’t correct yourself when you lose your balance because the disease decreases how quickly you can move to steady yourself,” says Dhana. In addition, he notes that Parkinson’s and PD medications cause blood pressure to drop in patients when they stand up, sometimes leading to light-headedness and dizziness, which also increases the risk of falling.

5. Manage Your Mood
As with many diseases, managing your mood is a fundamental part of the rehabilitative process. Keenoy, who encourages his patients to do one thing every day that brings them joy, notes that patients who feel depressed may abandon their exercise routine (the loss of dopamine-producing cells in people with Parkinson’s also affects motivation.) In addition, depression can also exacerbate the symptoms of Parkinson’s. As Dhana points out, “if someone is anxious and nervous, it can make the tremors worse.”

Petrossian believes that the emotional response to Parkinson’s can sometimes be more devastating than the physical symptoms. “The bigger issue I see is that a lot of people with Parkinson’s have anxiety and depression, which goes beyond just stress, and I think those need to be addressed, sometimes with cognitive behavioral therapy and sometimes with medication,” she says.

6. Seek Out Support
“Part of the problem for someone just diagnosed with Parkinson’s is a sense of isolation and bewilderment, a sense of identity loss,” Petrossian says. One way to counter the isolation and to adjust to living with Parkinson’s is through peer support. (You can find local support groups—including the PRESS Program for recently diagnosed PD patients— on the American Parkinson’s Disease Association website.)

“Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder, and if you take that on yourself…it can be a little daunting,” says Keenoy, who encourages his patients to build strong social networks. “You’re not the first person diagnosed with Parkinson’s where you live, and so you don’t have to figure it all out on your own,” he says.

7. Reframe Your Experience
In addition to getting support, thinking positively can help you come to terms with your diagnosis. One of Petrossian’s patients has taken to viewing Parkinson’s as a friend (he calls him “Mr. P”), while others repeat mantras like, “I have Parkinson’s, but Parkinson’s doesn’t have me.”

Petrossian acknowledges that this approach may feel a little cliched or trite, “but having a mantra that recognizes your struggle without diminishing who you are and without overemphasizing the role Parkinson’s plays in your life can help you cope and become more resilient.”

In contrast, one of her patients told her that having Parkinson’s means he will “never hit a ball out of the park,” no matter how hard he tries. At the time, Petrossian, who was “blown away” by his “devastating way of thinking about life,” didn’t know how to respond. “How do you get up every day and exercise and everyday try to be positive when you are constantly feeling like you are in a losing battle,” she says.

Later, another patient gave her the answer: If you live with Parkinson’s, “you have to recognize that you have to play a different game, you have to change the rules of the game,” Petrossian says. In other words, she says, “you have to re-imagine your life.”

For his part, Keenoy is adamant that people living with Parkinson’s can live a full life. “I’ve seen individuals come in pretty bummed out because they’ve just got a really big diagnosis, but after you give them tools, they realize they can adapt things so that they really enjoy their life,” he says. “I believe one-thousand per cent that people with Parkinson’s can live a long fruitful, joyful, high-quality life.”

“Marijuana and PD: What Do We Really Know?” – Webinar Notes

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“Marijuana and PD: What Do We Really Know?” – Webinar Notes

The Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinson.org) conducts occasional webinars on Parkinson’s Disease (PD).  Recently, it hosted a very thorough webinar on marijuana and PD.  The speaker was Dr. Benzi Kluger, a movement disorder specialist in Colorado, which legalized recreational marijuana a couple of years ago.

You can download the speaker’s slides here:

http://parkinson.org/sites/default/files/B.Kluger_Slides%20FINAL%28cgm_lh%29.pdf

And you can watch the hour-long recording of the webinar here: (requires registration)

http://event.netbriefings.com/event/pdeb/Archives/marijuana/register.html

Brain Support Network uber-volunteer Denise Dagan listened to the webinar and took excellent notes.  See below.

Robin

———————-

Notes by Denise Dagan, Brain Support Network Volunteer

Marijuana and PD: What Do We Really Know?
Parkinson’s Foundation Expert Briefing Webinar
April 17, 2018

Speaker: Benzi M. Kluger, M.D., M.S, movement disorder specialist, University of Colorado Hospital

Learning Objectives:
* Define cannabis, cannabinoids and endocannabinoids
* Review the basic science of the potential of cannabinoids to affect Parkinson’s and other movement disorders
* Understand the current state of the evidence of cannabinoids as a treatment for Parkinson’s
* Know the most common side effects of cannabinoid-based therapies
* How he works with patients in using cannabinoid products for medical use.

Outline:
What is cannabis, cannabinoids and endocannabinoids?
How does cannabis effect the nervous system?
Do cannabinoids improve motor or nonmotor symptoms in PD?
Can cannabinoids slow down the progression of PD?

What is cannabis, cannaboinoids and endocannabinoids?
* Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants including sativa (higher THC), indica and ruderalis (higher CBD).
* Cannabinoids are chemicals that act on cannabinoid receptors in the nervous system and other tissues.
* Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made and very targeted, phytocannabinoids (now over 100) come from the cannabis plant. Endocannabinoids are produced by neurons and other tissues – analogous to the endorphins system in the body.

Phytocannabinoids:  D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
– Primary psychoactive component of cannabis
– Higher concentration in Sativa strains

cannabidiol (CBD)
– May have more calming effects on the nervous system
– Significant interest in medical research (particularly epilepsy)
– Higher concentration in indica and ruderalis strains

Anadamide
– name means ‘bliss’
– Discovered in 1992
– May play a role in pain, sleep, stress response and other behaviors as well as development.  Most research done on adolescents and young animals so we don’t know much about its effects on adults, especially older adults.
– Also found in chocolate (why we crave chocolate?)

Synthetic Cannabinoids
* Marinol (dronabinol): THC developed to treat nausea and appetite in cancer
* Nabilone: Cannabinoid Receptor 1 and 2 agonist
* K2 and Spice
– legal alternatives to cannabis
– have been associated with adverse health effects and hospitalizations (avoid these!)

How does cannabis effect the nervous system?
* It slows response and reaction time.
* It reduces dopamine reception.

The Endocannabinoid System
* Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2)
* CB1 primarily in the central nervous system and CB2 in immune system
* Endocannabinoids act on the presynaptic neuron to decrease neurotransmitter release at CB1 receptors
* Tend to increase GABA and decrease Glutamate and Dopamine release in the basal ganglia

Action of Cannabinoids
* Agonist, antagonist and partial agonist at CB1 receptors
* Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
* CB2 on microglia (the primary immune cells in the brain)  Research into slowing progression of PD in the brain.
* CB independent effects. Other receptors (adenosine A2A is acted on by caffeine)

Do cannabinoids improve motor symptoms in PD?  No.

Animal Models
* Published studies generally support motor improvement but effects are mixed as are mechanisms.  Cannabinoids have actually induced PD symptoms in animals.
* CB1 antagonists (blocking CB1 receptors) are most consistently helpful probably through non-dopaminergic mechanisms.
* Both CB1 agonists and antagonists have been reported to improve dyskinesias.

Clinical Reports and Trials
A survey of 339 PD patients : 25% reported using cannabis, 46% described some benefit, 31% reported improvement of rest tremor, 45% of bradykinesia, and 14% of LID
* In US, 207 PD patients:  only 5% reported using, and most reported benefit only for non-motor Sx (pain, sleep, appetite, anxiety, muscle stiffness)
* All randomized controlled trials to date have been negative (inconclusive).  There are 100 phytocannabinoids, but these trials picked only 4.  Small number of participants so harder to see trends and rule out placebo effect.
* Recent Israeli study showed benefit, but also flawed study.
* Current study has worked out some of the study flaws so may show good results on effect of CBD in PD.

Do cannabinoids improve nonmotor symptoms in PD?  Yes.

Clinical Reports
* No randomized controlled trials
* Some case series report benefit for REM Behavior disorder and psychosis
* Colorado experience suggests benefit for appetite, nausea, pain, anxiety and sleep, muscle spasms & spasticity, depression (chronic cannabis use increases risk for depression)
* Web based survey made associations between cannabis and better memory, although all participants were young.

Most Common Side Effects
Cognitive (dopey), depression, apathy
Dizziness
Low Blood Pressure
Smoking may increase risk for cancer or other pulmonary issues so use vaping, edibles to avoid this
Edibles may have less predictable absorption and dosing, eating too much because effects kick in later through digestion
Risks – children and animals getting into cannabis products.

Can cannabinoids slow down the progression of PD?  No.

Preclinical Models
Most published studies suggest neuroprotective effect in toxin-based models
Mechanisms may include anti-inflammatory and microglia effects
Most studies suggest cannabinoid receptors are not involved
No data in people

Speaker works with patients using cannabis for medical purposes.  He does not write a prescriptions.  He fills out paperwork so patients can get a license to buy marijuana.  In other states it may work differently.  There is no regulatory body saying 10% CBD will be the same across dispensaries.  You should stay with the same dispensary for the maximum consistency.  Most patients start w/CBD (cannabidiol) although THC may help more with pain, dyskinesias and motor functioning.  Avoid smoking due to cancer risk.  Use creams, patches, edibles, vaping in that order.  Start low and increase slowly.  There are side effects.  Tell your doctor about your use.

Take-Home messages
* There are many different (100+) psychoactive chemicals in cannabis and products derived from cannabis may vary widely in terms of their benefits and side effects.  Some are stimulants, others will help you sleep.
* There is currently no conclusive evidence supporting the benefits of cannabis for any aspect of PD.
* Anecdotal evidence suggests cannabis may help pain, sleep, appetite, nausea and anxiety.
* Research to date on motor symptoms and dyskinesias in people have been either negative or inconclusive to date.
* Potential side effects include confusion, low blood pressure, falls and pulmonary issues if smoked.

Question and Answer:

There’s no evidence to suggest people with PD will experience benefits from medical marijuana?
There’s evidence from other diseases that symptoms like nausea, appetite, anxiety, sleep will also help in PD.

THC most helps pain.  Would you recommend creams for that?  How do you go about acquiring that?
Where it’s legal if you have a medical license you go to a dispensary and ask for the creams or patches.  Where it is not legal, pure CBD (cannabidiol) products can be shipped across state lines, although it may not be as efficacious without a small amount of THC for pain.  There is still a legal risk.

The negative interactions of these drugs include hallucinogenic effects so what is the risk for people with psychosis?
The literature provides guidance.  For people with dementia or advanced PD you must be more cautious.  The potential for developing side effects is higher.  Paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions risk is higher.  For those with Lewy Body Dementia CBD has been useful as a calming influence.

What is the difference between recreational and medical marijuana?
In Colorado there are both types of dispensaries.  The products are similar although the recreational dispensaries focus on higher THC. The reason to get a medical license is to have more access to more CBD (cannabidiol) products, creams and patches that are not usually used for recreational purposes.  It also gives you a tax break.

Is it covered by insurance?
Not yet.

People with PD are resigned to the need to increase dose as disease progresses.  Same with marijuana?
No long term studies to show this.  The doses he’s worked with patients seem to be stable.  Other medications, like opioids, benzodiazepines can be replaced with cannabis in lower doses, less cloudy cognition to get off opioids.

Should you worry about getting addicted to cannabis?
It does not appear using cannabis creates a physical dependency like opioids and benzodiazepines, although they can develop a psychological dependence.  If you are younger and considering cannabis for sleep or pain he would say to give it a try.  There is no downside to using it long term.

Hemp is related to cannabis.  What is the relationship between them?
They are the same genus but it does not include the psychoactive chemicals.  Hemp products will be legal, but he doesn’t know if they would be effective to treat what they claim to, or not.

People with pain muscle cramping find the calming effect of marijuana relieve dystonia symptoms?  Do you think that’s what’s happening?
Muscle cramping or dystonic pain shows benefit by using CBD (cannabidiol) with a bit of THC to relieve muscle cramping.  It could be the relaxation effect that relieves the pain.  The cannabinoid system is also involved in pain perception.  A recent study (last year) tested people with PD pain perception 1/2 hour after cannabis use.  Their pain threshold increased. After 12 weeks of use the thresholds were even higher.  Cannabis use quiets the nervous system and increases pain tolerance.  It can be particularly useful, especially creams, for pain control by both peripheral and central mechanisms.

Do the cannabinoids go right into the skin through the skin?
Yes, predominantly that is a local effectiveness similar to lidocaine cream.  With the patches it is a combination of local and periphery effect.

Does cannabis help with tremor?
That is being studied now by using CBD (cannabidiol).  There are reports of cannabis effectiveness on tremor, but they are just reports, not studies.

For a person with Parkinson’s who wants to try cannabis, how do they approach their doctor?
Even in Colorado, neurologist responses are mixed.  Some are still not comfortable in writing the paperwork to get a license.  There is some talk about teaching and training in medical school to accommodate this need by patients.  You should talk about cannabis as complementary medicine.  If your doctor is not cooperative you should not proceed on your own or you may experience detrimental side effects without medical support.  You should get a referral to a cooperative doctor before proceeding.  Ask for a 2nd opinion. Insurance pays for 2nd opinions.

Any concern about cannabis and DBS (deep brain stimulation)?
Same cautions apply.  Speech, balance, cognition challenges can be magnified by cannabis.  There should be not any particular benefit or detriment due to the presence of a DBS unit.

Impulse control disorder magnification by cannabis use?
No studies on this.  There should be no relationship excepting if the individual becomes obsessed with using cannabis just as they could become obsessed with anything else (sex, food, gambling, etc.)

Atypical parkinsonisms advice?
One study suggested CBD (cannabidiol) can be helpful in Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) by calming reaction to hallucinations.  Be aware of low blood pressure, falling risk, etc. as for regular PD.

How can you get involved in research studies for cannabis?
Clinicaltrials.gov has all the clinical trials in the world.  Search Parkinson’s and cannabis.
Look at Fox Trial Finder.  Use the PubMed search engine.  Search for research studies on topics of interest to you and contact those researchers.  You can make financial donations to those researchers and/or their research organizations.

“21 Tips for Washing, Grooming and Going to the Bathroom”

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“21 Tips for Washing, Grooming and Going to the Bathroom”

Earlier in the year, a post on Parkinson’s News Today (parkinsonsnewstoday.com) offered 21 tips to make washing, grooming and going to the bathroom easier and safer.  Though the blog post is on a Parkinson’s-related website, the tips apply to everyone with mobility issues or those at risk of falling.

Robin

——————————

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/01/15/21-tips-washing-grooming-going-bathroom-parkinsons-disease/

21 Tips for Washing, Grooming and Going to the Bathroom With Parkinson’s Disease
By Wendy Henderson
Parkinson’s News Today
January 15, 2018

As a person’s Parkinson’s disease progresses, simple everyday tasks such as washing, grooming and going to the bathroom can become difficult due to typical Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremors or rigidity. Those living with the disease will be keen to do as much for themselves as possible and retain as much of their independence as they can, particularly when it comes to personal hygiene.

We’ve put together a list of handy tips to help people living with Parkinson’s continue to wash, groom and go to the bathroom easily and safely…

Washing

• Installing at least two fitted handrails near the bath or shower will allow the patient to grab hold of something safe and secure while getting in and out of the bath or shower. These should be professionally fitted if possible to ensure they are strong enough to support the patient’s weight.
• A chair or bench in the shower or bathtub will help those who have trouble balancing while standing. A handheld showerhead is best used in these circumstances.
• Make sure the water isn’t too hot.
• Place non-slip rubber mats in the bath tub and shower cubicle.
• Bath rugs and mats should have a rubber backing so they don’t slide across tiles.
• Liquid soap in a pump dispenser is safer to use than hard bars of soap which can slip out of hands and leave slippery residue underfoot.
• Install a shelf in the shower or bath area that is between knee and shoulder height for easy access to soap, shampoo, and other essential washing items.
• Advise the patient to always take their cell phone or medical alert device into the bathroom if they’re home alone.

Grooming

• Patients should sit down when brushing their teeth, shaving, applying makeup or drying their hair so they don’t have to worry about balance.
• It’s important to support the upper body by resting elbows on the sink or vanity when grooming.
• Electric devices are often better and safer to use than non-electric ones, such as toothbrushes and shavers.
• Hands-free hair dryers can be mounted on a vanity unit.

Going to the bathroom and incontinence

• Toilet frames or grab bars will help patients get up off the toilet safely.
• Introduce a regular schedule for visiting the bathroom, such as every two hours or before meals.
• Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks which may cause more frequent bathroom visits.
• Try to avoid fluids two hours before bed.
• Patients should use a nightlight or keep the bathroom light on during the night so they can make their way to the bathroom safely.
• It’s advised that those with Parkinson’s attempt to fully empty their bladder each time they visit the bathroom.
• If patients become prone to bathroom accidents, they should try using incontinence products such as pads or padded underwear.
• Patients should seek medical advice if they experience burning or a sudden increase in frequency or urgency to urinate as this may indicate a urinary tract infection.
• A urologist can help if patients are experiencing problems with incontinence.
Earlier in the year, a post on Parkinson’s News Today (parkinsonsnewstoday.com) offered 21 tips to make washing, grooming and going to the bathroom easier and safer.  Though the blog post is on a Parkinson’s-related website, the tips apply to everyone with mobility issues or those at risk of falling.

Robin

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parkinsonsnewstoday.com/2018/01/15/21-tips-washing-grooming-going-bathroom-parkinsons-disease/

21 Tips for Washing, Grooming and Going to the Bathroom With Parkinson’s Disease
By Wendy Henderson
Parkinson’s News Today
January 15, 2018

As a person’s Parkinson’s disease progresses, simple everyday tasks such as washing, grooming and going to the bathroom can become difficult due to typical Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremors or rigidity. Those living with the disease will be keen to do as much for themselves as possible and retain as much of their independence as they can, particularly when it comes to personal hygiene.

We’ve put together a list of handy tips to help people living with Parkinson’s continue to wash, groom and go to the bathroom easily and safely…

Washing

• Installing at least two fitted handrails near the bath or shower will allow the patient to grab hold of something safe and secure while getting in and out of the bath or shower. These should be professionally fitted if possible to ensure they are strong enough to support the patient’s weight.
• A chair or bench in the shower or bathtub will help those who have trouble balancing while standing. A handheld showerhead is best used in these circumstances.
• Make sure the water isn’t too hot.
• Place non-slip rubber mats in the bath tub and shower cubicle.
• Bath rugs and mats should have a rubber backing so they don’t slide across tiles.
• Liquid soap in a pump dispenser is safer to use than hard bars of soap which can slip out of hands and leave slippery residue underfoot.
• Install a shelf in the shower or bath area that is between knee and shoulder height for easy access to soap, shampoo, and other essential washing items.
• Advise the patient to always take their cell phone or medical alert device into the bathroom if they’re home alone.

Grooming

• Patients should sit down when brushing their teeth, shaving, applying makeup or drying their hair so they don’t have to worry about balance.
• It’s important to support the upper body by resting elbows on the sink or vanity when grooming.
• Electric devices are often better and safer to use than non-electric ones, such as toothbrushes and shavers.
• Hands-free hair dryers can be mounted on a vanity unit.

Going to the bathroom and incontinence

• Toilet frames or grab bars will help patients get up off the toilet safely.
• Introduce a regular schedule for visiting the bathroom, such as every two hours or before meals.
• Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks which may cause more frequent bathroom visits.
• Try to avoid fluids two hours before bed.
• Patients should use a nightlight or keep the bathroom light on during the night so they can make their way to the bathroom safely.
• It’s advised that those with Parkinson’s attempt to fully empty their bladder each time they visit the bathroom.
• If patients become prone to bathroom accidents, they should try using incontinence products such as pads or padded underwear.
• Patients should seek medical advice if they experience burning or a sudden increase in frequency or urgency to urinate as this may indicate a urinary tract infection.
• A urologist can help if patients are experiencing problems with incontinence.

“It’s Time to Have a Conversation About Your Health Care Decisions”

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“It’s Time to Have a Conversation About Your Health Care Decisions”

In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, which is coming up next week (April 16th), we are sharing a blog post from last year about having a conversation about your healthcare decisions.  The blog post is from Transition Aging Parents (transitionagingparents.com), a website started by a woman who was a caregiver to her mother.

Why is it important for us to start a conversation with our families and physicians about our healthcare decisions?  Because we cannot count on:
a) being able to communicate your preferences at every juncture, or
b) that the medical community will make the same choice you would, depending on the circumstances.

Two useful websites are mentioned in the blog post:

#1 – National Healthcare Decisions Day website, nhdd.org.  Lots of resources because “it is never too early to talk about your health care preferences and you do not have to figure it out on your own.”

#2 – “Hello” conversation game, commonpractice.com/hello.  This is an “easy, non-threatening way to start a conversation with your family and friends about what matters most to you.”

Robin

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www.transitionagingparents.com/2017/04/19/its-time-to-have-a-conversation-about-your-health-care-decisions/

It’s Time to Have a Conversation About Your Health Care Decisions
by Laura E. Bender, guest blogger
Transition Aging Parents
April 19, 2017

Conversations about the end of your life can be scary, sad or awkward. But these conversations also can be comfortable.

A few years ago, on a flight from Denver to Philadelphia, the woman seated on my left asked me what I did for work. I assumed my response would kill the sociable dynamic of our conversation if I didn’t choose my words carefully. I’m a palliative care researcher and, at the time, I was reading detailed patient death notes in medical records and talking with family members of recently deceased veterans about the care they received in their last month of life.

“I study the experiences of people dying and the choices people face at the end of their life,” I told her.

Most people would quickly respond with a degree of uneasiness, saying how sad my work must be, and then they find a way to change the conversation. This woman was refreshingly different. She dove into how important she knows my work is and how she is confident in the choices she has made for herself. I learned she was perfectly healthy and vibrant. She didn’t work in a health care related field, but she was clear when she did and did not want a resuscitate order.

Many people rarely have such a casual conversation, let alone any conversation at all about advance care planning and end-of-life choices. But now is a good time to think about that decision by using the many free resources available for National Healthcare Decisions Day at nhdd.org.

I confidently can say that people often don’t know that they even have choices. Many of the people I have spoken with assume they will get the type of care they want wherever they are. If a person has a condition so severe that he or she is unable to communicate, doctors, family members, friends, and, even, sometimes state and federal regulations dictate what happens. Any disagreement may prolong decision-making and possibly increase the chances of suffering. This confusion and conflict that can arise during difficult times can be eased with preparation.

Educational barriers often result in inadequate end-of-life care conversations. The NHDD website provides links to official legal documents for your state, as well as games, such as “Hello” (commonpractice.com/hello), a conversation game about “living and dying well” that can be played by anyone of all ages. NHDD reminds us that it is never too early to talk about your health care preferences and you do not have to figure it out on your own.

I long to live in a world where there are people like the woman on the plane who feel empowered to discuss these important decisions. Show love for yourself and those you love to live the best life all the way through to the last moments.

Laura E. Bender is a Ph.D. student in health services research at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

“31 Five-Second Reminders that Will Make Calmness Your Superpower”

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“31 Five-Second Reminders that Will Make Calmness Your Superpower”

This blog post, from Marc & Angel’s “Hack Life,” is a list of 31 five-second reminders that will make “calmness your superpower.”  Here’s a short excerpt from the intro:

“The ultimate measure of your wisdom and strength?  How calm you are when facing any given situation.  Yes, calmness is a human superpower.  The ability to not overreact or take things personally keeps your thoughts clean and your heart at peace, which instantly gives you an upper hand regardless of your circumstances.  Thus, the biggest and most complex obstacle you will ever have to overcome is your own mind.  If you can overcome that, you can overcome almost anything.  And by ‘overcoming,’ I’m referring to the skill of mindfulness, and learning to effectively control your emotional responses to life’s unexpected tests.  Because most of your deepest pain and frustration on a daily basis will come from the way you respond, not the way life is.”

And here’s one of the five-second reminders:

“When you are lost in worry, it is easy to mistake your worries for reality, instead of recognizing that they are just thoughts.”

Check out the full list of reminders here:

www.marcandangel.com/2018/04/08/31-five-second-reminders-that-will-make-calmness-your-superpower/

Robin

 

Jackie’s example of a letter to family/friends to help them communicate better

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Jackie’s example of a letter to family/friends to help them communicate better

On Tuesday, Jackie Vandenberg, who lives in NY with multiple system atrophy, asked people to share her open letter to family and friends.  The goal of her letter is to help family and friends communicate with her better.  I think it’s worth sharing with everyone as it is not MSA-specific but person-specific.  Others may want to use this open letter as a model for their own letter to aide in communicating with your family and friends.

Dear friends and family,

I always appreciate when friends and family come to visit. I noticed
lately that some people struggle knowing how to talk with me as my
ability to communicate decreases. I have brainstormed a few things to help…

1) I enjoy socializing even though I cannot speak back. I’m interested
and am listening when others tell me about themselves. I like to hear
about how people are doing, their families, hobbies, vacations,
experiences, weekend activities, etc.

2) I wish to be spoken to as a person and an adult. Please speak to me
normally by not using slower or louder speech, or a reduced vocabulary
and sentence structures. I like to be part of the conversation by making
eye contact and being spoken to directly.

3) It’s easier/quicker for me to be asked ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions.

4) When we’re together you can talk or not talk, either is fine. I’m
comfortable with quiet too.

5) I use a piece of cardboard with the alphabet written out to
communicate, we call it a Ouija Board. I can point to letters to spell
out words. I need someone else to hold the cardboard and adjust it as I
go. It can take a while for me to spell out sentences so I appreciate
everyone’s patience. It’s ok if you don’t understand a word the first
few times, as Tom and Adrianne can attest to.

6) When I’m using the Dynavox communication device it’s ok to fix
letters/autocorrect for me.

7) A symptom of MSA is excessive drooling. If you’re comfortable doing
so you can use a tissue or washcloth to wipe my mouth.

8) The best way to contact me to make plans is on Tom’s cell phone
through call or text. I check my email and Facebook messenger every
couple of days and am happy to get messages there too.

I hope this list is helpful for everyone! I love having friends and
family visit and appreciate all of our time together.

With Love,
Jackie

“The Happy Hours” – great idea for socialization and other thoughts from KLS

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“The Happy Hours” – great idea for socialization and other thoughts from KLS

Kathryn Leigh Scott (kathrynleighscott.com) has recently published three books about caregiving —
– “The Happy Hours”
– “A Welcome Respite”
– “Now With You, Now Without”

In January 2018, I shared Denise’s short review of “A Welcome Respite.”

In 2016, Kathryn Leigh Scott (KLS) published the beautiful book “Last Dance at the Savoy,” about caring for the love of your life through the very end. KLS mentions Brain Support Network for help with brain donation in this book. Denise’s short review of that book is posted to our blog, www.brainsupportnetwork.org/blog.

After listening to a February 2018 interview* of Kathryn Leigh Scott, I think “The Happy Hours” might be of interest to some of you. I haven’t read it yet but, in the interview, Kathryn shares the core idea of the book. In her husband Geoff’s final years — after he was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) — she was determined to make the most of his remaining time. And she was determined that neither Geoff nor she, as the caregiver, would be isolated.

KLS and Geoff instituted “happy hour” at their home. The happy hour took place in the master bedroom. She removed all signs of medical equipment or disability. She added a bistro table and chairs. There was an open door policy. Anyone could come. Geoff wore an amplification device so that his voice could be heard. Apparently these gatherings were very important to her husband as they helped him be remembered by others.

In the interview, she mentions a few other things worth sharing here. First, she says that the key is to have patience. She tried to remember that “Geoff can’t help it.”

Second, she found the role reversal of caregiving very difficult.

Third, she addressed the importance to her husband Geoff of his engaging in research. He participated in trials. And he donated his brain for research. They both participated in an environmental study of PSP.

Fourth, she recommends hospice at home. She doesn’t call hospice “end of life care” but rather “quality of life care.”

A few things were said about PSP in the interview. I’ve put some notes about that below for the PSP folks on this email list.

Robin

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* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4hzl7SYseA&feature=youtu.be

The caregiver-related part of the interview is basically from minute 6 to minute 22.

From minute 6 to minute 10:27, Kathryn Leigh Scott offers some general information on PSP. She describes PSP as being part of a family of five progressive movement disorders. The five are PSP, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy, Lewy body dementia, and ALS. The host of the interview incorrectly refers to these as auto-immune disorders. KLS said that 20K people a year are diagnosed with PSP in the US. PSP research is informing Alzheimer’s research.

“Getting Sick Can Be Really Expensive, Even for the Insured” (NYT)

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“Getting Sick Can Be Really Expensive, Even for the Insured” (NYT)

This eye-opening article in today’s New York Times (nytimes.com) is of most relevance to the multiple system atrophy community as MSA often hits in ones 50s.  The article addresses how “getting sick can be really expensive, even for the insured.”

The author notes:

Among people in their 50s who were hospitalized, about 10 percent never went back to work.  Some others scaled back their hours or took lower-paying jobs.

The full article is well worth reading:

www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/upshot/getting-sick-is-really-expensive.html

Getting Sick Can Be Really Expensive, Even for the Insured
Beyond medical costs, a trip to the hospital can mean a permanent reduction in income for many Americans, new research shows.
By Margot Sanger-Katz
New York Times
March 21, 2018

Robin