Viki will be presenting at the WRC-NAPGCM Conference on 10/16/10 from 10-11:15am PST in Costa Mesa, CA

Viki will be presenting at the WRC-NAPGCM 20th Annual Conference on 10/16/10 from 10-11:15am PST at The Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA.

The 20th Annual WRC-NAPGCM (Western Region Geriatric Care Management)  “Professionalism & Excellence: Navigating the Course” Conference will be held October 14-17, 2010 in Costa Mesa, CA.  In addition to great networking, many opportunities to visit with exhibitors and dynamic general sessions, they will be offering a total of 15 incredible breakout sessions with clinical, business and legal/ethical sessions offered at each time.

A Geriatric Care Manager is a health and human services professional, such as a gerontologist, nurse, social worker, or counselor, with a specialized body of knowledge and experience related to aging and elder care issues.

A Professional Geriatric Care Manager (PGCM) is a member of the National GCM Association and has committed to adhering to the GCM Pledge of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The PGCM assists older adults and persons with disabilities in attaining their maximum functional potential. The PGCM strives to respect the autonomy of the individual and delivers care coordination and support services with sensitivity to preserve the dignity and respect of each individual. In addition, the PGCM is an experienced guide and resource for families of older adults and others with chronic needs.

Professional Geriatric Care Managers can offer:

Evaluations to identify problems, eligibility for assistance and need for services.
Personalized services specifically to meet the client’s wants and needs, including information referral and placement in facilities. Customized care plans are designed to institute the appropriate services.
Counseling and support to seniors and their families.
Liaison assistance for families at a distance.
Accessibility since many GCM members are available after hours and on weekends.
Continuity of care management to reduce miscommunication, time, stress, and costs to clients.
Monitor the quality of services being delivered by service providers such as the health care system.
Efficiency and flexibility because GCM services are streamlined and client-centered, not complicated by bureaucratic red tape.
Cost control. GCM members strive to reduce inappropriate institutional care and overuse of services. They match the service to the client’s needs and help contain costs. Ongoing monitoring can prevent costly crises and unnecessary hospitalizations.
Quality control. GCM has adopted standards for practice for all its members. In addition, all full members are reviewed for educational and experience requirements prior to acceptance into the Association.
Review of financial, legal, or medical issues and offer referrals to geriatric specialists to avoid future problems and conserve assets.

Have a kind and respectful day.

Healthy Aging Radio Show will be featuring Viki Kind on June 28, 2010 at 5pm EST

This Monday, Dr. Michael Perskin will be featuring Viki Kind on his show “Healthy Aging” on Monday, June 28, 2010 from 5-6pm EST.

Every Monday from 4 – 6 pm ET, Dr. Michael Perskin joins the Doctor Radio lineup on SIRIUS Satellite Radio to answer listener questions about aging and the care of the elderly. Dr Perskin is a specialist in geriatric medicine and works with individuals as well as family members caring for their loved ones. Sometimes the questions we have can be as simple as “why do my knees hurt?”, and sometimes they are as difficult as “my mother can’t remember who I am.” Knowing where to turn when medicine and age intersect is a prescription for less stress, better care and a healthier life.

Michael H. Perskin, MD, is the Director of the Faculty Group Practice for the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, as well as Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine.

Dr. Perskin’s clinical practice is devoted to individualized patient-centered care. His focus is on prevention, comprehensive geriatric care management, and diagnosis.

Have a kind and respectful day.

The Unbefriended Senior

What is an “Unbefriended Senior? The “unbefriended” is a word used to describe someone who doesn’t have any friends or loved ones in their lives that the doctor can talk to when the patient is sick or injured. This term could also apply to someone younger without any family or friends.

Let me tell you about what just happened. An 80 year old woman collapsed at the market and was brought to the emergency room. She has had a massive stroke and may not live. The social worker looks through the patient’s wallet to find her insurance card and any information about who to contact in case of an emergency. Only the insurance card and an address are found. The social worker begins to make calls, goes to the patient’s house and tries to find anyone who might know this person. But nobody is found.

So what can the doctors do? If the patient gets better, then the patient will be able to speak for herself but if she doesn’t wake back up then the doctors will have to apply the “Best Interest Standard.” What is this? The Best Interest Standard is used when the healthcare team doesn’t know what the person would want and when nobody is available to talk to.

The healthcare team and possibly the bioethics committee will meet to evaluate what medical options are available for this patient. This way it is not just one person making the decision but a moral community. Next, there will be a discussion about the benefits and burdens of each of the options. Then they will do the best they can to decide what should be done. They may have to make the difficult decisions about dying and death for this person.

The other option for the healthcare team is to have the court assign a public or private conservator or guardian for them. This court appointed person will make their medical and/or financial decisions for the patient. But of course, they don’t know anything about this person either so the choice they will make might be wrong.

My question for you is, “Would you want a stranger to be making life and death decisions for you?”

If the answer is no, then please tell your doctor who they should talk to if you are injured, write it down in your wallet and fill out your Advance Directive. I don’t want you to ever be the unbefriended patient.

Got a question? Ask Viki.