Focus on Geriatric and Adult Services : home care

Reducing Reevaluations

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:53:00 GMT

While some patients in skilled nursing facilities are there for short-term stays in order to receive various therapy and nursing services, others will remain with us for months, years, or possibly for the rest of their lives. We expect to see some patients...(read more)

Choosing Diets

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:05:00 GMT

In the SNF, therapists often get accustomed to choosing pureed, mechanical soft, or regular diet textures. At times, I request a mechanical soft meal with pureed meats, and some facilities ask us to specify mechanical soft with chopped meats or mechanical...(read more)

Books and Manuals for the New Graduate

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:00:00 GMT

This week I'd like to continue with specific therapy material suggestions for new graduates and the books and manuals that have worked for me, with a focus on cognitive-linguistic resources. Cognitive-linguistic therapy is a very important aspect of our...(read more)

Facts About Normal Aging

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:15:00 GMT

Since I've written quite a bit recently about the changes and challenges the elderly face. I wanted to balance that out with some quick facts about aging in general. Although I often work with the frail and dependent geriatric patients, the happy truth...(read more)

Changes in the Elderly: Pain, Temperature and Hunger

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

As we consider sensory changes that occur throughout the aging process, it is important to remember the subtle differences that will manifest and how they might affect a patient's participation in therapy and daily activities, as well as his or her quality...(read more)

Visual Changes in Geriatric Patients

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT

I mentioned in an earlier post that vision changes related to aging may begin as early as one ' s thirties , and that I myself have noticed subtle, but nonetheless vexing, visual changes. Indeed, the anatomy of the eye itself , including the lenses, the...(read more)

My Memory Week

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:55:00 GMT

I hope everyone has been enjoying a festive holiday season, and because I know we are all so busy with celebrations, family and friends as well as work, I am offering a very brief blog post this week. At recent holiday gatherings, I was asked about my...(read more)

Cognitive-based Swallow Impairments

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:42:00 GMT

There is often no easy answer to address swallowing deficits in the elderly. I am sometimes approached by staff and families because a resident "cannot swallow" or "is not eating/ drinking/ taking medications," but upon evaluation, I find no physical...(read more)

Working with Patients with Dysphagia During the Holiday Season

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:00:00 GMT

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, I realize that many families and caregivers, as well as staff, struggle to include the elderly patient with swallowing or cognitive-communication impairments in the holiday celebrations. If Mom or Dad have swallowing...(read more)

Five Great Ways to Work with Geriatric Patients

Jennifer Kay-Williams — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:52:00 GMT

1. Remember that they like to have fun just like the rest of us. I'm not saying that Mickey Mouse coloring books or Sponge Bob videos are appropriate (though I do know some nursing home residents who love coloring books; as it turns out, I do too!). I...(read more)