- With Mayo Clinic geriatrician
Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
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Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
"The Internet will impact the lives of all patients young and old. Older and mature patients are no exception to this information explosion." — Dr. Takahashi
Dr. Paul Yoshio Takahashi works with elderly patients as a member of the geriatric consultative group at Mayo Clinic. He works in all medical settings, including the outpatient clinic, the nursing home and occasionally the patient's home. He is especially interested in strategies for successful aging, preventing elder abuse and mistreatment, home telemonitoring, frailty, and cognitive screening in elderly patients.
Dr. Takahashi is a consultant in the Division of Primary Care Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic. He is an associate professor of medicine at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He had a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine from 1997 to 1998.
Dr. Takahashi cares for all of a patient's acute needs and chronic problems and focuses on specialty issues such as memory problems, safety in the home, healthy aging, proper medications and end-of-life concerns.
He sees the Internet playing a growing role in the health information field.
"Patients and their families want and expect the most up-to-date information about life, health, disease and death. Healthy aging as a concept has grown quickly over the last 20 years as we have all lived longer and hopefully better," he says. "I expect that Mayo Clinic will be a significant part of this growing movement of a healthy maturity."
Dr. Takahashi, a native of Pittsfield, Ill., joined Mayo Clinic in 1998 and is board certified in internal medicine with added qualification in geriatric medicine. He is a fellow of the American Geriatrics Society.
Risk factors (2)
- Oophorectomy (ovary removal): A risk factor for dementia?
- Alzheimer's: Can a head injury increase my risk?
Symptoms (1)
- Sundowning: Late-day confusion
Tests and diagnosis (2)
- Rapidly progressing Alzheimer's: Something else?
- Alzheimer's test: Detection at the earliest stages
Complications (1)
- Phantosmia: What causes olfactory hallucinations?
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Folic acid supplements: Can they slow cognitive decline?
- Vitamin B-12: Can it improve memory in Alzheimer's?
- Alzheimer's nose spray: New Alzheimer's treatment?
Lifestyle and home remedies (2)
- Alzheimer's: Can a Mediterranean diet lower my risk?
- Music and Alzheimer's: Can it help?
Alternative medicine (5)
- Phosphatidylserine supplements: Can they improve memory?
- Vitamin B-12: Can it improve memory in Alzheimer's?
- Axona: Medical food to treat Alzheimer's
- see all in Alternative medicine
Coping and support (1)
- Elder care for Alzheimer's: Choosing a provider
Prevention (3)
- Alzheimer's disease: Can exercise prevent memory loss?
- Alzheimer's prevention: Does it exist?
- Benefits of being bilingual: Delay Alzheimer's?
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Question
Elder care for Alzheimer's: Choosing a provider
I am considering finding an elder care center for a loved one with Alzheimer's. What should I look for when considering a provider?
Answer
from Paul Y. Takahashi, M.D.
Elder care, or adult care, can provide an opportunity for your loved one with Alzheimer's to receive assistance and therapeutic activities in a group setting.
Being a full-time caregiver can be tiring and time-consuming. Elder care can provide you with a temporary break to relax, to get errands done or to complete housework. Also, elder care may be an option for your loved one if you work full time during the day.
In the U.S. you can locate elder care services available in your area by using the Department of Health and Human Services' Eldercare Locator website. This website provides contact information for your state or local area agency on aging (AAA). The AAA will connect you with someone who will help guide you to specific elder care service providers.
Determine your needs
When considering elder care providers, evaluate the services your loved one may need, including:
- Socialization
- Supervision
- Behavior management, such as needing to be watched so he or she doesn't wander off
- Counseling
- Activities, such as art, music, recreation or support groups
- Exercise
- Physical, occupational or speech therapy
- Medical care
- Medication management
- Meals and nutrition
- Personal care, such as bathing and eating
- Special needs, such as needing wheelchair access
If you're choosing among more than one provider, some additional considerations are:
- Location. How convenient is it?
- Hours. What are drop-off and pickup times? Does your loved one need to attend a minimum number of hours or days a week? Does the provider need notice if your loved one will not be attending one day?
- Costs. Often, costs are out-of-pocket, but some long-term care insurance plans may cover this type of care. Some providers offer options, such as allowing you to pay a certain amount depending on your income. Ask your provider about all fees involved in elder care. Costs may vary depending on the services available and the provider's location.
- Services and programs. What services and programs are offered?
- Group activities. Are people with Alzheimer's in a separate group from other people or are they included in group activities?
- Your loved one's needs. How does the provider determine your loved one's needs?
- Staff. Is the staff trained in working with people with Alzheimer's disease? What health care professionals are on staff? How does the provider screen staff? What are the provider's staffing ratios?
- Safety. How does this provider ensure the safety of every person?
- Emergencies. How does this provider deal with emergency situations?
- Transportation. Does the provider have transportation available for people who may need it?
Ensuring quality care
Entrusting your loved one to someone else's care can be difficult. When you're choosing a center, here are some suggestions to consider to ensure that your loved one will get quality care:
- Ask for references. Ask other caregivers about their experiences. Ask for references and talk to a few people who have used the provider.
- Do some research. Ask the AAA representative or a local senior center whether they have any specific information on the facility you're considering.
- Ask questions. On a first visit to a potential facility, walk through and ask several questions, including questions about available services, the center's certification and licenses, and staff training. The National Adult Day Services Association has a site-visit question checklist you can print and take with you.
- Try it out. When you think you have decided on a center, try it out. Be aware that it may take some time for your loved one to feel comfortable in the new surroundings.
Alzheimer's disease: Can exercise prevent memory loss?
- Adult day centers. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-adult-day-centers.asp. Accessed April 23, 2013.
- Adult day care. Department of Health and Human Resources. http://www.eldercare.gov/ELDERCARE.NET/Public/Resources/Factsheets/Adult_Day_Care.aspx. Accessed April 23, 2013.
- Eldercare locator. Department of Health and Human Resources. http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx. Accessed April 23, 2013.
- Community care options. Family Caregiver Alliance. http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=1992. Accessed April 23, 2013.
- Choosing a center. National Adult Day Services Association. http://www.nadsa.org/consumers/choosing-a-center/. Accessed April 23, 2013.
- Site visit checklist. National Adult Day Services Association. http://www.nadsa.org/consumers/site-visit-checklist/. Accessed April 23, 2013.
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