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Geriatric Medicine/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| nutrition drinks for elderly | 12/9/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: Ensure and Boost, for the elderly. Many times i hear that patients don't like the taste/consistency ... A: You're best bet is to phone a couple of pharmacies in your area and ask what calorie supplements and ... | ||
| Regaining & Retaining the Ability to Walk | 11/17/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 98-years-young Aunt Mabel finally had to leave her home and go to live in a nursing home because ... A: It is always worrisome when we see someone we love lose their physical and/or mental status but Aunt ... | ||
| Dementia and Toileting | 10/5/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mom has dementia and is having trouble with toileting. She wears Depends pads because she is ... A: This must be a very stressful situation for you and your Mother. I wish I had an easy answer at hand ... | ||
| Counsel on an Eldercare Situation | 7/5/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I don't know whether you are the appropriate person to direct this question to, but here goes: My ... A: First allow me to apologise for my tardy response - my telephone company has been driving me crazy ... | ||
| how to tell a heart attack is happening | 6/17/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: does vomiting coupled with profuse sweating followed by fatigue indicate that a person has had a ... A: No one can diagnose a heart attack properly without blood-work, but I think what you describe sounds ... | ||
| Can a Care giver have a say....? | 2/25/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I am a care provider for a 93 year old man. He has been a friend to my husbands family for over 30 ... A: As I say, I'm not familiar with your government (but I love your Coast!), so I wouldn't want to ... | ||
| Can a Care giver have a say....? | 2/21/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I am a care provider for a 93 year old man. He has been a friend to my husbands family for over 30 ... A: Yes you certainly can help this dear man and good for you for caring enough to want to get involved. ... | ||
| Proper Dementia Diagnosis | 2/21/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mom is 91 years young. She had a UTI episode a few years ago that went undiagnosed for sometime ... A: It certainly sounds fishy to me, especially with her intact recent memory. I would ask for a ... | ||
| 91-year old Mother-in-Law | 2/2/2011 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My Mother-in-Law is 91. She's had Rhuemetoid Arthritis for over 30 years. She has had extreme hip ... A: Wow, I can understand why you're feeling frazzles - you've had a real run around! If the ... | ||
| death and life | 10/25/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My father, age 86, has MS & diabetes & is paralyzed from the chest down. He is a veteran. He lives ... A: The best thing to do is to have a lawyer come see him and have your father put HIS expressed wishes ... | ||
| UTI and psychiatric decomp. in elderly | 9/21/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I'm a clinical social worker. Over the years I have encountered a number of older female clients who ... A: In Geriatirc medicine it’s well known that if an elderly patient is having sudden-onset Delusions or ... | ||
| Tired sleeping elderly mum | 9/21/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mum is 83, has early cognitive dementia, that she is aware of and deals with by writing things ... A: Depression is all too common in our seniors and is sadly very under-recognised and under-diagnosed. ... | ||
| radiation therapy | 5/20/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: should I take my 89 yr old father to radiation therapy for a lesion on his esophagus ? A: I’m not a big believer in many of western medicine’s current treatments for cancer, especially the ... | ||
| UTI | 4/4/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mother is 97, in a nursing home and has a UTI. However, she refuses to take the medicine. We ... A: It is a challenge, your Mother is not the first senior to refuse medication. I would suggest: Ask ... | ||
| my grandpa | 3/30/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: A nurse at the hospital told my mother my grandpa is going to die soon. He won't eat and only wants ... A: I would guess that the nurse sees signs that your Grandpa's body is getting weaker and starting to ... | ||
| alzheirmers - rehabilitation following pneumonia | 1/29/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 90 year old father suffers from Alzheimer's and his condition has been rapidly declining over the ... A: I am sorry to read about your Dad’s struggle with dementia. The first thing you’ll want to do is ... | ||
| My Dad | 1/24/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My father has had dementia/Alzheimers for about 7 years. He is 93 and in a Care Facility. Recently ... A: Your Dad's medications are commonly used for residents with dementia and the doses are within normal ... | ||
| confusion with elderly mother | 1/22/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 77yr.old mother was admitted to the hospital for radiation therapy for cancer. Before admitting ... A: I am sorry to read about your Mother’s cancer. It sounds like your Mother is having Delusions or ... | ||
| bowel movements | 1/2/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 93 year old grandmother has a terrible habit of picking or digging in her backside. She is not ... A: The only advice I have I to try and make the area inaccessible as reasoning and teaching are to ... | ||
| Stroke | 1/2/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 84 mother had a stroke 3 days ago. I spoke to her on the phone and she was slurring he speech ... A: Usually there is a section in your local White Pages phone book for government listings. Look for ... | ||
| Stroke | 1/2/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 84 mother had a stroke 3 days ago. I spoke to her on the phone and she was slurring he speech ... A: You are experiencing the same stressful challenges many of us in the ‘sandwich generation’ are ... | ||
| Mom with dementia | 1/1/2010 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mom has dementia and lives with us. She is beginning to lose the ability to go to the rest room. ... A: It really depends on how comfortable you and your family would be changing her adult diapers and ... | ||
| 89 year old mother not eating | 11/10/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: Our 89 year old mother has senile dementia. She is now bedridden and has full time care. She hardly ... A: Unfortunately there is no simple formula to prognose “how long” although of course everyone’s loved ... | ||
| my mother is demented and paranoic | 10/19/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mother is 79 y.o, she was born in russia, the last 6 yrs she lives in Boston, because we live ... A: It is a difficult situation but I would contact the health authority in her area, I would suggest ... | ||
| Mother's medication | 9/16/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mother is 72 and in the last 2-3 months we have noticed that she seems to be confused. It is ... A: It’s a bit challenging to guess without knowing your Mother’s full medical history and her current ... | ||
| Mental status changes | 9/5/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: my mother of 86 years old was admitted in the hospital yesterday due to unresponsiveness and ... A: Yes it is very difficult to guess without knowing your Mother’s complete medical history and her ... | ||
| Parent talks about dying a lot | 8/23/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My Dad is 87 in good health. Three years ago the cardiac surgeon said he needed an aortic valve ... A: I agree with you that your Dad is not showing obvious signs of depression. I think he is just ... | ||
| Change in Mental Status | 8/6/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My Grandmother, nearly 89 years old, was independent and doing well until January of this year. At ... A: Hyperammonemia and hyperammonemic encephalopathy are common side-effect risks associated with ... | ||
| geriatric medication | 8/4/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I feel my grandmother is in a medication induced stupor. She does have "mental" issues such as ... A: Reviewing your Grandmothers meds I found the following: Abilify (5mg/day) - as an adjunct to ... | ||
| Older Adult Exercise & Wellness | 7/9/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My business partner, Aaron, and I have developed a unique exercise program for older adults called ... A: Hey Meranda, Wow, good for you - it sounds like you guys have a wonderful program which is already ... | ||
| infection | 7/2/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: we are taking care of our father. he has Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the colonization stage. what ... A: ere is all the info you'll need. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are common inhabitants of soil and ... | ||
| Fosamax | 6/28/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My elderly mom says that when she takes her Alendronate Sodium (fosamax), she's been finding it ... A: I know that Fosamax must be taken at least 30 minutes before the first food, beverage, or medication ... | ||
| Medicine | 6/23/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I have a question about who can adminster medicine to an elderly person. I know that the immediate ... A: My advice is to never give anything to anyone unless you know what it is and what the potential ... | ||
| Dementia - Feeding Tube or Not | 6/9/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My Dad (only 73) lived what appeared to be a fully independent life until November. Dad was ... A: I am so very sorry to read about your Dad’s sad condition, this must be tearing you and your family ... | ||
| Dementia | 3/1/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My mother was admitted to the nursing home Dec.23, 2008 with full blown dementia. She no longer knew ... A: I am sorry to read about your struggles – seniors can certainly make us feel guilty. It sounds like ... | ||
| low blood pressure | 2/5/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I read your answer to a daughter concerned about her mother's high blood pressure. I am wondering ... A: The readings do sounds unusually low so my first guess is the meter is not accurate. I suggest ... | ||
| depression or what | 1/8/2009 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 83 yr. old father has in the past 6 month lost interest in everything. He is diabetic,high blood ... A: Depression is all too common in our seniors and is sadly very under-recognised and under-diagnosed. ... | ||
| what to ask rehab | 12/30/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 78 year old mother has been at a rehab center for a month now and they are not providing progress ... A: Yes it is very difficult to guess without knowing your Mother’s medical history and her current test ... | ||
| smelly urine | 11/8/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: I am a 70 year old male in fair health, not highly mobile, and incontinent. For several years now, ... A: My first suggestion was going to be increasing your daily water intake, but you already know that so ... | ||
| moving from nursing home to assisted living | 10/6/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
| Q: My 84 year old father had pneumonia (caused by aspiration) about a year ago and the hospital doctors ... A: I can’t believe how rude they’re being – they have no right to refuse to allow any resident to leave ... | ||
Margot RN BScN GNC
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
GERONTOLOGY (NURSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE ELDERLY) I have 25+ years experience working with the elderly. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. My areas of expertise include: Gerontology / Geriatrics, Long Term Care, Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Private Nursing Services, Intermediate / Extended Care. I also have a personal interest in Homeopathic and Eastern Medicine. If I can not answer your question I`ll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you.
Experience
27 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and Palliative Care.
Education/Credentials
Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
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