| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Mother taking more and more risks | 9/14/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My mother lives alone she has a caregiver four hours a day since a hospitialization in January 08. ...
A: Dealing with stubborn seniors IS a challenge and thee are no textbook answers – each situation needs ...
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| Alz & Bowel Movements | 8/25/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My dad is 86 years old with Alzheimer's - it seems he refuses to sit down on the toilet and take a ...
A: Your father’s behaviour is not uncommon for patients with Dementia, I cannot explain it, I can just ...
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| Chronic non-productive cough in 88 y/o male | 7/31/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My father is 88 y/o wm 5'10" (used to be 6'1" in his youth.) weight 180 lbs. History of double ...
A: it helps a lot. I am glad you have an appointment with an Allergist because that is my first ...
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| bedsores or pressure sores | 6/6/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I am in charge of 24 hr care home health care for my father and mother-in-law. My father in law is ...
A: I am afraid the lumpy red area with the small dark dot may turn into a very serious sore if not ...
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| elderly appetite | 6/4/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My mother is 81 years old and now weighs 74 pounds. There are very few foods that she will ...
A: Two suggestions: 1) buy some Ploycose - it is a colorless, odorless and tasteless powder which can ...
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| colesteral medication | 4/25/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My Mom is 70something and just found out after a heart attack that she has only 20% of her heart ...
A: I am probably the wrong person to ask as I don’t believe in Statin drugs and advise my loved ones ...
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| Geriatric Bowel Movement | 4/6/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I am caring for my 83 year-old mother-in-law who suffers from Alzheimers. It seems as if she has a ...
A: My first guess is that she is feeling some discomfort (like dry/hard stools caused by constipation ...
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| elderly woman angry and always tired | 3/27/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: my mother is 88 and always complaining about being tired and sick and gets angry at the drop of a ...
A: Of course old age alone can make us weary, but there can also be underlying treatable causes which ...
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| cumadon | 3/25/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I'm a 56 yr old female that is having tia's , I am extremely allergic to aspirin. I am on disability ...
A: As with any prescription medication, you need to consult with a certified pharmacist before taking ...
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| cumadon and food | 3/21/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: What foods do I need to stay away from while on cumadon
A: Warfarin (Coumadin) is a blood-thinning medication that helps treat and prevent blood clots. Certain ...
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| Dementia and Risperdal | 2/8/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My great aunt is 83 years old. A few years ago she started hearing voices. Her doctor put her on ...
A: Respiradal is a very commonly prescribed medication for Dementia patients to deal with agitation or ...
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| longstaning GERD | 2/6/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My 70-year-old brother has suffered from acid stomach for many years but has grown much worse ...
A: I agree that nurses are a great resource for hearing who’s good and who to avoid, but I’m not sure ...
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| Medical alarm/alert systems | 1/22/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: Margot, It is time for our family to get a monitoring system for our mother. Do you have information ...
A: I would call your local General Hospital and ask if they have a Community Monitoring System (the ...
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| Mom's health issues | 1/20/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: Previously you stated that reversing contractures were difficult - but not that it was impossible. ...
A: I have "reversed" contractures on some of my older clients over the years - it just requires a ...
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| Dairy | 1/16/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I am early fifties. After experiancing a lot of discomfort(gas,bloating) from a small bowl of ice ...
A: I'm SO glad you discovered your obvious food allergy - sadly too many people walk thought life with ...
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| is it dementia without loss of memory | 1/13/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My grandmother, 79 year old, hypertensive under treatment with nifedipine 10mg,had a stroke 1.5 ...
A: Yes it is very difficult to guess without knowing your Grandmother’s medical history and her current ...
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| Anti-depressants for aged people | 1/5/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I heard that Ambien is the most popular drug in the USA for people who suffer from insomnia. Which ...
A: Currently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first choice for treatment of ...
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| when do you need one? | 1/4/2008 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: how do you know if you need to switch to a geriatric doctor from your PCP ? what is the benefit of ...
A: I have worked with both Gerontologists and Geriatric Psychiatrists and have both extremely helpful ...
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| Mental ill mother in "rehabilitation center" | 12/17/2007 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I didn't know who else to ask, so I hope you can give me some suggestions. I'd like to know if ...
A: I am sorry to hear about your Mother's condition, it sounds like she's had a difficult life ...
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| my 84 yr.old Aunt | 12/14/2007 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: She called(I am5 hrs away and it is all mtn. passes) she told me she was so sick she thought she was ...
A: You are experiencing the same stressful challenges many of us in the ‘sandwich generation’ are ...
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| Turning back the clock? | 10/22/2007 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: I am in 53. I have always been curious about how some celebrities manage to stay so young(looking) ...
A: There are no great secrets to good health that I am aware of, just the usual "eat sensibly, exercise ...
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| Grandfather | 10/16/2007 | Margot RN BScN GNC |
Q: My grandfather lives with me. My grandfather has begun to confuse night and day. He will go to bed ...
A: God Bless you for caring for your dear old Granddad - he is lucky to have a family that cares for ...
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