COVID RESOURCES
See my commentary in JAMA news update: Social Isolation -The Other Covid-19 Threat in Nursing Homes
Caring for yourselves and each other during a time of moral injury
Strategies for Mitigating the Emotional Impact of COVID-19
Click here to listen to a podcast from AMDA-on-the-go, with Dr. Watson and leading psychologist, Dr. Richard Juman, on mitigating emotional impact of COVID.
Listen here for the updated podcast 6 weeks in – self-care for the long haul.
AMDA COVID19 Advance Directive
For other resources about expressing wishes for end-of-life, learn about the Conversation Project
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GENERAL RESOURCES
The most important goal = brain safety!
The brain is our most important organ and becomes increasingly vulnerable with age, illness and injury. It should be considered first and foremost before any and all medical decisions to prevent delirium, a common and serious condition in older adults.
What is delirium? It is a sudden confusional state (worse than normal) that significantly increases the risk of injury, hospitalization and death. There are many causes that all add up and most can be prevented, but they are rarely considered beforehand. Understanding and preventing risks for delirium, such as unsafe or too many medications, too much anesthesia, unnecessary medical procedures and trips to the ER, is the number one goal in geriatrics.
Quick tip: older adults should never use over-the-counter products containing diphenhydramine, such as Benadryl or Tylenol PM. These drugs cause delirium and increase the risk for dementia.
Click here to listen to my podcast about antipsychotic use in nursing homes for AMDA on-the-go.
Click here to read my article on KevinMD about use of sleeping pills in older adults.
Printable Screening Instruments
MoCA-Instructions-English_2010
Psychotropic prescribing
Benzodiazepine.Conversion.Chart
Antipsychotic Consent for Off Label Use
Nursing Home Requirements for Psychotropic Use and Gradual Dose Reductions
Magellan Anticholinergic Risk Scale
How to run a psych pharm meeting
Psych pharm meeting tracking tool
Psychotropic medications in the NH – info for families
Dementia
Nonpharmacologic approaches to BPSD
Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors – Treatment Review
Behavioral-Symptoms-as-AD-Progresses (3)
Dementia End of Life Decisions
Difficult decisions as dementia progresses
General psychiatric resources
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
How and when (not) to determine capacity
Dr. Watson provides practical training on managing residents living with severe personality disorders (50 minutes).