Archive Posts

Upstate geriatrician Sharon Brangman, MD, discusses issues surrounding the use of feeding tubes for the end stage of dementia, and ongoing research that shows it may do more harm than good.

Deirdre Neilen, PhD shares a selection from Upstate’s literary journal, “The Healing Muse” every Sunday on HealthLink on Air. She edits the annual publication featuring fiction, poetry, essays and visual art focused on themes of medicine, illness, disability and healing.

Order copies of “The Healing Muse” through the Center for Bioethics & Humanities.

Calling on Lula Mae, by Cynthia Carmichael

Lula Mae was a big woman
and fond of snuff.

The Maxwell House spittoon,
           an extension of her body,
accompanied her to the doctor.

Near the end, house calls were of necessity.
The doctor found it a challenge to locate her tiny abode
            at the edge of the Everglades,
where weeds and smelly skunk vine
swallow all in their domain.

Inside the walls seemed alive,
covered as they were
with funeral notices,

 those ancient photographs,
            those faces of the dead,
smiled out, carried on,
and kept Lula Mae in good company.

Those…and the cockroaches.
There must have been hundreds.

The doctor learned to perfect her technique—
three hard punches to the sofa
to send them scurrying
before sitting down to listen.

________________________________

I Don’t Know, by Cortney Davis

 When I drive home, will I walk through the door of joy
or into the raw edge of disappointment?

 I don’t know.

 Will my daughter’s bruises heal and her pain go away, burning off
like morning fog?

I don’t know.

I don’t know if I will keep my job or leave it;
I don’t know if I have the courage to change my life.

Does anyone know, after the pit of night,
what tomorrow will bring?

How can I serve, when all I do
is scurry after the thing-ness, the supposed-to’s
or the you-must’s of my life?

I don’t know.

For this day, my task is to give praise
for not knowing.

For this day,
my task is to give praise for not knowing.

Upstate’s Director of Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine Derek Cooney, MD is joined by James Ciaccio, MD to talk about a new geriatric emergency medicine unit called “GEM Care – senior emergency department”.  The unit, led by Ciaccio, is housed in a dedicated section of the emergency department at Upstate University Hospital, Community campus, and will provide a calm, measured approach to care in a quiet environment specifically designed for seniors who may agitate or confuse easily, and may have trouble expressing themselves. 

Joel Potash, MD, retired Upstate family physician and medical ethicist, explores the possibility of adventure as people age without denying that aging can be challenging as well.  Dr. Potash is sponsoring an upcoming seminar on end-of-life issues titled ‘Age-ing is an Adventure in Spiritual Growth  – Are You Ready for the Journey?‘.  For more information, call 315-413-3272.

As World Sleep Day day approaches, Upstate neurologist Antonio Culebras, consultant for The Sleep Center at Upstate University Hospital Community campus, discusses sleep-related problems as we age.  He also shares a recent study that links poor sleep to poor memory retention in older people. 

Read the study: Aging in Brain Found to Hurt Sleep Needed for Memory. 

To schedule an appointment at The Sleep Center at Upstate, call 315-492-5877.

World Sleep Day 2013-”Good Sleep, Healthy Aging” – YouTube

Upstate’s Director of Social Work Mark Buttiglieri reinforces the importance of advance care planning, in the event that you are no longer able to make your wishes known to your loved ones or caregivers.  Upstate’s Social Work department is available to assist with conversations and decision making regarding health care proxies, living wills, MOLST, DNR, and Assuring Your Wishes.  For more information, call 315-464-4345. 

Upstate geriatrician Sharon Brangman discusses issues surrounding the use of feeding tubes for the end stage of dementia, and ongoing research that shows it may do more harm than good.

Emergency physician James Ciaccio reveals the concept of an emergency department that caters exclusively to senior citizens.   Upstate’s community campus plans to open one in late spring of 2013 with new lighting, better sound-proofing and other enhancements that will improve the experience for older adults, called GEM (Geriatric Emergency Medical) Care.

Upstate geriatrician Sharon Brangman describes the differences between normal aging and memory loss and what could signal the signs of an early dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.  With the current economic times, and people working longer, Dr. Brangman talks about how this may affect the workplace, and how to proceed if you have a concern about yourself or a coworker.

Oncologist Ajeet Gajra, associate professor of medicine at Upstate and the fellowship director in hematology/oncology, talks about cancer care for senior citizens.  About 60 percent of all cancers and more than 70 percent of all cancer deaths occur in the elderly, yet there is a lack of data regarding risks and benefits of cancer therapy in these older adults.

Lauren Feiglin, executive director of the Syracuse OASIS program and Marilyn Pinsky, former commissioner, Onondaga County Department of Aging and Youth and the state president of AARP, celebrate the 30th anniversary of the national OASIS program.  OASIS is a unique educational program for mature adults who want to continue to grow, learn and be productive during the best years of their lives.  Membership is free and open to anyone 50 or older. Join now, or call 464-6555 for mere information.

  Dr. David Paar, medical director of Upstate’s Designated AIDS Center, and Kelley Flood, assistant program director and social worker, talk about Hepatitis C, and the recommendation that all baby-boomers get tested for the virus.

Grant Funded Services at the Designated AIDS Center.