Long-Term Care – Wellness Shepherd

The Hospital Civil “Fray Antonio Alcalde”, also known as the Old Civil Hospital, produced its 21st International Geriatric and Gerontology Symposium July 7-9, 2016, at the Hilton Hotel auditorium in Guadalajara, Mexico. The theme was “Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas en la Vejez”, or, Neurodegenerative Illness in Older Adults.

There were about 250 attendees as well as one pharmaceutical company (Asofarma de Mexico, S.A.), one hospital supply company from Switzerland, and a private pay day care senior center (www.vidavi.mx) offering business cards, pamphlets, free pens, and carry bags to participants in the registration area.

Four geriatric physicians from the hospital organized the event – Dr.David Leal Mora (the international section), Dr.Hector Ivan Cruz Neri, Dr. Julio Alberto Dias Ramos, and Dra Rocio Garcia Talavera. Guest speakers were from Guadalajara, Leon, Mexico City, and the U.S.

Old Civil Hospital Geriatrics Symposium, Guadalajara, 2016 Dr. Rocio Garcia is at the podium, Dr. David Leal is the first man on the left with dignitaries from the public hospital system

There were memorable talks about the Use and Abuse of Antipsychotic Drugs, Managing the Symptoms of Parkinson’s, When a Day is 36 Hours, Evidence-Based Geriatrics, Government Assistance Programs for Older Adults, and Can We Prevent Dementia?

Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH, Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins, and author

What stood out most were the physicians, both American and Mexican, who are exploring and interested in alternative non-drug options for dementia prevention. The common theme – we must all be vigilant in keeping our cognitive skills sharp to the very end, if possible.

Topic-Related Resources:

Israeli physicians have developed a surgery to remove shaking due to Parkinson’s disease http://healthamazing.co/2016/07/13/first-in-israel-surgery-that-removes-shaking-due-to-parkinsons-disease/

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-stone-solvadi-drug-pricing-20160705-snap-story.html By Daniel Stone, MD, internal medicine and geriatric specialist, Los Angeles, and, Pres of LA Society of Internists. Another physician calling for a stop to the increasing costs of drugs and “pharma greed”.

http://www.AlzheimersDementiaSummit.com focusing on dementia prevention and alternative remedies that already exist for protecting our brains and our minds. Produced by Jonathan Landsman, a natural health advocate with physicians and others as guest speakers – Dr. Russell Blaylock, Dr. David Jockers, Donna Gates, Dr. Mark Hyman, Josh Axe, Sayer Ji, Michael T. Murray and many others. I missed this July 2016 summit on line but believe it might be available to listen to.

http://goodlifeawareness.com/men-may-be-able-to-avoid-dementia-by-marrying-intelligent-women-researchers-say/ Don’t know if the studies are true, but this article caught my attention. 😉

http://yournewswire.com/harvard-professor-says-prescription-drugs-are-killing-population/utm_content=buffer7c70d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer article is not professionally written, has a sensational headline, and, requires quotes and some fact-based evidence.

http://seniorhousingnews.com/2016/08/17/communities-turn-to-marijuana-to-treat-memory-care-residents/?_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Kxe5ppADrvnIp22h1hj0wP4zRi3r8rV1Y_cRXvTORbY5Zis0oK9cbZtcGubP25n_orIdb35T0M8nX7GJuMFljm_Bygw&_hsmi=33083300 article about successful use of marijuana (with family permission) instead of drugs to calm patients in northern California dementia care residence

FASEC (Fundacion al Servicio del Enfermo de Cancer/Foundation Serving Those Ill with Cancer), together with Care Partners International of Washington state, and the University of San Francisco, Quito hosted a palliative care training in Spanish for five days, April 20-24, the first in a series of four trainings for physicians, nurses, psychologists, volunteers, and others. The well-attended event drew healthcare workers from Cuba, Cuenca, Europe, Mexico, and the U.S.

The main speaker was Dr. Susana Lua Nava, a highly regarded Mexican educator and nun who teaches throughout Mexico and at UAG (Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara). She runs a hospice, Juntos Contro El Dolor (United Against Pain), with three nurse nuns and a staff of volunteers. Dr. Lua and her team are dedicated to the alleviation of pain in all – no matter a patient’s background, religious belief, or economic position.

Dr. Lua, author of El Enfermo, Terreno Sagrada/The Ill, Sacred Terrain, offered several slides of her work in Mexico and Spain, gave stunning examples of patient care, and spoke about dying at home or in a hospital (advantages and disadvantages of both), myths and realities on the use of morphine, the art of sharing sad news, and preparing the spirit, among other subjects. The most riveting discussion was on ethical dilemmas, a subject she teaches often – why and who one tells or does not tell of their terminal condition based on socio-economic backgrounds, culture, expectations, and other factors.

The next FASEC trainings are scheduled for the second week of June, the third week of July, and a week in October.

For contact information and more story details please click on the link below.

http://cuencahighlife.com/cuenca-palliative-care-training-educates-the-public-and-healthcare-community-first-of-four-training-session-sponsored-by-fasec/

Category: Long-Term Care

International Geriatric/Gerontology Conference Guadalajara 2016 – Focus on Dementia

Palliative Care Training for Healthcare Professionals in Cuenca, Ecuador at Hospice Foundation FASEC