Breaking News: 100+ Common Medications Now Linked to Dementia.

Loosing Your Mind?
It could be a side effect of your medication!

Science has enabled us to understand the cause of dementia.  Plain and simple, it's damage to brain cells that is responsible for the changes in core mental functions associated with the disease. In fact, different types of dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage in particular regions of the brain. Because of these discoveries, researchers have developed medical treatments for mild to severe cognitive impairments.

In the world of dementia care, there are currently five drugs that are FDA approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and dementia: Namenda, Aricept, Razadyne, Namzarik and Exelon. 

While no drug is yet capable of curing Alzheimer's, these current medications are able to lessen or stabilize symptoms for a period of time. So, once diagnosed, doctors use these medications, alone or in combination, to slow the advancement of this progressive, degenerative disease. In the meantime, medical research teams continue their studies in the area of dementia. 

Recently, researchers have published the results of their latest dementia studies. In this brief video, learn how the use of common reflux medications has been shown to increase the risk of developing dementia by 44%. 

Do you know anyone who regularly uses proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for heartburn? I do! I am married to a man with chronic acid reflux, so this information really grabbed me. If extended use of Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid increases his long term risk of developing dementia, he's in big trouble.  Actually, if he develops dementia, I'm in big trouble.

After reading the results of this study, my husband and I agree: simple diet changes will reduce his reflux and decrease his dependence on these medications. While cutting out tomatoes and switching to decaf coffee may not provide the same quick relief he is accustomed to when taking these PPIs, it will be a necessary start for his long term health and wellbeing.  

After watching this video, do you need to make any changes?


Next, a new study, published just a few days ago, offers the most definitive proof yet of what scientists have known for at least a decade...anticholinergic drugs (Dramamine, Dimetapp, Benadryl, Unisom, Demerol, Paxil and VESIcare, just to name a few), are linked to cognitive impairment, brain shrinkage and, you guessed it, increased risk of dementia.





Everyone knows that drugs have potential side effects. Because we are a society of people who want quick fixes and have expectations of instant gratification, when it comes to treating medical conditions, we often times overlook the negative consequences of the medicines we take. The results of these two research studies should serve as real eye openers to the potential dangers of the extended use of these types of drugs. 

Perhaps you need to reconsider the medications you take?  Talk to your doctor to see if changes in your medical regimen are needed to preserve the long term health of your brain.


The person who takes medicine must recover twice- once from the disease and once from the medicine. 
William Osler, MD

Preventing Medication Errors- For You, For Them, For Everyone!

Take as Directed:

Cool New Tools for Managing Your Medications

Polypharmacy, confusion, difficulty with containers and disorganization can lead to patients being over medicated or under medicated... the top 5 medication mistakes made by patients at home.

Careful planning and organization of your  prescriptions can prevent some of these most common errors from ever taking place. 

In a previous post, I discussed these 5 medication errors and presented simple solutions for each of them.  Now, let's consider additional (high tech) options available for medication management and organization. I've included something for everyone.

1.  For healthcare providers: Epocrates

Rated a top 10 app for physicians and a great choice for any medical professional, Epocrates has really great features:

• Reference safety information for thousands of brand, generic and OTC medications
• Check for potentially harmful drug interactions for up to 30 drugs at a time 
• Identify pills by imprint code and physical characteristics

Quickly and easily gather pertinent information about the prescription medications your patients are taking. Use the app as a reference, when problem solving and when providing education. Epocrates is certainly a great addition to a speech pathologist's therapy tool box. 

2.  For patients: PillPac

PillPack is an online pharmacy that can also take the guess work out of medication management.  A patient's medications are sorted, sealed and labeled in a handy little packet, checked by pharmacists and delivered right to their door. How cool is that?

Watch this quick video to see how it works...it's pretty neat!

While these little packages of pills may not work for everyone, they certainly reduce the potential for medication error. There are other companies that provide a similar service, so check around, ask your doctor and talk to your insurance company. Of course, always take into account individual variables before deciding to use such a service, because, like I said, it may not work for everyone.

3.  For anyone: Medisafe Medication Reminder, Prescription and Pill Organizer

This easy to use and FREE app helps you manage medications so that you never forget to take them. The Medisafe Medication Reminder, Prescription and Pill Organizer app is ranked #1 by pharmacists as a tool to help you remember when to take your pills.

This virtual pill box offers custom alerts, compiles medical information and even provides motivation and encouragement to keep up healthy regimens. It may not be the solution for everyone, but for the technologically savvy, it a great tool for preventing medication errors. 

"Take as directed" sounds so easy, but when there are multiple medications and multiple doses each day, prescriptions and pills quickly become difficult to manage. Incorporate any of these options today and take control of your health. 

The glory of medicine is that it is constantly moving forward, that there is always something new to learn. 
William James Mayo

Organizing Prescription Medications: 5 Quick Fixes for Common Problems

Medication Management: 

Reduce Your Risk of Common Errors

As a home health speech pathologist, I can say I've seen a lot of things, up to and including a naked man... he wanted to know if I could provide his therapy while he was nude. 

Uh, no. 

Luckily, I don't run into many situations where patients want to wear their birthday suits to therapy, but I often run into another, more serious problem:  medication errors.

Really?

Yes!

Here are some of the facts according to a recent study performed the National Institutes of Health:

• 40% of seniors take 5 or more prescription medications
• 90% of people 65 and older take at least 1 prescription medication
• 55% of seniors take their medications incorrectly

Understanding that most elderly people take medications, and knowing they don't always do it correctly, let's look a little closer at the reasons why mistakes are made and how they can be better managed. 

Top 5 Medication Errors

For Patients At Home:

Problems Solved

Problem:  being over-medicated or under-medicated 
If a person is taking too much or not enough of a prescribed medication, a therapeutic dose cannot be maintained. The consequences can range from minor inconvenience all the way to serious illness...even death.

Solution:
Regularly reconcile your medications with your physician by comparing your current medication orders to all of the medication you have been taking. This helps to reduce mistakes such as omissions, dosing errors and/or drug interactions



Problem:  polypharmacy
Polypharmacy occurs when a patient takes multiple drugs for one or more conditions- usually a large number of medications prescribed by different providers. Not only can numerous medications can be difficult for patients, caregivers and family members to manage, serious side effects can occur as a result of taking too many at once.

Solution:
Inform your doctor of all of the medications you are taking and review them at every transition of care. For instance, a drug review should take place with a change in setting, service, practitioner and/or level of care. 



Problem: confusion

Sometimes, even with the greatest care, mistakes are made  because pills cannot be identified due to similar size, shape or color, doses are unclear, or the reason for the medication is unknown. No matter the cause, patients may become confused.

Solution:
Keep a complete, up to date list of all your medications, taking care to save the information sheets that come with them. Ask your pharmacist about any questions you may have. When picking up, make sure the prescription is the one your doctor ordered. 

Problem:  containers are complicated

For older eyes, print on bottles can be difficult to read. Generic and brand names of medications are confused and result in mistakes. Dosing schedules may be unclear. Safety caps are not easily removed.

Solution: 

Use enlarged print to mark existing labels regarding purpose and/or administration of each medication (PAIN:  1 EVERY 4 HOURS,  BLOOD PRESSURE: AM, etc.).  Use color marks on the bottles to assist with scheduling the time of day medications should be taken (orange- breakfast, blue- bedtime, etc.). Ask the pharmacy filling the prescription about easy open cap options.

Problem: disorganization

Common forms of disorganization:  bottles are misplaced or are in several different locations in the home,  pill boxes were not correctly filled, or maybe those pill boxes been lost or have spilled.

Solution:

Traditional methods for organizing medications include plastic zipper bags, baskets, bins, and my personal favorite, pill boxes (single dose, daily or weekly options are available). Keep medications and pill boxes in a designated location.  To avoid mistakes, have one person responsible for filling the boxes each week and use the buddy system as needed. Use a rubber band to secure the lids of a pill box in the event of a spill or during travel. Create a checklist of current medications to check off when  you take each one.

Are you making any of these mistakes? Do you know anyone who is? Use these tips to quickly and easily re-work your medication management system. Careful planning and organization of your  prescriptions can prevent some of these most common errors from ever taking place. 

The aim of medicine to to prevent disease and prolong life. The ideal of medicine is to eliminate the need for a physician.

William James Mayo

Organize Your Medication Like a Pro!

Three Easy Steps For 

Managing Medications At Home

Following a simple, three step process, you can organize your vitamins, supplements and medications like a pro. Here's what an organizational expert has to say.

Step One:  Sort

Separate the vitamins and supplements from over the counter and prescription medications

Separate medications once more

• Cough, Cold and Flu Remedies
• Pain Relievers
• Prescriptions- Adult
• Prescriptions- Children

Step Two: Contain

Recommended options for containing medications-

• Turntables- best for smaller bottles 
• Bins- grab and go means easy access
• Ziplock bags- fast and cheap
• Pill packs or pill boxes- compartments are filled weekly

Use any combination of containers-

• Bin with a bin
• Bag within a bin
• Pill box with a bag

Secure pill boxes with rubber bands- when traveling or as needed 

Step Three:  Maintain

Return items to designated containers immediately after use- labels make this process easier

• label bins
• label  bins within the bins
• mark the lids of the medicine bottles

Clearly mark bottles with expiration dates

Store containers up high/ on a shelf/ away from children

Keep a record of the medications you take including:

• name of medication
• dosage
• precautions

Maintain this list of medications

• in the storage bin
• in your wallet
• digitally- on your phone, tablet, computer

With a small investment of time and money, medications and supplements can be easily organized and, more importantly, mistakes can be avoided.  It's a quick, easy and painless process. Give it a try,

 but before you do...

watch the entire video, featuring getsimplifized.com's organizational expert, Vanessa Hayes.  This lady is a genius!

Spring Break Road Trip

Looking Back

Just one year ago, I spent my Spring Break vacation creating, designing and developing Pictures for Progress.  Every day, with the help and support of my mom, I worked  long hours collecting photos and writing questions for what I dreamed would be a fantastic new therapy tool for SLPs working with adults.

Twelve months later, not only have I realized my dream, I have taken my business and my products further than I could have ever imagined.   In fact, Spontaneous Speech has exhibited at state and national conventions in Phoenix, Arizona, Denver, Colorado and Fort Worth, Texas. We've covered thousands of miles spreading the word

Every day, the development of this product has taught me something new. I've learned about design, manufacturing and importing. My decision making skills have been sharpened.  With opportunities and challenges along the way, I've maintained my commitment to providing top quality tools and therapy materials to the world. 

This year, as Spring Break rolls around again, I'm spending the week enjoying a road trip to New Mexico with my kids- Jay, Mike, Meredith and Coby. 

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Wherever you go, go with all your heart. 

Confucius

TSHA 2016: Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Speech Language Hearing Association

Annual Convention:

March 10-12, 2016

After a treacherous drive in the pouring rain, we arrived in Fort Worth for TSHA's annual convention. This being our third conference in the last nine months, we're beginning to consider ourselves pros at setting up a vendor's booth. Using a beach theme, we decorated with a Spring Break vibe:  beach balls, flip flops, sunglasses and palm trees. Things at the booth came together quickly and we were headed to the hotel in less than an hour...our fastest time yet! 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, visitors that stopped by were able to get a close look at the Pictures for Progress flashcards and the new Spanish translation booklets. We received lots of positive feedback on both of the products and delighted with each and every purchase made. Because we didn't want anyone to leave empty handed, we passed out pencils, magnetic bookmarks, business cards, brochures and mini versions of flashcards tucked inside a business card holder...there was something for everyone that stopped by. 

Thousands were in attendance and hundreds visited the booth to learn more about Spontaneous Speech Therapy Tools. In three days, we met some of the greatest people:  students, professors, marketers, business owners, recruiters, and of course, pediatric and medical SLPs. I was particularly happy to run into a former LSU professor, Dr. Jack Damico and my TCU clinical coordinator, Lynn Flahive.

We celebrated our success (and survival) at the end of each day with happy hour. Later, when we retreated to our room, we took turns using the tens unit to treat our sore legs and feet. It was just the recharge we needed!

Less than a year away, we are already looking forward to TSHA 2017 in Austin. Maybe we'll see you there?

Pictures for Progress- Spanish Translation

While I was in graduate school, I remember the pain I felt when I realized there just weren't any great therapy materials available for SLPs working with Spanish speaking adults.  My friend Normie and I agreed that we would pay any amount of money necessary to have something like this. Search as we might, the tools weren't available. So, like most students, we did the best we could with what we had. 

In the Spring of 2015, when I set out to create my first line of therapy materials, I had specific ideas about what I wanted. There was a short list of requirements:  a sturdy box, bright, contemporary photos, durable, wipeable cards, thought provoking questions and an available Spanish translation. 

Finally, 22 years later, (but who's counting) I proudly present....

Imagenes Para El Progreso: Espanol.

This 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch booklet is designed to accompany the Pictures for Progress flashcards. A spiral binding allows the book to lie flat and holds the pages neatly together. Made of thick card stock, the sturdy pages are designed to withstand daily wear and tear. 

With large print, and numbered, full color thumbnail pictures, users can easily locate the translations that correspond to the flashcards.  Containing two translations on each page, users can see the translated questions for up to four cards at a time- this prevents excessive page turning or the perception of disorganization that can be distracting during a therapy session. 

Knowing that there are numerous regional Spanish dialects, extra time and attention went into the translation process. While there is no such thing as one size fits all, this translation offers language that is appropriate for use in a great variety of geographical regions where Spanish is spoken. 

You can find this new Spanish edition in the Spontaneous Speech Store at SpontaneousSpeech.com.

To have a second language is to posses a second soul. 

Charlemagne