Straight Talk about Aging and Issues Facing the Elderly
About Ask Nurse Jane
Becoming a Nurse later in life served me well, as my life experiences have enhanced and enriched my understanding of the interconnectedness of our body, mind, and spirit, and how it impacts our overall health. I cut my teeth at a large teaching hospital working on the Pulmonary Unit. It was exhilarating, shocking, frightening, and eye-opening. My heart was not in the hospital - rather to help keep people OUT of it!
I have spent the majority of my career as a Geriatric Visiting Nurse Case Manager. Hospital to Home to Rehab and Hospice; I've taught thousands of families how to manage cognitive changes, understand the importance of proper wound care, advised on when it is time to consider Memory Care or how to prepare for end-of-life. I hope my knowledge and experience can help you navigate aging.
I'm a published writer, public speaker, and facility teacher for staff in-services. I have double board certifications with the ANCC in Geriatric Nursing and Nursing Case Management. I've run Memory Care Units, referred many hospice and homecare agencies, and told people
the hard stuff.
I hope to give you good, evidence-based, anecdotal information to provide insight and understanding to ensure our dear Elders are not afraid, alone, and fragile in the last part of their lives. Let me help you on your common-sense path toward optimal health and well-being.
What Are Your Health Concerns?
What Are Your Health Concerns?
What Are Your Health Concerns?
Let me share resources to help us 'Okay Boomers' better understand what's going on with our aging bodies, and what to expect. Maybe you're wondering if your 87 year old mother should have rotator cuff surgery, like the doctor at the Assisted Living Facility recommended...maybe you're feeling anxious about forgetting things more frequently, missing turns when driving familiar roads. Maybe you haven't told anyone you think you're incontinent. There's very little to nothing a Geriatric Home Health Nurse hasn't seen. Submit your questions, suggestions or check out my Tips page. My Blog takes a deeper dive into topics and is part opinion, part anecdotal and all helpful.
Home? Memory Care? ALF? Help!
What Are Your Health Concerns?
What Are Your Health Concerns?
'My kids want me to move into an Assisted living facility.
I'm happy at my own home'.
'What is Memory Care and is it better than a Nursing Home?'
'Isn't it better to have a Nurse come to my house and shower me every day'?
'Who is going to help Mom, who's now living alone in another state'?
So many questions - let me help educate and guide you and your family about your options. Ask a specific question or check out my Tip Topics!
A Realistic Approach
Send Me Your Questions
Send Me Your Questions
Let me share with you some of the things I've learned along the way to better educate all of us to advocate for ourselves. There are as many points of view as there are people. Nonetheless, there are things that us Case Managers, aka Visiting Geriatric Nurses see, hear, do and learn from - like managing family dynamics, creating a safe and comfortable environment for our bed-bound loved ones. Or brainstorming on ways to manage medications better, what to stock in the pantry and what safety hazards to look for and what to consider emotionally when an ill family member returns back from the hospital. My Blog covers the essentials, thoughts, ideas, experiential anecdotes and evidence-based practices.
Send Me Your Questions
Send Me Your Questions
Send Me Your Questions
Is it becoming more difficult to see subtle color changes? Do you think you need a cane? How can you identify the differences between forgetfulness and cognitive decline? Why isn't Dad wearing his hearing aids, and is that bad? I don't have the energy to make myself a meal, get upstairs to bed, and I'm afraid I'll fall in the shower.
I will seek out evidence-based resources, experts, and sources to help you feel more empowered by learning more about your situation, condition, or prognosis.
Your questions and my answers will be used to help educate others. Please be assured that your personal information is kept confidential and I follow the HIPAA guidelines and the Nursing Practice Act.