Blogs

A directory of all of Dr. Casciani’s Blog Posts

Dementia Subtypes
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Dementia is caused by various diseases and conditions, many with no cure. The table below shows the early symptoms, pathology, and prevalence of four main dementia subtypes, all progressive and…

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Age-related Forgetfulness and More Serious Memory Problems
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Problems with memory, particularly for recent events, is not uncommon during the aging process. Many people worry about how serious a case of “forgetfulness” may be. However, in contrast to…

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Delirium: What is It and What are the Signs?
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Delirium is a state of mental confusion and disorganization. Delirium and dementia are different. This state of mental confusion and disorganization is found in older adults when they are experiencing…

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Depression, Dementia, and Delirium: What are the Differences?
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Depression, dementia, and delirium are colloquially referred to as the “3 D’s”. First, what depression looks like: a) sad mood, feeling worthless, hopeless, and helpless; b) loss of interest, decreased…

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Caregiver Approaches when a Resident May Be Depressed
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Seven Recommended Approaches when Interacting with a Resident Who May be Depressed Recognize symptoms – The older adult population typically does not admit to feelings of depression. Importantly, many are…

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Assessment of Depression in Older Adults: What are the Considerations?
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

These factors should be kept top of mind when assessing for evaluating depression in older adults: Older adults have higher rates of transient, recurring and atypical symptoms of depression (e.g.,…

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Overcoming Social Anxiety
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

A person with social anxiety may experience uneasiness in everyday social situations. She may be afraid of being judged negatively by others or worry about embarrassing herself. There may a…

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Resistance: How to Reduce It
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Authored by Joseph M. Casciani, PhD In the field of aging, when we talk about reducing resistance, an important distinction has been made between compliance and adherence. Compliance has the…

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Building Connection among Residents in Senior Living Settings
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

For a variety of reasons (see our blog on Retreat), encouraging greater engagement and building connection among residents in their community requires patience. It often requires a gradual process of…

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Recommendations for Increasing Engagement of New Residents
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

As new residents move in and become part of the new community, increasing engagement is a deciding factor in their successful adjustment. Following are several steps to facilitate a smooth…

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Relocation Stress Syndrome or Acute Stress Disorder?
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

Relocation stress syndrome may occur in older adults following an abrupt change in living arrangement. It may develop following a traumatic event such as the sudden loss of a spouse…

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Why Residents May Isolate when Moving to a Senior Living Community
800 560 Joe Casciani PhD

There are many factors to consider when trying to understand a resident’s reluctance to engage in community activities. This article presents many reasons why residents may isolate in their community…

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