As I prepared to post this, my first blog, I received news about a colleague of mine, Dr. Janet Mitchell, who was recently featured on ABC’s Nightline.
Dr. Mitchell trained at Howard University and practiced at Harlem Hospital. She is known as a caring physician, a dedicated patient advocate, a loving friend, a rebel, and, when necessary, a “pain in the ass.” Janet’s slight frame has never stopped her from being outspoken. "The ‘changing face of AIDS’ is bullshit,” she once said. “The communities that traditionally get funding are not the populations that are most affected, but those with political clout."
Janet could have been featured on Nightline for her pioneering work with women who struggle with substance abuse and /or live with HIV; instead she was featured as a victim of fraud in a story about the predatory practices of sub-prime lenders. Janet’s family and friends didn’t know she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), or that she had financial problems. Looking for help, she responded to an Internet ad and ended up signing away her $1.5 million dollar Brooklyn brownstone in exchange for $200,000.
AD is a brain disorder, and the most common form of dementia. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. According to The National Institute on Aging more than 4.5 million Americans have AD, up to 5% of those aged 65 to 74, and half of those over 85. Advanced age is the major known risk factor. AD primarily affects those over 65 although it can strike earlier, as in the case of Dr. Mitchell, who was just 57 when she was diagnosed with early-onset AD.
The cause of AD is not fully understood. Most likely a combination of factors: age, family history, diet, and environmental causes are responsible. Symptoms include memory loss, the impairment of navigational skills, and difficulty in concentrating and carrying out normal daily functions.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have AD you should see a physician for an evaluation. Early recognition of the disease can help patients and their families plan for the future and treat early symptoms. There is no definitive test for AD, but a combination of medical tests can result in a probable diagnosis. There is no cure for AD, but medications can help control its symptoms.
I was saddened by Janet’s story, and outraged by the lender who took advantage of her illness. Unfortunately, her story is not an unusual one: too many older adults have been similarly victimized. What can we do to help protect our older friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors from such unscrupulous practices?
1. We can keep a caring, watchful eye on the behavioral and financial patterns of the older adults in our social and family networks. If we suspect that something may be wrong, we can ask questions and offer help.
2. We can learn about living wills and trusts, which can help protect people from fraud, and urge our loved ones to establish them.
3. We can help medical providers give the older adults we know the best possible care by alerting them to any signs that something may be wrong.
4. We can urge our law makers to address the predatory nature of mortgage lenders so that today’s abuses can help prevent future ones.
Yours in Good Health,
Dr. Smith
Related Links:
Dr. Mitchell trained at Howard University and practiced at Harlem Hospital. She is known as a caring physician, a dedicated patient advocate, a loving friend, a rebel, and, when necessary, a “pain in the ass.” Janet’s slight frame has never stopped her from being outspoken. "The ‘changing face of AIDS’ is bullshit,” she once said. “The communities that traditionally get funding are not the populations that are most affected, but those with political clout."
Janet could have been featured on Nightline for her pioneering work with women who struggle with substance abuse and /or live with HIV; instead she was featured as a victim of fraud in a story about the predatory practices of sub-prime lenders. Janet’s family and friends didn’t know she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), or that she had financial problems. Looking for help, she responded to an Internet ad and ended up signing away her $1.5 million dollar Brooklyn brownstone in exchange for $200,000.
AD is a brain disorder, and the most common form of dementia. It involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. According to The National Institute on Aging more than 4.5 million Americans have AD, up to 5% of those aged 65 to 74, and half of those over 85. Advanced age is the major known risk factor. AD primarily affects those over 65 although it can strike earlier, as in the case of Dr. Mitchell, who was just 57 when she was diagnosed with early-onset AD.
The cause of AD is not fully understood. Most likely a combination of factors: age, family history, diet, and environmental causes are responsible. Symptoms include memory loss, the impairment of navigational skills, and difficulty in concentrating and carrying out normal daily functions.
If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have AD you should see a physician for an evaluation. Early recognition of the disease can help patients and their families plan for the future and treat early symptoms. There is no definitive test for AD, but a combination of medical tests can result in a probable diagnosis. There is no cure for AD, but medications can help control its symptoms.
I was saddened by Janet’s story, and outraged by the lender who took advantage of her illness. Unfortunately, her story is not an unusual one: too many older adults have been similarly victimized. What can we do to help protect our older friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors from such unscrupulous practices?
1. We can keep a caring, watchful eye on the behavioral and financial patterns of the older adults in our social and family networks. If we suspect that something may be wrong, we can ask questions and offer help.
2. We can learn about living wills and trusts, which can help protect people from fraud, and urge our loved ones to establish them.
3. We can help medical providers give the older adults we know the best possible care by alerting them to any signs that something may be wrong.
4. We can urge our law makers to address the predatory nature of mortgage lenders so that today’s abuses can help prevent future ones.
Yours in Good Health,
Dr. Smith
Related Links:
www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/Clinical Trials
1 comment:
wow this story is amazing. all i have to say is WILL WILL WILL
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