
Los Angeles Jewish Home's Blog
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Tapping the Power of Music — Part II
Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
~Victor Hugo
One of music's most striking powers can be seen in its impact on individuals with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. A dramatic example of this effect is found on a viral YouTube video featuring an elderly Alzheimer's patient named Henry. At first, Henry is slumped over in his chair, his head bent forward, his speech condensed. Then an aide gives him an iPod. The moment Henry starts listening, he becomes instantly animated: his face lights up and he begins to move his arms and legs. After his headphones are removed, he talks about his love of jazz, and sings lyrics from a favorite song.
Later in the same video, neurologist and author Oliver Sacks comments on Henry's response. "In some sense, Henry is restored to himself," says Sacks. "He remembered who he is and has reacquired his identity for a while through the power of music."
While music doesn't always evoke reactions as extreme as Henry's, it does seem to engage even the most unresponsive of individuals. That is one reason music plays a major role in the Los Angeles Jewish Home's skilled nursing and dementia care.
Susan Leitch, community manager of the Goldenberg·Ziman Special Care Center and Max Factor Family Foundation Building, notes that music is played throughout the day, and carefully chosen to set the tone and help cue residents. For example, calm, relaxing music is played in the evening to signal winding down of the day.
Music is also used more formally in music therapy sessions for skilled nursing and dementia care residents. Music therapist Cindy McGee facilitates sessions twice a week. These sessions, she says, are not sing-alongs; they are therapeutic interventions with specific goals.
One goal, called reality orientation, aims to bring participants who may not be aware of their surroundings into the present moment. Another is to aid recall and reminiscence by evoking thoughts and memories associated with the music.
During music therapy, says McGee, "participants will mention the name of a relative or tell a story they normally can't remember. It allows them to connect to something outside themselves."
As a recent session, McGee played Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and residents sang along. She asked them who sang the song, and passed around a photo of the Wizard of Oz cast. After several of them pointed to Dorothy, McGee asked them to name the movie.
"What would you ask the Wizard for?" she later queried the group.
"Good health," answered one.
"A good looking guy," said another.
Whether in the background or in a formal setting, music evokes a response. That response may be as subtle as the tapping of a foot, as dramatic as the transformation of YouTube's Henry, or as familiar as the desire for romance.
The beauty of music, it seems, is it's universal appeal. As Susan Leitch says, "Music involves everyone. It doesn't matter what level of function you're at."
Labels: Alzheimer's, Dementia, For the Spirit, Music, Nancy Sokoler Steiner, Therapy, YouTube
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Everybody Luau!!!
The residents who participated live either at the Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center, which cares for seniors with Alzheimer's disease or age-related dementia, or the Max Factor Family Foundation Nursing Building, which provides skilled nursing to seniors who need extra assistance.

When the residents saw their nurses — who are normally in scrubs — enter in hula skirts, their eyes lit up! The entire room was laughing, clapping, and singing along.
In addition to being a fun, entertaining afternoon, events like these serve a profound therapeutic purpose. Happiness is known to have incredible life-lengthening health benefits; and the positive atmosphere, the music, and the dancing promotes both physical and cognitive strength.
Labels: Aging, Alzheimer's, Around the Home, Dementia, Eisenberg Village, Elderly, Factor, Goldenberg-Ziman, Healthy Aging, Hula, Luau, Nursing, Seniors, Skilled Nursing, Staff, Video, YouTube
Monday, August 29, 2011
I’m Scared For Her
Recently, you’ve noticed she is having memory problems. It’s been harder for her to recall what was just said. Now she’s forgetting the day, the date and other little features of daily life. Learning new things seems especially challenging for her, and she is starting to make up details to fill in the parts of stories she’s forgotten.
At first, it was possible to chalk it all up to getting older. After all, there are many challenges to deal with as the years advance. But things have really begun to change for the worse.
Mom can’t sleep through the night. She wakes up disoriented and confused. During the day, she believes she has appointments that have never been made. She talks about going to see friends or family who have long ago passed away or moved. She gets mad and lashes out when she is prevented from doing things you know she can no longer do.
Sometimes Mom seems depressed. It is harder and harder to take care of her personal needs, and she doesn’t seem to understand why you want her to take a shower. Sometimes she even forgets who you are.
It seems that her symptoms are coming on faster and faster, and, since she took that fall last week, things have gotten so much worse. Her doctor prescribed some medication, but it really isn’t helping.
You get out of bed and go downstairs to try to help Mom back to bed. She isn’t settled until 4 a.m. You don’t know what you’re going to do. One of these days you might not be able to get to her in time.
Mom has dementia, and now you’re worried about her safety. You need someone to help you figure out what to do next.
The preceding scenario is a composite of several we’ve heard from families caring for loved ones with various forms of age-related dementia.
At the Jewish Home’s acclaimed Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (AGPU), we counsel families on mental health services for their senior loved ones, and provide short-term (acute) intensive treatment for seniors experiencing stressful mental or emotional challenges.
More than 50% of patients treated are suffering from acute dementia. The goal of our small, specialized hospital unit is to help restore seniors to an optimal level of functioning so they may safely return to their home or residential setting.
While most people do not need to be admitted, the staff at the Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit can help you sort through your options, gain new insights on dealing with dementia, and where to go for additional help.
If you have a loved one who is experiencing acute mental health challenges, please call the Jewish Home’s Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit at (818) 758-5042. A helpful staff member will either talk with you immediately or get back to you promptly.
Labels: Aging, Alzheimer's, Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Dementia, Feature Articles, For the Mind, Luke Jackson, Memory, Parents, Wandering
Friday, August 26, 2011
Long Term Living Magazine: Residents reconnect with the soil at LA Jewish Home
It’s clear that Leitch had to put a lot of thought into planning. “I had to be mindful of drought-tolerant plants,” she says. “I wanted them to be native to California.”
It's always nice to be recognized for one of the amazing services we provide our seniors. We'd like to thank Long Term Living Magazine and Sandra for writing such an amazing piece. Click the link above to read the entire blog.Also, take a look at the article we wrote in our News and Updates page about Susan Leitch and the G•Z community garden.
Labels: Alzheimer's, Cognitive Exercise, Cross Post, Garden, Long Term Living, Molly Forrest, Nadine Roisman, Shoban, Susan Leitch
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
You’re in Good Company ~ Famous Caregivers
Maria Shriver helped cared for her father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, and has become a champion of Alzheimer’s Caregivers. Her journalism career began with KYW-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but she soon moved up to the National News and later gained a different sort of fame when she married Arnold Schwarzenegger. The former First Lady of California has been a lifelong advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and recently co-authored an Alzheimer’s study with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan cared for her mother, Rita Hayworth, who was suffering from dementia. Yasmin is internationally recognized for her advocacy work promoting awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Steve Slater cared for his father, who suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease, until his death. In 2010, while caring for his mother who suffers from Lung Cancer, Steve achieved national notoriety for quitting his job as a JetBlue Flight Attendant in spectacular fashion.
Susan Boyle was the primary caregiver for her elderly mother until she passed away at the age of 91. In 2009, two years after her mother passed away, Susan appeared on Britain’s Got Talent and gave a performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” that made her an International Sensation overnight.
Rosalynn Carter helped care for her father when he was diagnosed with terminal leukemia and has since cared for several family members, including her late mother who died in 2000 at the age of 94. The former First Lady of the United States has even authored a book on Caregiving entitled, Helping Yourself Help Others – A Book for Caregivers.
Can you think of Famous Caregivers that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments and we’ll add them to the list.
Read the original blog post.
Labels: Alzheimer's, Caregiving, Cross Post, Dementia, Elder Depot, Eldercare, For the Spirit, Senior Care, Staff
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Expanded Resource Section!
Labels: Alzheimer's, Cancer, Caregiving, Depression, Drug Abuse, Health, Healthy Aging, Mental Health, Nutrition, Resources, Senior Resources, Staff, Substance Abuse, Transportation, Website, Wellness
Friday, January 7, 2011
Why We Give - Michael and Lynne Heslov: a Personal Journey
Every form of giving begins with personal involvement.
Like many people whose lives are forever touched when a vulnerable parent is lovingly cared for, the Heslovs, Lynne and Michael, came to regard the Home and its staff almost as an extension of their family.
It is a relationship they cherish to this day.
Several years ago, life took an unexpected turn for the Heslovs when Michael's father, Arthur, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His mother, Jerrie, went through several difficult years of caring for Arthur, but as he became more dependent and withdrawn, Michael and his brothers feared her health would give under the strain.
“We feared we could lose both our parents to the demands of the disease,” Michael says. “Then we learned about the Jewish Home's Goldenberg-Ziman Special Care Center for seniors with Alzheimer's and related dementias.”
As marvelous as the Home's acclaimed Goldenberg-Ziman Center is, the choice to move an ailing parent from their home is rarely as easy one.
“It is an agonizing decision,” says Lynne. “You have guilt. But when we brought Arthur to the Home, we knew he was in such good hands. It made the decision easier.”
“The quality of care at the Jewish Home was far better than it would have been at home, under the best of circumstances,” adds Michael, who was introduced to the Home by former Board of Directors Chair Dave Swartz. “They were so much better equipped to deal with his needs.”
The Home provided all the medical and physical care Arthur required, freeing the entire Heslov family to provide love and support he needed and deserved.
“We told my father he was going to a place for a few days for some testing,” Michael recalls. “Though we told him his stay would be temporary, my father was so expertly cared for and engaged that he never expressed a desire to return home!”
In her daily visits, Michael's mother, Jerrie, noted how carefully groomed Arthur was, his clothing always freshly pressed. The Home's staff members were as loving and involved in his concerns as if they'd been members of his own family.
Lynne recalls that the staff took Arthur out to the garden, which he always loved, and to music and art presentations. “Things like this gave us all such peace of mind,” she says.
After two years at the Home, Arthur passed away. In appreciation for the care he received, Jerrie took on the responsibility of co-chairing the Home's gala Reflections dinners in 2007 and 2008.
Michael, who is a co-partner in the real estate development company of Soboroff Partners, has contributed his expertise to the successful effort to establish the Home's new Gonda Healthy Aging Westside Campus.
As chair of the Board's Budget and Finance Committee, Michael understands the Home's financial challenges and the need for creative solutions. “Some 75-80% of the Home's residents are subsidized by the generosity of the community,” he says.
After serving for two years, Michael was elected to the two-year position as Chair of the Home's Board. At 39, he is one of the youngest executives ever to hold this position.
Michael points out that the exceptional level of care and attention our seniors receive is due in large measure to the contributions of the community.
“It is an honor,” he says, “to commit my time and energies to an organization that is doing so much to improve life for our most vulnerable seniors and their families. Both Lynne and I are passionate about the Home's care for our elderly, at every stage of need.”
Labels: Alzheimer's, Board of Directors, Feature Articles, Heffler, Heslov, Why We Give
Paul McCartney’s Memory Lapses
I was about to board my flight back to Los Angeles and turn off my cell phone — I was being thrifty with the battery since I had forgotten where I left my travel charger — when a journalist called urgently asking for a comment on Paul McCartney's recent admission that he was having trouble remembering the lyrics to some of his old songs. I envisioned him singing “She loves you — hey, hey, hey …”
“So you're trying to get me to go on record that Paul McCartney is getting Alzheimer's? I won't do that,” I said in anticipation of where the interview was going.
I flashed back to 1993 when Ronald Reagan announced that he was suffering from this devastating illness, which robs the mental life from millions of Americans. Back then, reporters kept asking me to speculate about whether Reagan might have been slipping mentally while serving as our commander in chief.
For our former president, his senior moments may have been early warning signs of further cognitive decline. In fact, an analysis of his progressive extemporaneous speech errors during debates over the years pointed to such subtle progressive deficits.
But for the average aging Baby Boomer like Sir Paul, middle-aged pauses and senior moments do not necessarily mean that rapid mental decline is inevitable. The risk for Alzheimer's disease is only about 10 percent for people age 65 or older. Misplacing keys or struggling to find a word is what we all joke about as we age.
Sure, our memory abilities are not quite what they were when we were in our twenties, but age-associated memory impairment is an expected and quite common experience of aging. Approximately 85 percent of people 65 years or older complain that they often recognize a face but can't recall the name that goes with it.
How can we tell if this normal memory loss will progress?
It's not easy, even for doctors. We often look for risk factors: age, family history, or other illnesses like diabetes or Parkinson's that predispose someone to neurodegeneration. If your memory challenges symptoms begin to interfere with your everyday life, if others start commenting on them, or if you find yourself worrying about them, it may be time to discuss it with your doctor.
Because of the general fear and denial about Alzheimer's disease, many people ignore early symptoms. That's not always a great idea, since the earlier you get help, the better your chances of staving off future symptoms. Clearly, it's easier to protect a healthy brain than to try to repair one once damage has set in. We don't yet have a miracle cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there are treatments that improve symptoms and keep people functioning better, longer. In general, earlier intervention translates to better outcomes.
The emotional impact of the illness is huge. We may joke about our memory lapses, but behind the humor is anxiety and fear. I have spent a good part of my career studying and caring for patients and families who have had to cope with this tragic mental struggle. And although I'm an expert, I initially refused to accept the fact that the illness was causing subtle personality changes in a close friend and mentor. I looked for almost anything else that could explain his symptoms — a possible medical condition, a depression, or maybe a drug side effect — but I eventually had to face the fact that his mind was drifting away and I couldn't stop it.
When Sir Paul McCartney was 16, he wrote “When I'm Sixty-Four.” Now that he's 67, I'm not too worried that he may not remember a few of his old lyrics – chances are that his senior moments won't progress too quickly over the years. I, on the other hand, wish I could remember where I left my cell phone charger.
Originally posted on Huffington Post. Copyright Gary Small, M.D.
Labels: Aging, Alzheimer's, Feature Articles, For the Mind, Memory, Small
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Cognitive Fitness: the New Workout
Studies are proving that cognitive exercise enhances memory and reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Now, new software programs are helping to keep a generation of older American minds young and fit.
At the forefront of this innovative technology is the Dakim Power Cognitive Fitness System. Currently in use at the Jewish Home, Dakim (pronounced day-kim) is a highly interactive, touch-screen computer designed to challenge, stimulate, and entertain while exercising the mind.
Ease of Use
One of Dakim's strengths is its user-friendliness. As a plug-and-play system, pre-loaded with software, access is immediate.
"It's appearance is less intimidating than a desktop computer," notes Dan Michel, CEO of Dakim, Inc. Michel invented the system to help his father, who suffered from dementia. "We worked hard not to have the unit look like a work station computer. There is no keyboard, no mouse. It's a touch-screen system that literally speaks to you."
The computer has a built-in camera which takes your picture when you first register. The very next session, it greets you by name. (Dakim even remembers birthdays.)
Once users get into their workout, a variety of interactive exercises awaits them. Dakim comes loaded with brain games, some of them designed to make the user feel like a contestant on a game show. With its Internet connection, the machine automatically downloads new exercises almost daily to keep cognitive training fresh and interesting.
Creative Programming
The secret to successful programming, says Michel, is to keep the games challenging enough to be stimulating – not too tough to discourage, nor so easy that players will be bored. The level of difficulty rises as the user becomes more proficient.
Programming is based on the latest research into cognitive science and the emerging field of brain fitness. Chief scientific advisor on the project is Dr. Gary Small, professor of psychiatry and bio-behavioral sciences, and Director of the UCLA Center on Aging.
Each Dakim session takes about 20 minutes to complete, and every session works all six cognitive domains. These include short-term memory, long-term memory, language, calculation, visuospatial orientation, and critical thinking. But we haven't even mentioned the most important part.
It's a Lot of Fun!
In one short-term memory game, you view movie clips from the 30s and 40s. Then you are asked to remember things like where a particular scene took place, or what the dialogue was about. Users get hooked, and keep coming back for more.
"It's fun, self-directing, and exciting," says Jewish Home CEO-President, Molly Forrest, who took Dakim for a test drive and had a ball. Best of all, users are independent. "You don't need anyone looking over your shoulder to talk you through the program."
Encouraging seniors to move aggressively into the information age is a priority at the Jewish Home. "It makes sense for myriad reasons," Forrest notes. "Technology is opening the door for all of us to engage our minds, improve our memory, and reach out to the world."
Research confirms that regular interaction with programs like Dakim are more than just entertaining. The Bronx Aging Study, conducted by the Department of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that seniors who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities can significantly reduce their risk of dementia.
"Cognitive fitness is an essential element of a healthy lifestyle," notes Forrest. "It can improve our health and preserve our independence as we age."
For an online introduction to the Dakim system, and additional information on the benefits of cognitive fitness for seniors, visit www.dakim.com.
Labels: Alzheimer's, Cognitive Exercise, Cognitive Fitness, Dakim, Doheny, Feature Articles, For the Mind, Memory
Friday, September 18, 2009
Interview with Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil
Interview with Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil,
Author of The New Aging: Politics and Change in America
Dr. Fernando Torres-Gil is the Associate Dean of the UCLA School of Public Affairs and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He holds appointments as Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy and is the Director of the Center for Policy Research on Aging. A former Professor of Gerontology and Public Administration at the University of Southern California, Dr. Torres-Gil continues there as an Adjunct Professor of Gerontology. He was appointed by President Clinton as the first Assistant Secretary for Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Q. Your book, The New Aging: Politics and Change in America, published in 1992, examined how the retirement of the baby boomer generation would affect how we age. Have most of your predictions come true?
A. I believe most have been on the mark. The need for public programs today is more urgent than ever. There will be no "retirement" for baby boomers, at least not the kind we fantasized about. The pending old age of 80 million people comes at the very time the U.S. is confronting serious crises. When I wrote the book, I was concerned that many baby boomers would awaken at 65 to find that they have not saved, that there was no social safety net, and no equity in their home. The crises have occurred far faster than I ever imagined.
Q. Yet you believe the economic events of the past year provide us with a great opportunity.
A. The baby boomers may well become our next generation of gray panthers – a new generation of senior citizen activists. Our parents and grandparents faced their great adversity when they were young – during the Great Depression, WWII, and the Cold War. Baby boomers, who've had it relatively easy throughout their lifetime, will face their great test when they're old. Our country simply has not prepared for increased longevity. The nation is going to need an engaged citizenry to make up for this.
Q. Another challenge may be that boomers still haven't admitted to the fact that they're aging.
A. This may be the existential crisis of the moment. If there is a silver lining to the mismanagement of the Federal government in the last eight years, it is that those of us who are aging can no longer deny the fact. I am hoping that the crises in finance, savings, and housing will arouse a generation to begin asking what can be done to turn things around.
Q. What is the impact of the intersection of diversity and aging that you discuss in your book?
A. During the next 20 years, our current ethnic minorities will become the new majority. We will expect them to be productive and to pay sufficient taxes to cover the services baby boomers will require from government. If we don't invest in these young immigrant communities today, we may not have the tax base to fund the social programs we'll need tomorrow.
Q. It seems that Los Angeles could be an epicenter of such changes.
A. We have struggled with the tension that sometimes occurs with growth and demographic change, but we have managed to rise above it. I believe L.A. County has the highest degree of tolerance and acceptance of diversity and plurality of anywhere in the country. We continue to remain economically viable specifically because of the influx of Armenians, Persians, Asian Pacific Islanders, Central Americans, and Latinos. L.A. County has really shown that it can prosper from diversity, and we remain a role model for the rest of the country.
Q. We have a large and growing population of family caregivers, a situation that is already considered a national crisis. How can cities and municipalities provide assistance?
A. Caregiving is a preoccupying priority, given the difficulties faced by loved ones. It is not only about identifying individuals in need, but about enabling them to receive services in their homes and communities. There is also the issue of the huge and frequently invisible sacrifices that caregivers make, whether it's an inability to keep working, the pressures of caregiving, or high stress levels that can cause health problems. We need to build up a caregiver workforce made up of immigrant minority low-income workers. The challenges of caregiving will cut across race, income, and political affiliation.
Q. The Department of Public Health has predicted a rise in the incidence of Alzheimer's disease. Will this also increase the need for both family and professional caregivers?
A. Alzheimer's and other dementias will be our HIV/AIDS crisis for the older generation. We have made great strides in addressing the issues of HIV and AIDS and responding to the needs of that population. We must develop an equally effective response to the increase in Alzheimer's and the growing number of older persons who are physically unable to care for themselves.
Q. Employers continue to lose millions of dollars as employees take time off to care for older family members. What can we do to mobilize the workforce to help with the issue?
A. During the years when baby boomers became young parents, employers began providing daycare centers and a variety of childcare options. Employers may need to think about adding adult daycare centers to the mix. But we need to consider the balance between economic development and the potential losses due to caregiving support. Businesses have two essential roles – to create jobs and to make profits, which provide tax revenues to support social programs. Ultimately, federal and state governments must provide programs that take the burden off of employers. Having said that, I still believe employers should play a role in providing assistance to workers who have caregiving responsibilities.
Q. What are your thoughts about land use planning, housing, and transportation for our aging population?
A. All too often cities and municipalities allow developers to create housing for individuals who will be aging in the wrong place. When people grow old and are isolated, they will not have the transportation, social services, and healthcare services they need. Decisions are being made to disperse and isolate an aging population, when, instead, we should be promoting smart growth, high density, affordable, accessible housing in places that provide health and social services.
Q. You co-wrote a book with experts in aging from Israel and Australia that was published in 2007, called Lessons From Three Nations. What do these two countries have in common with the United States?
A. Israel has an intense history with immigration because it actively sought out Jewish refugees from around the world. All refugees who come to Israel are entitled to a universal system of health, long-term care, and social benefits, thereby reducing the burden on the private sector. Israel addresses the needs of their immigrant elderly far better than the U.S. or Australia.
Australia created a very generous multicultural policy in the 1970s that welcomed immigrants from around the Pacific Basin. It gave that country tremendous economic vitality. Now however, they have a large influx of immigrant elders, and do not have the national policies to respond. So they are trying to find a balance.
The U.S. has a longer history of absorbing immigrants and a successful record of assimilating second- and third-generation immigrants. What we lack is universal health, long-term care and social services. We are still very much an individualistic society and in conflict over reforming immigration policies. The three countries have different experiences. What we have in common is that our populations are getting older and each one of our countries needs immigrants and minorities to replace our aging workforce.
Q. Do you have any final thoughts about how we can prepare for our aging population?
A. We have to accept the reality that we are growing old and becoming more diverse. Furthermore, we should see these two situations as an opportunity to keep the elderly in the community. We must find ways to make cities and municipalities user-friendly and accessible, so individuals can age in place. I would encourage our public officials to do all they can to invest in the younger immigrant and minority communities because they will be our next generation of taxpayers. I would also encourage everyone to look at aging and diversity as a tremendous asset.
Reprinted with permission from THE LINK, the official newsletter of the Los Angeles Commission on Aging.
Labels: Aging, Alzheimer's, Baby Boomers, Dementia, Feature Articles, Meltzer, Policy, Retirement, Torres-Gil





Luke Jackson, JD, BSN, RN, joined the staff of the Los Angeles Jewish Home in 2009 as program director of the Auerbach Geriatric Psychiatry Unit (AGPU), a state-of-the-art inpatient facility specializing in acute short-term care for seniors experiencing stressful or emotional challenges. Mr. Jackson, who began his career as a licensed mental health technician, has served as associate director of nursing, director of senior behavioral health and marketing, and clinical director for several hospitals in the greater Los Angeles area.
Robin Heffler is a Los Angeles-based journalist whose writing and editing span the fields of health, social services, education, law, the environment, religion, arts, and culture. Her work has appeared in the research publications of UCLA, USC, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as in the Los Angeles Times and The Forward.
Kathleen Doheny is a Los Angeles-based journalist who also writes for WebMD.com, healthday.com, Weight Watchers, the Los Angeles Times and other publications.
Barbara Meltzer is the founder and principal of the Los Angeles-based Public Relations and Marketing Agency, Barbara Meltzer & Associates. Her personal experience as a family caregiver sparked an interest in aging issues and advocacy. In 2007, she was appointed by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to serve as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles County Commission on Aging. Barbara Meltzer can be reached at