Talking Cognitive Impairment and Living Alone with Dr. Elena Portacolone

In this episode, Dr. Anna Chodos speaks with Elena Portacolone, PhD, MBA, MPH, about her work understanding the experiences of approximately 4.3 million older adults in the U.S. who live alone and have cognitive impairment or dementia. They talk about how common this is, how we can detect it, how we can make the most of the "miracle" of making a diagnosis in someone who lives alone, and how to build a team around that person. 

Dr. Portacolone is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the Institute for Health and Aging at UCSF and a Pepper Center Scholar at the Division of Geriatric Medicine at UCSF.  Some of her key articles:

• On Living Along with Alzheimer's Disease
• Effects and Meaning of Receiving a Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer's Disease When One Lives Alone
• The concept of precarity in older age in the US, and specifically, among older adults living alone with cognitive impairment.
• Expectations of older adults with cognitive impairment of their relationships with health care providers. 
• The Living Alone with Cognitive Impairment Project's Policy Advisory Group on Long-Term Services and Supports

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