A Cardiac Surgeon’s Hand Tremor Led Dr. Charles Edwards to Dementia Care in “Much Abides: A Survival Guide for Aging Lives”
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In this episode 182, we visit with Dr. Charles “Chuck” Edwards, author of “Much Abides: A Survival Guide for Aging Lives.”
When a hand tremor forced successful heart surgeon Chuck Edwards to re-evaluate his career, he concluded that he wasn’t ready to give up being a doctor. He loved helping patients, too much. But what could he do when he could no longer do what he had done at a high level for so many years. He could re-invent himself. That’s what.
The forces of change opened an interest for Chuck (almost an obsession) with aging that formed in his mind as he thought back to how he and his family struggled to preserve dignity first for their father, a World War II Veteran who was wounded on the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach, who suffered dementia at the end of his life, and then his mother, who suffered from Alzheimers disease before she died. He decided to go back to school at Johns Hopkins to study the disease before opening the Memory Center in Charlotte that has grown to help more than 1200 patients and 3200 caregivers.
This book tells Chuck’s story and covers all aspects of aging, time left, what is under one’s control, factors that protect and factors that undermine our goals. Examples of successful aging are presented. A major theme is personal narrative and how one’s story, if valued , has the potential to change behavior and be the bedrock for aging with grace and purpose.
About the Author:
Chuck Edwards was raised in Charlotte N.C attending public schools. He graduated from Myers Park high school in the golden year of 1965. A stellar career in basketball was cut short at the University of Virginia due to a lack of talent. This ignited the realization that he was going to have to study and he was fortunate to be accepted at the UNC School of Medicine, graduating in 1973.
Nine years were spent at Duke University training in cardiac surgery. He returned to his hometown of Charlotte NC where for 29 years he practiced cardiovascular surgery. A seminal influence in his life was both parents dying of Alzheimer’s disease.
At age 65, he was accepted at Johns Hopkins to pursue further training in dementia. This prepared him in 2013 to open a center in Charlotte caring for patients and families struggling with memory loss.
He continues to help families and patients navigate the pitfalls of these diseases. Dr. Edwards has three children and eight grandchildren. The book Much Abides is the net result of a lifetime of observing human behavior and trying to understand it.
About Memory and Movement Charlotte
The nonprofit Center is devoted to meeting the medical, safety and behavioral needs of patients with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other forms of memory and movement disorder. Using a time-and-attention model, the Center develops a care plan for each patient. At the same time, caregivers receive continuing education, and time to ask questions and express concerns. No one is turned away. Learn about Our Team, including nurses and support staff.
Caregiver Support -What They Say On Their Website
Comprehensive Care Planning:
Annual meeting with caregiver(s) to develop an individualized plan of care which can be shared with all those involved in caring for the patient;
Caregiver Connections: Four sessions offered twice a year for families and caregivers;
Strategies and Support: Doctor-led family discussions, strategies and problem-solving;
Communication and Support: Prompt communication and support if concerns and questions arise between office visits via our patient portal or by phone.
Support Staff Who Understands: Ongoing assessment of caregivers’ needs and stress level;
Connections to Community Resources: Assistance identifying community resources to best meet your unique situation.
Patient Services – What They Say On Their Website
The Right Size To Help: A small, intimate practice dedicated to a different kind of care for patients with memory and/or movement disorders;
Customized Treatment Plans: Careful and thoughtful evaluation of your medical history, current symptoms and challenges;
Attention to The Details of Your Medications: Thorough review of your medications at every visit;
Finding a Baseline for Treatment: Comprehensive physical exam and neurological testing;
Assistance to Stay in Your Home: Help to keep you safely at home as long as possible if this is your preferred environment;
Caregiver Support Meetings: Family meetings and education in order to support you and your caregivers on this journey
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