Alzheimer's disease: Ten Simple Solutions for Caregivers by Jo Huey Ten chapters, each devoted to one of Jo Huey’s well-known Ten Communication Absolutes. Easy practical suggestions for improving communication, preventing behaviors due to frustration or fear and fostering a hopeful attitude. Talking with Your Doctor from National Institute on Aging This 44-page booklet is full of ideas and tips for good communication with your doctor. The illustrations and conversational tone help to explain how to prepare for a medical appointment, discuss sensitive topics, and coordinate help from family and friends. The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care by…
5.4 million people living in the U.S. has Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias – and approximately 800,000 Americans are living alone, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The report, “2012 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures,” estimates that one in seven people with Alzheimer's or dementia lives alone, and that up to half of those people have no identifiable caregiver. Most are older women with milder impairment. Additionally, as the baby boom generation ages, more people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s will be living alone. The analysis finds that Alzheimer’s costs the country about $200 billion per year in Medicare, Medicaid, and personal out-of-pocket expenses. As enormous…
Just about everyone has some loss of memory as we age. However, don't confuse normal aging with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). As you enter your 50s and 60s you may experience "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI) being forgetful, a bit confused and display other symptoms suggestive of mild Alzheimer's — but they can manage. However, MCI increases the likelihood of developing AD — as great as 15 times more risk. Alzheimer's disease (AD) – a small percentage of people (5 percent) will fall ill to its neurological destruction before the age of 65. But as we age into the 70s, 80s and…
When facing Alzheimer's disease, it helps to connect with others who relate to your experiences. ALZConnected (alzconnected.org), powered by the Alzheimer's Association, is a new online social networking community where people with Alzheimer's, their caregivers and others affected by the disease can share questions and form new connections. On ALZConnected, you don't have to explain what it means to live with Alzheimer's. The other users know, and are willing to offer their advice and solutions to common challenges. We'll help you to form "connections" with other users, matching you based on common criteria. Tap into a diverse community via our…
Many people think of Alzheimer's as strictly a memory-stealing ailment. But as a caregiver, you know that it may also unleash difficult-to manage behaviors. We can help you addresses frequently asked questions on troubling Alzheimer's behaviors. For example: What happens when an Alzheimer's patient becomes overwhelmed? What environmental changes can trigger a negative reaction? As a caregiver, what can you do to minimize catastrophic incidents? How can you safely manage a patient who becomes physically aggressive? Should you ever use physical force to deal with a behavior problem? What causes vocalizations, such as yelling or constantly calling out? What are the…
Do you know where most of the millions of people who have Alzheimer's disease live? The answer, at home. Consequently, family and friends provide almost 75% of their care. That's why caregiving has been called the fastest growing unpaid profession in the United States. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year more than 67 million Americans provided care to a family member, friend, or loved one, many of whom are suffering from different stages of Alzheimer's disease or some other type of dementia. If you're a caregiver, you know first-hand what it's like: Getting swept up…
Many people use the terms Alzheimer's disease and dementia interchangeably, but they have very different meanings. Although dementia is a group of symptoms that include memory loss, the term itself doesn't explain what is causing the symptoms. Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia, but here are many other causes. Dementia is a general term for memory loss that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. The signs of dementia may include forgetfulness, difficulty making plans, thinking ahead, or using language, as well as changing character traits, among other symptoms. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent…
The term "dementia" is thrown around a lot in discussions of elderly individuals, but what exactly does it mean? Dementia is a general term for memory loss that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. This general term encompasses many different diseases, of which Alzheimer's is only the most common. Following is a brief summary of the different types of dementia: Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of all cases of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's is a partially hereditary disease that causes a loss of brain cells. It gets progressively worse over…
That's the target the government is eyeing as it develops a national strategy to tackle what could become the defining disease of a rapidly aging population. It's an ambitious goal – but advisers to the government stressed that millions of families need better help now to care for their loved ones. "What's really important here is a comprehensive plan that deals with the needs of people who already have the disease," said Alzheimer's Association president Harry Johns, one of the advisers. Already families approach the advisory committee "reminding us of the enormity of our task," said Dr. Ron Petersen, an…
Too many seniors are dismissing the early signs of dementia as “normal aging.” Diagnosing the disease early can potentially delay its progression, as well provide valuable time to help families cope and determine how to care for their loved one over time. Unfortunately, though, elders and families are waiting too long to ask their doctor about their symptoms, since the warning signs come and go. A survey of nearly 1,000 caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients revealed half of patients waited a year or longer after symptoms began showing before consulting a doctor. Nearly 16 percent waited more than two years. The…
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