Last November, in what the U.S. Department of Justice called “one of the largest health care fraud settlements in U.S. history,” Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries were fined more than $2.2 billion to resolve criminal and civil charges because of their aggressive marketing of drugs, including antipsychotics, to nursing homes, when they knew the drugs had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe and effective for a general elderly population. The corporation also allegedly paid kickbacks to physicians, as well as to Omnicare, the nation’s largest long-term-care pharmacy provider. Omnicare pharmacists were recommending Johnson…
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A weekly dose of songs and laughs, combined with a daily regimen of jokes and silliness, is replacing psychotropic drugs and anti-depressants given to dementia patients in New South Wales, Australia. It is usually a cliché to say laughter is the best medicine. But Barry Cowling, Operations Manager of Summit Care nursing home in Randwick, said humor therapy had reduced aggression and depression among 18 residents in the secure dementia wing. ''We've had residents where we could reduce psychotropic drugs or have them come off, and we could see benefits to staff with improvements in morale and engagement,'' Cowling said….
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David Wingate attended the Alzheimer's Association – Dementia Care Consortium – Transitions of Care and the Person with Dementia on May, 22 nd, 2013
A new study shows that the financial burden for a dementia patient is at least as high as that of heart disease or cancer. It is projected that both the costs and the number of people with dementia will more than double within 30 years. The study reported that each case of dementia costs approximately $41,000 to $56,000 a year. The New York Times has the story.
You may have to deal with personality changes and difficult behaviors. You may be asked the same question over and over. You typically face issues with bathing, dressing and toileting. Your loved one may wander off if you aren't careful. What I want to achieve in this article is to offer some ideas about five things Alzheimer's caregivers should never do: Don't Be in Denial The problem with denial is it doesn't lead you to take your loved one to a primary care physician or neurologist for a complete workup. And the problem with that is that sometimes dementia is…
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We all know that the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or some other type of dementing disease is one of the most dreaded things that an individual can experience. But what happens next is equally bad: where do you turn for information, what can and can’t you do, when is it safe to drive or be out? There are no easy answers, but everything does not have to be as negative and clinical as some medical practitioners make it out to be. Some people have started informal social groups to help deal with the new diagnosis and how to do things….
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Although the causes of sundowning are unknown, a plan can be made to reduce most of the difficulties that occur. Normal sundowning typically lasts for a couple of hours and, usually, does not involve destruction of property nor physical attacks on others. However, the caregiver must refrain from being agitated, needy, upset, and angry. Sundowning in an adult is like a tantrum in a small child. It represents real feelings, but requires a calm, kind, centered adult response. Remind yourself that it will pass, and listen carefully, because the emotional meaning within the sundowning is real. While nobody knows the actual…
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There are dozens of causes of dementia and steps for prevention are different for each one.There are no proven preventive strategies for Alzheimer’s. However, some top strategies to keep your brain healthy are listed below. 1. Vascular risks: Minimize your risk for strokes, heart disease and diabetes (keep your body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar in normal range). Studies find strong links between vascular risks and Alzheimer’s. 2. Exercise regularly: Regular aerobic activities, such as walking, may reduce risk for dementia by keeping the brain’s blood vessels healthy, boosting nerve growth chemicals and slowing age-related brain shrinkage. 3. Stimulate…
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In response to the Report and to honor of World Alzheimer’s Month, the Alzheimer’s Association is unveiling tips for coping with stigma created by people living with the disease. Current and former members of the Alzheimer’s Association National Early-Stage Advisory Group developed these tips based on their personal experiences: Be open and direct. Engage others in discussions about Alzheimer’s disease and the need for prevention, better treatment and an eventual cure. Communicate the facts. Sharing accurate information is key to dispelling misconceptions about the disease. Whether a pamphlet or link to online content, offer information to help people better understand…
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Seventy-five (75) percent of people with dementia and 64 percent of caregivers believe there are negative associations for those diagnosed with dementia in their countries, according to survey fielded by Alzheimer's Disease International and published today in the World Alzheimer Report 2012: Overcoming the Stigma of Dementia. In the current Report, nearly one in four people with dementia (24 percent) who responded to the survey said they hid or concealed their diagnosis, citing stigma as the main reason. They expressed concerns that their thoughts and opinions would be “discounted and dismissed,” and that they would be “treated more positively” if…
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Frederick, MD 
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