Dear Angel, My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a couple of years ago. She used to be a college professor and is a brilliant woman. I began noticing that when someone hears of her Alzheimer’s, they ask me questions that she could very well still answer for herself. How can I convey to others that […]
Secrets of Centenarians
Q. The other day, I was reading about Susannah Mushatt Jones, who turned 116 last month in New York. She was born in 1899 and retired in 1965. She never smoked or drank, and says lots of sleep is the secret to her longevity. I am in my 80’s and still have lots of energy […]
When Loved Ones Aren’t Permitted to Visit
Peter Falk and his daughter, Catherine. (from dalje.com) Jane and Maria are sisters who haven’t spoken in ten years due to a disagreement over their mother’s care. Jane was a caregiver for her mother, Millie, and served as her guardian and had Power of Attorney until she passed away. Maria lived in another state and […]
$10,000 a month! Why don’t they take it seriously?
Q. My parents are in their 70’s and I am a caregiver for them, while working part-time and raising a family. My father has had Parkinson’s for fifteen years and is no longer mobile. My mother is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. As much as I love them dearly, it is becoming a real […]
New Alzheimer’s Risk Factors Presented at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference
Image from 2015 AAIC- alzjourney.com Q. My grandmother, Pearl, and her three siblings, Rebecca, Helene, and Morris, all died from Alzheimer’s. I heard that a family history of Alzheimer’s is a major risk factor for the disease. Do you know what some of the other risk factors are, and are there any preventative measures I […]
Why Do Women Get Alzheimer’s More than Men?
Dear Angel, I read that women get Alzheimer’s more often than men. Do you know of any scientific reasons why this happens? Thanks in advance, Alice Heimersen-Wemmen —- Dear Alice, Among people who are 71 and older, an estimated 16 percent of women have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, compared with 11 percent of men, according […]
Highlights from the White House Conference on Aging
Photo from Whitehouse.gov This past Monday, on the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Medicare and Medicaid and the 80th anniversary of Social Security, the once-a-decade White House Conference on Aging was held. During the conference, 200 advocates, health care workers, and government officials discussed caring for seniors, addressing topics such as […]
Celebrating July 4th With a Loved One Who Has Dementia
Dear Commander Bun Bun, Every year, our neighborhood has a big July 4th celebration, with a fireworks display and a picnic. This year, my mother moved into our home and she has dementia. Do you have any recommendations for celebrating the 4th with someone with dementia? Thanks! Indy Pendens-Daye — Dear Indy, The July 4th […]
Alzheimer’s Caregivers Need to See This
Alzheimer’s Disease is an illness that causes people to lose the ability to remember, think, and use good judgment. Over time, as the disease worsens, those affected will have trouble with self-care and will need caregiving assistance; for those aging in place, a family caregiver is often involved. Family caregivers typically experience mixed emotions. Sometimes, […]
How to Make Your Own Bucket List
Michael Ellenbogen skydiving (from YouTube) After more than a decade of having symptoms, Michael Ellenbogen was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at 49. He is one of an estimated 1.4 million people worldwide who have been diagnosed before 65. After receiving the diagnosis, he decided not to let it get him down. Instead, he felt empowered […]
Want to lower your risk for Alzheimer’s? Babysit your grandkids!
Dear Commander Bun Bun, I take care of my 3 year old grandson, Jake, every day, and boy does he keep me moving. I read somewhere that spending time with grandchildren can help stave off Alzheimer’s. Have you heard anything about this? B.Z. Nanna —– Dear B.Z., Grandchildren keep seniors joyful and active. And you […]
Can Family Caregivers Get Compensated?
Q. My father, Jack, is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and has limited mobility due to other ailments. He currently lives alone at home and needs a lot of assistance. He has been a great dad, always putting my needs before his own. Now, I am doing the same for him. I recently got […]
PBS Releases “Caring for Mom and Dad” Documentary
Graphic from pbs.org. Chris Olson was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and her husband, Brent, has prostate cancer. They lived alone, 300 miles away from their nearest daughter, and needed assistance. Their daughter, Breanna, who was beginning a promising political career, and her sister Shanna, a working mother of two, decided to put their careers on […]
Protecting My Mother from Scams
Dear Angel, I recently visited my 80-year old mother, who is in the early stages of dementia. I noticed boxes of items that were mailed to her, including tons of magazines about body building and deep sea fishing (both of which don’t interest her), and a pile of sweepstakes she entered. I would like to […]
Alzheimer’s Diagnosis is Rarely Disclosed to Patients
Q. My mother, Lorraine , is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. We think it began ten years ago when she started showing signs, but no one knows for sure. She went to a doctor for physicals every year, and seemed to be in good health, except she had what we thought were “senior moments.” When […]
Informal Home Care Could Result in Medicaid Ineligibility
Betty Jensen was an elderly woman with dementia, who resided in her home in Muskegon, Michigan. In May 2011, when she needed assistance, her concerned grandson, Jason, acted on her behalf and hired a non-relative, Teresa Alexander, to serve as her Caregiver. Hiring a Caregiver When hiring the Caregiver, Jason entered into an informal agreement […]
How Close Are We to a Cure for Alzheimer’s?
Q. I just found out that my favorite Aunt, Norma, is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. I was heartbroken at first, but am optimistic that with all the research being conducted, we could be close to a cure. Sure enough, this morning I was on Facebook and saw a post about a study where […]
Alzheimer’s Accountability Act Signed Into Law
Dear Ernie and Jannette, I heard that the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act was signed into law recently as part of a federal funding bill. Does this mean more money for Alzheimer’s research? Thanks! Nida Cure-Now — Dear Nida, Sadly, Jannette has gone to froggie heaven, so it is just me answering your question. – Ernie Alzheimer’s is […]
New Apps for Seniors with Memory Loss
Q. I bought my mother, Charlotte, a tablet for Christmas last month. I thought it was an ideal gift for her, since she is beginning to experience memory loss, and was told that she could benefit from apps that help her exercise her mind and take her medication. I visited her the other day, and […]
Would You Want This In Your Advance Medical Directive?
Jerome Medalie can’t imagine life with Alzheimer’s. And, he has made it known that he doesn’t want to be around if he can’t “recognize his loved ones” or “articulate coherent thoughts and sentences.” He did so formally and legally in his Advance Medical Directive. According to a recent New York Times blog post, if Jerome […]