U.S. Army veteran, Steven, is missing his left leg from a war injury. He wears a prosthetic leg, and it enables him to walk. For those who are missing an arm or leg, an artificial limb (or a prosthesis) can often replace it. A prosthesis can help you to perform daily activities such as walking, […]
But I Promised I Wouldn’t Put her in a Nursing Home
Click Here to Read Magic’s to “My Dad Doesn’t Recognize Me – Is It Still Worth Visiting?” Q. I remember the moment like it was yesterday. My mom, who had Parkinson’s for ten years at the time, was sitting at my kitchen table. I saw how challenging it was for her to get her wheelchair from the living room into the kitchen, to chew and […]
Dementia and the Right to Die
Q. During her last two years of agony, my mother would look at me and her doctors and nurses often and say, “Can’t you just give me a little black pill?” It was obvious to all of us what she meant and, of course, all we could say was that we couldn’t do that, but […]
Top 17 Articles of 2017
From the passing of the RAISE Family Caregivers Act to offer much-needed support to caregivers, to Trump’s tax overhaul, we covered a lot of ground in 2017. It was a year that included a massive data breach, the ACA almost being repealed, and amazing new technological innovations to help seniors age-in-place. At the Farr Law […]
Inspiring Memories and Emotions in Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s
Nora has had Alzheimer’s for more than 10 years. Each year, her niece, Jeannette, visits her a few days before Christmas, to play her favorite holiday music, give her candy canes, and show her pictures of Washington, DC, where she spent most of her Christmases with family throughout her life. Jeannette would do anything to […]
Alzheimer’s Turns 100 – Bill Gates is on a Mission to End It Now!
100 years ago, German physician Dr. Alois Alzheimer first wrote about “a peculiar disease.” He described the case of a woman named “Auguste D,” who was experiencing significant memory loss, severe paranoia, and other psychological changes. But, it wasn’t until Alzheimer performed an autopsy on her brain that he found that her brain had shrunk […]
Is Alzheimer’s a Spectrum Disease, Similar to Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Mary, a retired college professor, was unhappy when her ophthalmologist insisted that she stop driving. It happened when Mary informed her about her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Mary’s vision hadn’t changed in 10 years, and she felt perfectly capable of driving at that point in time. At an appointment with her neurologist, Mary expressed her dismay about […]
Local College Students Invent New Gadget to Diagnose Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. Currently, doctors can’t definitively diagnose Alzheimer’s, so they typically inform patients of “possible Alzheimer’s dementia,” “probable Alzheimer’s dementia,” or […]
It’s Alzheimer’s, Not the Plague!
Lindsay was at a family gathering with her mother, who she was visiting in Virginia Beach. Her favorite uncle, Fred, who she recently found out was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, was there helping out in the kitchen. When she saw him for the first time since his diagnosis, she got a pit in her stomach. She […]
Surprising New Evidence About the Incredible Benefits of Coffee!
Every morning, when Michael rolls out of bed, he has one thing on his mind. It’s the one thing that he believes helps him stay awake and alert, and enables him to function at his best all day. It’s not a prescription or over-the-counter drug, or a vitamin or holistic treatment, but it may as […]
Family Caregiving is NOT Cheaper Than Professional Care. Here’s Why!
Five years ago, Karen got her PhD to teach at the college level. Upon graduating, she began her dream job, but she only was able to teach for about a year, when her mother’s Alzheimer’s began getting worse. Karen quit her job and put her dream on hold, and has been caring for her mother […]
My Wife is in a Nursing Home- Now What Do I Do with All This Free Time?
Q. My wife has dementia, and your firm recently helped us qualify for Medicaid. At first, I never thought it would be possible, but it was, and I am forever grateful for your assistance. She is now in a nursing home, and seems content and I am happy with the services she is being […]
Spreading the Love: Dementia Patients Find Comfort in Pets and Family Visits
Renee Eder, our public relations director, has a history of dementia in her family, including her paternal grandmother, uncles, and aunts, and she knows about the love and compassion those with the disease need. During the holidays this past year, Renee and her daughter, Emma, led Emma’s second grade class in making gingerbread houses, and […]
How Does a Doctor Test for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Dear Angel, My husband is becoming quite forgetful lately, and wants to get tested for Alzheimer’s Disease since he has a history of it in his family. He is becoming anxious about the testing, because he isn’t sure what’s involved. What types of tests do doctors conduct to determine if someone has Alzheimer’s? Thanks! Tess […]
Top 16 Articles of 2016
From the presidential candidates’ views on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, to a new president being elected, we covered a lot of ground in 2016. It was a year that included the passing of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act to help special needs individuals, overtime pay for caregivers being instated and subsequently shut down […]
Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2016 (If You Dare)
With Halloween upon us, now is the time when we present you with this year’s scariest stories. From one typo costing you your computer to loved ones with Alzheimer’s owning guns, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles from least to most scary (but you be the judge) for […]
What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?
Recently, Gina’s mother told her the devastating news that her Uncle Jack had been diagnosed with dementia. When Gina’s husband got home from work, she quickly told him about her uncle’s “Alzheimer’s” diagnosis. Gina, her mother, and her husband began using the terms “dementia” and “Alzheimer’s” interchangeably, as if they meant the same thing, where […]
Veterans May Have a Higher Risk of Getting Alzheimer’s
Currently, 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 (44 million people worldwide) live with Alzheimer’s disease. These numbers are staggering! Even more startling, is research cited in the Los Angeles Times that reveals that veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are 60% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s or a late form of […]
How to Live Past 100
Q. This past year, I became interested in genealogy, and have been compiling my family tree using online resources. With some research, I found that generations before mine have included not-so-distant relatives who have lived past 100. My parents, unfortunately, both died in their 70’s. I wonder what my ancestors did right to live so […]
New Apps for Dementia Patients
Many of us have grandchildren who are preteens. They play sports, enjoy video games and texting, and spend a lot of their time socializing with their friends. Academically, many preteens are discovering STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in school, and schools are trying to hone those skills with extracurricular activities in computers, mathematics, […]