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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
How Nursing Homes are Collecting Debts- More Reason to Plan Ahead
Lillian Palermo, a 90-year old retired insurance executive, entered a nursing home after she began experiencing dementia, falls, and surgical complications. Her husband, Dino, who is eight years her junior, visits her every day. He sings her favorite songs, feeds her home-cooked Italian food, and pays a private aide to be there when he cannot. […]
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 […]
Ask the Expert: Forgetfulness: When to Call a Doctor
Q. My mother, Meg, has not been herself lately. Last week, when going to the neighborhood post office, she got completely disoriented and lost. She asks the same questions over and over again and often repeats stories. She even forgot the ingredients for dad’s favorite soup last week, which she has been cooking for 40 […]
Finding the Right Nursing Home
Carol and Bob invited his mother, Ginny, to spend the holidays with them, as she does every year. This year, her live-in caregiver expressed concern that it was not a good idea because Ginny’s dementia has gotten worse and she may not recognize her own grandchildren. Ginny cannot do much independently anymore and needs help […]
News from the Dementia Consortium
Yesterday, one of our staff members attended the Northern Virginia Dementia Care Consortium in Alexandria, VA. At the conference, leading experts on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias offered insights and shared best practices for caregivers and senior-serving professionals. The following is a compilation of some helpful information that our staff member gleaned from the presentations: […]
Caution: Our Top 10 SCARIEST Articles
With Halloween upon us, it is time to present you, our dear readers, with this year’s scariest & creepiest stories. From the nightmare of probate to court cases involving filial responsibility, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles for you to revisit (if you dare). As always, thank you […]
Caring for a Difficult Parent
Q. Throughout my life, my mother has always been a difficult person. She complains about everything and is hyper-critical, overbearing and, as you can imagine, hard to get along with. She always compares me to my older sister, who is successful and has a big family, and berates me for being overweight and for taking […]
New PBS Documentary — “The Genius of Marian” — Explores How Alzheimer’s Runs in Families
Pam White and her son, Banker, by Marian Williams Steele. Many people fear that Alzheimer’s disease in the family may be passed on to children and grandchildren. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, research has shown that those who have a parent, brother, sister, or child with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease. Early-onset […]
Seminar Tomorrow: Families Coping with Alzheimer’s
Attention: Families Coping with Alzheimer’s: You may be interested in attending an upcoming seminar that will combine the expertise of two well-known experts in their respective fields: Elder Law Attorney Evan Farr and Financial Advisor Eric Bost. Attendees will learn: • How to evaluate the costs of the various care options available • What benefits […]