Dementia & Alzheimer's disease

Five ways to keep Alzheimer's away

Sarah Mayer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:11:36 GMT

By Elizabeth Cohen
CNN Medical Correspondent

(CNN) -- Blanche Danick may be 86 years old, but she's pretty hip. She keeps up with all the latest health news, and a while back, she called her daughter wanting to know whether she should start taking the herb ginkgo biloba. She'd heard it might stave off Alzheimer's disease.

"I told her not to bother, that it wouldn't make much of a difference," says her daughter, Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles. "On the basis of what I've read, I don't think it staves off dementia."

London's advice makes a lot of sense, according to a study out this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Ginkgo is a top-selling herb and has been hailed by some as a memory-booster, but the new University of Pittsburgh study found it didn't help prevent Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia in more than 3,000 elderly study subjects.

Ginkgo manufacturers say this isn't the first -- or the last -- word on the herb. "There is a significant body of scientific and clinical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of ginkgo extract for both cognitive function and improved circulation," said Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council.

London's still skeptical. "But I do tell my mother there are other things she can do," says London, who's studied the brain and aging. "I tell her to go out and do things and see people every day and be active." Studies have shown that physical exercise, the kind that keeps the heart healthy, also keeps the brain healthy, according to the National Institutes of Health's Cognitive and Emotional Health Project.

Click here to continue reading this article.

Support and Awareness of Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

ZIqbalhr — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:47:44 GMT

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009

Time: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm

Location: Advanced Bio-Behavioral Sciences 5 West Main Street Suite 206 Elmsford, NY 10523

Dealing with Dementia Interactive seminar for caregivers and people with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease If you are an eldercare professional or caregiver of a person with dementia or memory loss—do not miss this free community event featuring:

Memory screenings- for early detection of the symptoms of dementia—find out whether additional follow up is necessary

Virtual Dementia Tour- a program that sensitizes caregivers to the symptoms of dementia, resulting in better care for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Documentaries featuring top researchers- to provide the most up to date information on dementia—diagnosis, treatment, research, and care

Geriatric Care Managers- Eldercare specialists will be available to meet with you and discuss your concerns about living with and caring for your loved one who has dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease

In addition, information about ongoing research studies involving dementia and Alzheimer’s disease will be available. There are approximately 35 million Americans age 65 and older and more than 4.5 million suffer from dementia. Dementia is the overriding diagnosis for cognitive impairments - the largest category under dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. There are a limited number of slots for the Virtual Dementia Tour. Please make your reservations ASAP. RSVP info:Zara Iqbal, ZIqbal@gmail.com, or call (914) 345-9154

Food and beverages will be provided through out the event.

..........Caring for mum and dad from afar.

gokrex80 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:50 GMT

..........Caring for mum and dad from afar.

I ran across this CNN article." Caring for mum and dad from afar"
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/family/01/31/ep.long.distance.care/index.html
It presents very well the challenges, family members face when trying to help an elderly relative from a long distance.
I also found these links to commercial products that address these challenges
http://www.cellnetweb.com/eldercare.htm
http://www.cellnetweb.com/dementia.htm

Care givers: monitor your patients via mobile phone any where you are.

gokrex80 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:44:03 GMT

Alzheimer is an age long disease, the care-giver wants to be as close as possible to elderly ones which they are in charge of, but they also have somethings they have to do for themselves.
Care givers just relax, there is definately a solution to your problems. you can now monitor your patient via your mobile phone anywhere you re.
For more info check these links:
http://www.cellnetweb.com/eldercare.htm
http://www.cellnetweb.com/dementia.htm

Living a worthy life with DEMENTIA/AZHEIMER.

gokrex80 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:18:53 GMT

Its been a great deal for Alzheimer patients , since its not possible for care giver to always be with them,
but relax, we have a solution right here for you.Care givers can now monitor you anywhere they are via your mobile phone.
You can check this links for more info:
http://www.cellnetweb.com/eldercare.htm
http://www.cellnetweb.com/dementia.htm

Help

bw09 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:43:17 GMT

My mom has dementia and it seems everyone is trying to or taking advantage of her.

Mom thinks everyone has her best interest at heart except the one caring for her.

How can we prevent this besides calling OEA and the Police?

A Place for Mom Raising $100,000 for Alzheimer's; Matching donations!

JohnT — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:35:13 GMT

Our company A Place for Mom is trying to raise $100,000 to combat the devastating disease of Alzheimer’s. Will you please help this important cause by making a donation today? A Place for Mom will match $25 for every $100 donated before the end of September.

http://MemoryWalk.kintera.org/pacificnorthwest/johntemple

Thank you for your help!

Article: A Place For Mom’s Guide To Dementia Care At Home

Admin — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:12:32 GMT

A Place For Mom's Guide To Dementia Care At Home

Even though most dementia cases come from irreversible causes, there is still so much dementia care that families can do to help their loved ones continue to function as well as possible for as long as possible. Creating a safe, comfortable, and supportive environment for someone with dementia can feel like a daunting and even overwhelming task for the caregiver, but fortunately there are now some accepted standards of dementia care that can help guide families to care for their loved one.

Researchers, doctors, and eldercare professionals are still discovering and refining what works and what doesn't when it comes to dementia care. A lot of different techniques and strategies have been tried, some with more success than others, but clinicians have found that there are some principles and practices of dementia care that can and do work more often than not. For example...

This article continues at Dementia Care and Alzheimer's Care.

Article: The Active Brain: Strategies for Preventing Memory Loss

Admin — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:42:47 GMT

The Active Brain: Strategies for Preventing Memory Loss

"Will I forget my family members and loved ones as I grow older?"

"Is there a way to stop the memory loss-forgetting names or why I went to the grocery store-that I've begun to experience?"

"Am I destined to lose memory as I age?"

These questions strike at the heart of the most terrifying aspect of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia-that memory loss affects the core of personal identity. But there's good news: Not everyone susceptible to dementia eventually succumbs to it. Though memory loss is often associated with older age, scientists have discovered that memory doesn't necessarily diminish with time. Recent medical research has shown that preventing memory loss can happen with the right combination of physical and mental activity, and in some cases cognitive decline (or memory loss) can be delayed or even prevented.

This article continues at Preventing Memory Loss.

Alzheimer's cases to nearly double every 20 years

Sarah Mayer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:31:08 GMT

(CNN) -- The number of people with dementia globally is estimated to nearly double every 20 years, according to a report released Monday for World Alzheimer's Day.

It's common for people with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia to wander from their homes.

Much of the growth will be fueled by longer life spans and population growth, especially in developing nations.

"Over the next 20 years, the numbers of people with dementia are anticipated to increase by 40 percent in Europe, 63 percent in North America, 77 percent in the southern Latin America ... and 89 percent in the developed Asia Pacific countries," the report said.

"In comparison, the percentage increase is expected to be 117 percent in East Asia, 107 percent in South Asia, 134-146 percent in the rest of Latin America, and 125 percent in North Africa and the Middle East."

By 2010, an estimated 35.6 million people around the world will be living with dementia. The number is expected to hit 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.

One in seven Americans age 71 and older, or about 3.4 million, have dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health. In this age group, 2.4 million people have Alzheimer's disease, NIH research has shown. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Continue reading the article

Dementia toll climbs to 35 million worldwide

Sarah Mayer — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:49:27 GMT

Dementia toll climbs to 35 million worldwide
Estimate of Alzheimer's, other ills, is 10 percent higher than predictions

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - More than 35 million people around the world are living with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, says the most in-depth attempt yet to assess the brain-destroying illness — and it's an ominous forecast as the population grays.

The new count is about 10 percent higher than what scientists had predicted just a few years ago, because earlier research underestimated Alzheimer's growing impact in developing countries.

Barring a medical breakthrough, the World Alzheimer Report projects dementia will nearly double every 20 years. By 2050, it will affect a staggering 115.4 million people, the report concludes.

"We are facing an emergency," said Dr. Daisy Acosta, who heads Alzheimer's Disease International, which released the report Monday.

The U.S. and other developed countries long have been bracing for Alzheimer's to skyrocket. But the report aims to raise awareness of the threat in poorer countries, where finally people are living long enough to face what is mostly a disease of the 65-and-older population.

Click here to continue reading this article

How can I tell whether or not my dad has Alzheimer's?

Sam — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:35:23 GMT

Hi,

My dad has moderate dementia, but all my sisters and brothers are jumping the gun (i think) and are saying he has Alzheimer's. They've even had him "committed" and all his legal rights taken away, which I believe is a travesty as my dad is still a very lively and active man with fairly good reasoning capabilities. They actually took him to court and got him declared "mentally incompetent" and he said his attorney didn't show up - and I believe him. I've been fighting the 'authorities' but it's a losing battle; once you've been declared MI they don't listen to a thing you say...my siblings did this to him just get him out of the way as they are all angry with him. I am not angry with him and want to serve as his guardian, but as they have him in another state (GA), eveyone there is saying i have little or no chance of having him come out to California to live with me or near me.

I guess I'm just looking for some support or if anyone knows any attornies who'd be willing to help my dad out. He doesn't like living in Georgia and wants to come and be near me and his grandchildren.

Any ideas anyone?

Sam

Support for Alzheimer's Disease

Kristen ONeal — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:19:08 GMT

No one should face Alzheimer's alone. That is why Rittenhouse Senior Living of Middletown has created monthly support meetings so we may better understand this disease and how it effects our loved ones.

Did you know that every 70 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's? There are more that 5.3 million people with this disease. The more we know that better we can care for our loved ones.

Please attend this months support meeting on Tuesday August 11, 2009 at 6:30 - 7:30 at Rittenhouse. We will serve a light dinner and will be featuring parts of the Alzheimer's Project that was shown on HBO last month.

At Rittenhouse, we are here to care and here to help.

Please RSVP to Brenda Cox at 513-423-2322

Rittenhouse Senior Living of Middletown

3000 McGee Ave.

Middletown, OH 45044

513-423-2322

Sleeping in may be an early sign of dementia research suggests

Sarah Mayer — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:03:52 GMT

Lie-ins may be an early sign of dementia research suggests

Sleeping late in the mornings or napping in the afternoons doubles the chances of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the elderly are warned.

By Pat Hagan
Published: 1:13PM BST 12 Aug 2009

Research has found that people aged over 65 who sleep more than eight or nine hours a night may be twice as likely to develop the deadly condition as those getting six to eight hours.

Napping during the day may also have the same effect.

The reason remains unclear but researchers believe excessive sleep could be an early sign of the disease. It's also possible that staying in bed is a sign of depression, a known risk factor for dementia in the elderly.

Now researchers are urging doctors to be on the lookout for long sleep as a warning that a patient is at risk.

Alzheimer's affects an estimated 750,000 people in the UK and the number is expected to grow as the population lives longer.

Most die within ten years of being diagnosed, and the cost of caring for victims is more than stroke, heart disease and cancer put together.

The disease destroys chemical messengers within the brain and starts with the build-up of deposits – called plaques and tangles – that can disrupt normal messaging systems by causing inflammation.

The cause remains unknown but some research suggests keeping the mind active, by doing quizzes, puzzles or crosswords, may help to protect against it.

A report out earlier this week said exercising regularly and sticking to a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables, oily fish and nuts could slash the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 80 per cent.

Previous studies have hinted that a lack of sleep can affect brain function.

But the latest research, published in the European Journal of Neurology, suggests too much sleep is even worse.

Experts at the University Hospital of Madrid in Spain studied 3,286 men and women aged 65 or over.

Each one was questioned on their health and lifestyle, including how many hours sleep they had on average over a 24-hour period, including afternoon naps.

The volunteers were then tracked for more than three years, during which time 140 went on to develop Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia.

The results showed the biggest increase in risk was among those averaging more than eight or nine hours a day, either by lying in the mornings or napping in the afternoon.

In a report on their findings the researchers said: "We found a significant association between long sleep duration and dementia.

"Long sleep may be an early symptom of dementia, or could lead to an increased risk of it.

"But the mechanisms underlying this association are not readily explainable."

A study earlier this year found too much sleep was also linked with type two diabetes.

Dr Susanne Sorenson, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "This report demonstrates that sleeping longer than normal and feeling sleepy during the day is linked to getting dementia within three years.

"There is no apparent physiological link and it is unlikely that sleeping more than normal is a direct risk factor for dementia; it may simply be an early sign of a yet undiagnosed condition.

"As currently only a third of people with dementia ever receive a formal diagnosis, more research is now needed to investigate these results."

Earlier research said exercising regularly and sticking to a Mediterranean diet rich in fruit, vegetables, oily fish and nuts could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's by up to 80 per cent.

The Alzheimers Project on HBO

kgbkind — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:43:21 GMT

Hey everyone,

I thought I would share this all of you. It's gonna be airing on HBO and is titled "Alzheimers Project".

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/general/view.bg?articleid=1171331

Finding the right care for mom

Marg03 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:33:16 GMT

I am new to this forum. I am having trouble finding the right care for mom. I know she really does not want to be in an ALF or nursing home but I have to work and cannot stay home and care for her. I have tried two assisted living facilities. First one lasted 2 month she was fine with it when she went in participated in some activites but then she had a fall. After the fall she was not the same. She began refusing to eat, take meds and was angry and violent, tried to hit staff members. When she went to the hospital after the fall she also became very violent when she was told she would have to stay because she also had a UTI. The second ALF I told them the way she was and they said they would accept her into their Dementia unit. Well it lasted two weeks. I would go visit every evening not in the day because of work. The second week she started not to eat again refuse meds and then again becoming angry, yelling, and not wanting to listen and also violent. So the second ALF said she was a risk. So her primary care put her in a nursing home facility well same there and she was only the for 3 days. They switched her meds and it was horrible she was out of it but still angry and hitting. I am at my wits end I am currently taking leave from work because I cannot deal with both at the same time. It would be great to get some suggestions. Is the really dementia? Some tell me yes others say there is something else going on. Her physician is not helpful at all and I am thinking about switching. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Dementia Incidence and Prevalence Continues to Rise Even in the Oldest Old

Sarah Mayer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:24:14 GMT

From Medscape Medical News

Dementia Incidence and Prevalence Continues to Rise Even in the Oldest Old

Susan Jeffrey

July 14, 2009 (Vienna, Austria) — Results of 2 new studies show that both the incidence and prevalence of dementia continue to rise in a linear fashion among the so-called "oldest old," those in their 80s and 90s and even among centenarians.

The results, from the population-based Monzino 80-Plus Study in Italy and the 90+ Study in the United States, would appear to contradict fairly conclusively the previously held idea that conversion to dementia plateaus or even declines in this oldest-old population.

"The prevalence and incidence rates of dementia found in the Monzino 80-Plus study continue to rise also in very advanced ages," Ugo Lucca, MD, from the Laboratory of Geriatric Neuropsychiatry at the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, in Milan, Italy. "Age remains the most important risk factor for dementia, and we need to further our understanding of its role if effective therapeutic and preventive strategies are to be developed."

Claudia Kawas, MD, from the University of California, Irvine, showed a linear increase in dementia risk from 10% in the 90- to 95-year-olds to a "whopping" 41% for centenarians in the 90+ Study.

"I for one just spent about 2 decades of my career suggesting that the incidence rates of dementia go down after age 85," she said. "This just goes to show that you really don't know what you think you know."

The results of both studies were presented here at the 2009 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009).

Monzino 80-Plus Study

Patients with dementia included in clinical research are systematically younger than those in the general population, and this may limit the generalizability of the findings to the oldest old, Dr. Lucca told a press conference here. Because the numbers of these older patients who have been studied in epidemiological surveys have been small, incidence estimates fluctuate widely, he noted, "and the evidence is often insufficient to reach confident conclusions."

Dr. Ugo Lucca

There is also growing evidence that the classical pathology of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles do not correlate with cognitive status in these oldest-old patients. For example, a study published just this year in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) from the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study found that the association between pathological features of AD and dementia was stronger in "younger-old" subjects than in the older old (Savva GM et al. N Engl J Med 2009;360:2302-2309).

The Monzino 80-Plus study is a prospective, door-to-door population-based survey of all residents 80 years of age and older living in 8 municipalities of Varese province in Italy. Of 2436 eligible residents, information could be gathered for 2138 subjects, a response rate of 87.8%, making this among the largest studies of dementia in this population, Dr. Lucca noted.

On the first visit, prevalent dementia was found in 25% of this population of over-80-year-olds, with an almost 4-fold increase with age, increasing from approximately 14% at 80 to 84 years to about 55% over 90 years of age, he said. More women were affected than men, with dementia seen in 27% of women vs 18% of men.

Of 1085 surviving participants, 995, or 91%, were reevaluated after an average follow-up of 3 years. Incident dementia among those not demented at baseline occurred at a rate of about 8 new cases per 100 persons, he noted, and here the rate also rose with age, from about 6 cases per 100 persons among those aged 80 to 84 years to 19 cases per 100 among those 95 years of age or older. "Thus, from 80 to 95 years of age, the proportion of new cases triples," Dr. Lucca said.

Monzino 80-Plus Study: Prevalence and Incidence of Dementia

Age Group (y)	Prevalence (95% CI)	Incidence (95% CI)
80 – 84	14.6 (12.1 – 17.5)	6.3 (4.6 – 8.4)
85 – 89	32.8 (29.2 – 36.6)	8.2 (6.7 – 10.0)
90 – 94	40.6 (36.7 – 44.6)	15.6 (13.0 – 18.6)
95+	55.5 (47.5 – 63.2)	19.2 (13.7 – 26.2)
80+*	24.3 (22.5 – 26.2)	7.9 (6.9 – 8.9)

*Standardized to the Italian population

Incident dementia was about 30% higher in women than in men, occurring in about 8.5% of women vs 6.5% in men. However, he noted, "Since the number of men at these extreme ages becomes very small, the interpretation of the gender difference should be cautious."

"With almost one-fourth of over-80s and almost half of over-90s affected, the results of our study confirm that dementia is widespread among the older olds and strengthen the need to shift the focus of clinical research to this segment of the elderly population," Dr. Lucca concluded. "In fact, evidence drawn from younger olds cannot necessarily be generalized to the older olds."

Findings of the NEJM paper and other research suggest the pathology of dementia in the oldest old may be different from classical AD, he said. "Probably dementia is a common expression of many diseases, where several rivers flow together into the lake of the disease, and each person has a different river."

90+ Study: Epidemiology and Autopsy Findings

Dr. Kawas similarly reported a high incidence of dementia in the oldest old, particularly centenarians, with results from the 90+ Study, also a population-based study of the oldest old. In this study, 330 participants underwent in-person neurological examination and were determined to be nondemented at baseline. Blood and DNA were also collected, and over follow-up, many of the participants agreed to donate their brain upon their death. "We now have over 100 brains in the brain bank," Dr. Kawas noted.

Dr. Claudia Kawas [Source: University of California, Irvine]

They were followed from January 2003 through December 2007, for a total of 770 person-years. Assessments in this study were done every 6 months. There were 140 cases of incident dementia identified over 770 person-years, for an overall incidence rate of 18.2% per year. Of these cases, 20 occurred among the centenarians, she noted.

Interestingly, she noted, men and women had almost identical rates of incident dementia: 17.9% in men and 18.3% in women. Their previous findings in this same cohort showed a prevalence of dementia among women that was double that of men, Dr. Kawas noted.

"The fact that we have an identical incidence rate for men and women in the incidence study I think tells us that the risk for dementia in women is not higher, but once they become demented, they live longer than men who are demented, just as women without dementia live longer than men without dementia," she said.

The effect of age on incidence was linear on the log scale, such that dementia incidence doubled every 5.5 years overall and in both sexes, strikingly similar to what has been seen for those under 85 years of age. "Essentially the rate goes from 10% for the 90- to 94-year-olds to 20% in the 95- to 99-year-olds and a whopping 41% for our centenarians, unfortunately," she said.

"I'm very convinced by these results," Dr. Kawas concluded. "I think the doubling time being completely consistent with younger ages and the dead-on similar rate for men and women are very striking and convince me that unfortunately the risk of this dreadful disorder does not go down with age."

In an interview with Medscape, Dr. Kawas speculated that the difference between their findings of no sex difference in incident dementia and those of Dr. Lucca's group may relate to the sampling frequency, which was 6 months in their study and 3 years in the Monzino 80-Plus study. "The longer your interval, the greater the likelihood of missing short-duration cases, and the short-duration cases are going to be the men," she said. This same issue may also explain why previous studies have suggested dementia declines in older age, she added.

Poor Correlation

Also at this meeting, Dr. Kawas presented autopsy data of the brains donated to date in the 90+ Study. Interestingly, there was again very little correlation between the clinical assessment of dementia or no dementia and what was found at autopsy. "If we said somebody was demented who came to autopsy, there was a 50% chance that the pathologist would call them normal elderly brain," she said.

There is a very poor relationship of cognition with amyloid measures, Dr. Kawas added, and only a slightly better relationship with neurofibrillary tangles and tau. "Far and away the best correlation for cognition in this sample turned out to be, so far, synaptophysin," she said, a way of measuring the integrity of synapses, that had an almost linear correlation with cognition. However, the actual disease process is unclear. "That's the million-dollar question — what is the pathology?" she said.

Pathologists are now examining a variety of measures, including other isomers of amyloid and tau, to see whether these other specific forms might be related to cognition. Their group is also doing neuronal counting in the hippocampus of these brains, as well as looking at the size of the neurons to see if this is relevant. "It might be that you might not lose neurons but lose size, and that could account for brain shrinkage." Finally, they are looking at other types of vascular pathology.

Work Just Beginning

Dr. Kristine Yaffe

Asked for comment on these findings, Kristine Yaffe, MD, professor of psychiatry, neurology, and epidemiology and associate chair of research for the department of psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, pointed out that work among the oldest old is still a burgeoning area of research.

Until recently, there were not that many people of this age around, and now it is actually the fastest-growing segment of the population, she said. "You don't see that many people in their 90s as a physician, but I think what we're talking about here is, what is it about the pathology in that group, and is the dementia in that group different from dementia in the earlier group?"

These people are not even generally included in trials, Dr. Yaffe noted. "If we're understanding that the neuropathology is different, maybe we need a trial of the oldest old."

There may also be differences in risk factors for dementia in this group, she added. "So, for example, whether this is due to survival bias or other reasons — we don't know — it looks like some of the traditional risk factors that we think of for dementia don't bear out in the oldest old. And again, I think we're just starting to understand why that is."

Dr. Yaffe added that she has just been funded by the Alzheimer's Association to look at risk factors in this group of oldest old.

The 90+ Study was funded by the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Kawas reports no conflicts of interest. The Monzino 80-Plus Study is supported by the nonprofit Monzino Foundation. Dr. Lucca reports no conflict of interest.

2009 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009): Abstracts P3-168, 02-02-08. Presented July 14, and 13, 2009.

Having trouble accepting and dealing with my mom's alzheimers

NLJ9876 — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:47:51 GMT

My moms mid stage alzheimers, almost 75, and suffers with severe agitation. Day in, day out, for the last year or so, she hallucinates and has delusions that my fathers having an affair with the 90 year old lady who lives bedridden, across the street. This is all she talks about 24/7. What really sucks is the fact that shes extremely verbal about it; this is all she talks about constantly. She also talks to this woman as if shes in the house, constantly yelling at her to get out. She curses at her as if shes there. She threatens her and throws things at her, as well as at my father. She kicks in the walls, bangs on them, bangs on the doors and tables, thrown things at my dad and is just generally chronically stressed out. This continues for hours on end, only to finally stop when, in utter exhaustion, she walks calmly into the den where my fathers sitting, sits down near him, and slowly falls asleep against him, for an hour or so, only to start up again when she awakes. She still recognizes people and eats and goes to the bathroom on her own. The extreme aggressiveness and combativeness against my father, though, is a major problem and not one thats easily rectified.

The oddest thing about this, though, is that when my moms outside of the house, shes almost normal. Its only in the house that she exhibits this outrageous behavior. When in the car or out amongst other people, shes almost the same mother ive known all my life. Not completely normal or anything, but exhibits appropriate behavior. Back at home, however, she reverts back to this horrid behavior.

The Dr had put her on seroquel but it was no help. Shes now just begun taking haldol (which im well aware has potential horrendous side effects), but theres not much of a choice. My dad isnt ready to put her in a nursing home (for his own personal reasons; both his parents and my moms parents were NEVER placed in nursing homes-- they were cared for in the home till the very end; if you loved your parents- which they did-- youd never place them in a home!) so he wants to care for her for as long as hes able.

My dads accepted that his is now his life; caing for his wife. He married her for better or for worse; they had the better, now its time for the worse, and no amount of pressure will change his mind. He says he would only consider a home if and when she becomes totally incontinent and doesnt remember anyone; in absence of that, he will care for her for as long as hes able.

Pretty noble, huh? i agree! Its taking years off his life, though. What a sacrifice to make for someone else. I feel pretty blessed to be raised by such a person (im adopted- these are my adoptive parents). It breaks my heart, though-- truly breaks my heart!!

I feel like i need therapy to deal with this and i dont even live with them! But i do go and visit once a week and it makes me so sad when i get here there. I never know what to expect-- will today be a good day or a bad day. How many more bruises will be all over my poor dad (shes a good shot when she throws stuff!!) WIll i come there during the screaming stage or the nap stage? Wil today be the first day she doesnt remember me? I enter the house trying to be in a good upbeat mood (for my dad) but somehow never make it to upbeat. i try a weak smile and it comes out as such- weak!

Lets face it, im having a horrible time dealing with all this-- and i dont even live there! i just visit once a week! This makes me feel even more horrible. I feel guilty; terribly so. Guilty that its my turn, right now to be young and somewhat carefreee when my parents are not. Guilty that i can leave that horrible situation while my poor dad cant. Guilty that i have a partner to go home to while my poor dad is losing his life partner of over 50 years. Gone is his security and best friend. Gone is his partner and mom of his kids.

Seriously, i just wanna crawl in a ball and go to sleep.

10 Million Baby Boomers Face Alzheimer's

JohnT — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:17:59 GMT

One of every eight baby boomers, which translates to 10 million people, will develop Alzheimer's disease in their lifetimes, according to the latest study released by the Alzheimer's Association. These findings are particularly significant for assisted living providers who provide dementia care services. The study also notes that the age of highest risk for Alzheimer's starts at 65.

An Alzheimer's Association spokesperson notes that the projected rise in Alzheimer's cases will burden the long-term care system as well as put a strain on Medicare, since most people with Alzheimer's are eligible for that funding.

Need help in making decision

Lebeth — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:40:37 GMT

Hi,

This is my first post. My Mom is 88 years old and has dementia/alzheimer's. She is totally bedridden and needs total care. She doesn't respond verbally but will follow you with her eyes and always pay particular attention to her granddaugher and grandson who are my children. She will often watch me and she enjoys music tremendously. She will not speak but will purposely hold my hand upon request.

This is the situation. She has been in a nursing home for ove10 years since 1998. During this period of time she has received excellent care with few minor incidents that were readily resolved. Now I want to bring her home, each time I visit her she looks at me with eyes that plead to go home. I feel strongly that she does not want to die at the nursing home but wants to be with her family. This thought never leaves my mind. She was placed in the home because in the beginning she would wander, and would become extremely anger and boy she was a strong lady and if she socked you - you felt it for a few days. I couldn't keep her at home because of my own health issues at the time.

Presenlty my husband is retired at age 62 and his health is good, and I have my own full-time business with 3 employees and the business is doing well even in this economic climate. Here is my plan to bring her home and get full-time help maybe a live-in to help me. I plan to semi-retire to devote my time to her and only go into my office a couple of times a week, the business pretty much operates over the internet where my clients place their orders. Plus I have a very compete staff.

I don't want to get a call that my Mom has died and I was not there, I cannot bear the idea that no family is with her and I only see her only twice a month because of the distance she is away from me. Her other children have not inquired about her in over 8 years and never ask me about her or even call to inquire.

My daughter is a music therapist and a psychologist. When I was in college I worked in a nursing home part-time and I did get CNA certified that has been some years ago as I am now 60. My daughter, son, husband has agreed to help me. But I want the best for Mom. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Lebeth

Question for Group

Sam Perkins — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:12:03 GMT

Could you please advise me if it is acceptable for me to post a notice regarding an Alzheimer's study we have under way in the NY area in which we are seeking caregivers (non-professional) of patients who use the Exeleon patch? Participants receive an honorarium. I can provide details offline, if needed: samp@optonline.net. Thanks for letting me know. Best, Sam Perkins

Experimental new Alzheimer's treatment could recover memory

Sarah Mayer — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:06:28 GMT

The memories of Alzheimer's patients are forgotten but not gone, to twist a popular phrase. Now, one potential new treatment might help to recover some of those lost memories. An experimental drug has the potential to recover memory and improve cognitive function if taken early in Alzheimer's development–especially when coupled with other treatments, researchers say.

Continue reading this article at: http://www.mcknights.com/Experimental-new-Alzheimers-treatment-could-recover-memory/article/140160/?DCMP=EMC-MCK_Daily

Why Do Wandering Management Systems in Nursing Homes Fail?

JDondero — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:44:31 GMT

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Dondero]John Dondero

Most senior living facilities have wandering management systems to help ensure the safety of residents afflicted with Dementia or Alzheimer's symptoms. Symptoms that may lead to wandering and Elopement.

The leading causes of death or injury in these situations are:

Exposure to heat or cold
Drowning
Traffic related injuries

Problems that occur and lead to deaths are:

Staff
In my opinion, the most important part of any wander management program is the staff. Different facilities shape their staff's response to an alarm differently. Some facilities only rely on some of their personnel to respond to alarms, while others take an all hands on deck approach. In either case, the responders must be engaged and vigilant. Staff engagement begins with assessments, is maintained with vigilance and ends with responsiveness. Problems occur when this breaks down. These systems can be affected by radio or electrical interference. In extreme cases staff have been known to turn off the system because it annoys them. I have heard of cases where an employee unplugs the system from an outlet to plug in a vacuum cleaner and forgets to plug it back in.

Ask the facility some basic questions. How often do they run drills? How often and how in depth does the facility test the door systems, transmitters and staff? How old is the system?

Then find out about these elements of the system,

Coverage Area
Sometimes facilities simply do not cover all exits at risk. Why? Maybe the facility has never had an elopement, except for that one time. Maybe it's a financial concern. It could be they think the wanderers always go out the front door. In my experience wanderers have a lot of time on their hands, they spend most of it trying to get out unless they have activities to do. If they have that one moment of clarity while they are trying to get out, they will. They may think that a resident would not think to go out the kitchen, storage, chapel or laundry door. Inevitably over time, these are the doors the residents elope from.

System Age
It is a fact some nursing homes still have some doors covered with wander systems from the early nineties. These systems may function but the newer systems work so much better. The newer system have anti-tailgating features, better antennas, more elaborate bypasses. Older systems usually have a two button bypass that have the bypass code keys worn off or are simple enough that the wanderers watch staff or visitors and learn the code. Keep in mind a recently renovated building doesn't mean an updated wandering system. They can be moved from door to door.

Design and Functionality
Is the facility using a system they implemented ten years ago? If the system was put in ten years ago does the design still relate to their staffing levels or foot traffic flow. Do they give bypass codes to visitors or delivery drivers.

These are just a few of the top concerns you may want to investigate when putting your at-risk family member in a home. Not all wandering prevention systems or plans are created equal.

John Dondero has spent ten years in the medical equipment industry. He has sold radiology systems to hospitals including X-Ray, CT, MRI and Nuclear Medical Hardware and Software. He is currently selling RFID devices and Senior Safety equipment to Senior Living facilities.

To find more information on senior or family safety and security issues, please visit http://silverlifechoices.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Dondero http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Do-Wandering-Management-Systems-in-Nursing-Homes-Fail?&id=2457484

Understanding the Basics of a Wandering Management System

JDondero — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:40:30 GMT

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Dondero]John Dondero

Wandering prevention systems have been in use for about twenty five years and are mainly used in hospitals, senior living communities and group homes. They can be recognized as a Wanderguard, the brand made by Stanley Senior Technologies. However, this term has become a generic name for all these systems much like the name Xerox has become synonymous with photocopying.

If a facility mentions they have a wander guard system, they may be simply implying that they have a wandering management system not one made by Stanley Senior Technologies. Some other major brands of these devices include; Code Alert from RF Technologies, Roam Alert and Watchmate both recently acquired brands of Stanley Senior Technologies, ResidentGuard by Accutech and finally the Securecare branded systems. If you are looking to place your loved one with Alzheimer's or Dementia related concerns in a senior living facility, make sure that you have a good understanding of how the system works and how the staff is trained to respond to these situations.

Wandering behavior most often makes the news when a resident leaves a care facility; like a retirement home, assisted living facility or nursing home and dies. Elopements make up about ten percent of lawsuits against facilities and seventy percent of those involve a resident death. Most of the residents that this happens to are known to be at risk to the staff before the event occurs. The leading causes of death or injury in these situations are:

- Exposure to heat or cold
- Drowning
- Traffic related injuries

Elopements are considered one of the 28 Never Events that are serious and preventable. This behavior affects approximately ten percent of senior living residents. It may occur in higher percentages in nursing homes or if the facility has a higher demographic of public payer residents. There are two main types of wandering alarms a facility can use to warn staff that an elopement may be occurring.

The first type of security is a perimeter alarm. This is an alarm that is usually tripped with a simple door contact switch. It alarms the staff if a door that should not be opened has, no matter who opened the door. Some facilities prefer to add keypad or card reader bypasses for staff, that allows authorized and trained persons to pass through the door without sounding alarms. This helps to make these doors usable without causing loud alarms that annoy residents and staff alike. Assuming that there is a properly trained and engaged staff, this system works well in small facilities if they do not give the bypass codes to visitors.

The second type of alarm is the wandering management or wanderguard system. These systems usually involve some type of antenna system connected to a controller and a door contact switch. Residents who are at risk wear a wrist or ankle transmitter . When a person with a transmitter walks up to a door that is protected by this type of system the antenna singles out the transmitter of the resident. It allows free passage for any staff, visitors or residents in or out of accessible parts of the facility. In most cases the door will have to actually open to alarm. Making the system have to have to separate events occur to alarm reduces false alarms. This helps to ensure that staff members do not become desensitized by a system that is always going off.

Wandering systems are a great tool to help keep at-risk residents safe but as with all tools the system must be maintained. If finding a facility having a good wandering prevention system is a concern to you because of your loved, one make sure you ask and understand how it works, how the staff is trained to respond, and how it is maintained. A wandering system alone will not keep your loved ones safe if the staff is not engaged.

John Dondero has spent ten years in the medical equipment industry. He has sold radiology systems to hospitals, medical hardware and software, and now RFID devices including Senior Safety equipment to Senior Living facilities.

To find more information on senior or family safety and security issues, please visit http://www.silverlifechoices.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Dondero http://EzineArticles.com/?Understanding-the-Basics-of-a-Wandering-Management-System&id=2457348

Statins Can Protect Against Alzheimer's Disease, According To New Study

Sarah Mayer — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:48:49 GMT

High cholesterol levels are considered to be a risk factor not only for cardiovascular disease including stroke, but also for the development of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, many cholesterol lowering drugs, including statins, have been developed in recent years. In addition to the cholesterol reducing effect of statins Amalia Dolga, PhD, of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, and her co-investigators have demonstrated that statins can protect nerve cells against damage which we know to occur in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. The results are published in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Continue reading this article by visiting: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155083.php