In the 2008 report, Voices of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Summary Report on the Nationwide Town Hall Meetings for People with Early Stage Dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association identified diagnostic challenges and dissatisfying interactions with the medical community as two major challenges articulated by people living with the disease. These principles are their insights on how to make that experience better.

 * Talk to me directly, the person with dementia.

I am the person with the disease, and though my loved ones will also be affected, I am the person who needs to know first.

* Tell the truth.

Even if you don’t have all the answers, be honest about what you do know and why you believe it to be so.

* Test early.

Helping me get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible gives me more time to cope and live to my fullest potential and to get information about appropriate clinical trials.

* Take my concerns seriously, regardless of my age.

Age may be the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, but Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Don’t discount my concerns because I am old. At the same time, don’t forget that Alzheimer’s can also affect people in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

* Deliver the news in plain but sensitive language.

This may be one of the most important things I ever hear. Please use language that I can understand and is sensitive to how this may make me feel.

*Coordinate with other care providers.

I may be seeing more than one specialist — it is important that you talk to my other providers to ensure you all have the information so that changes can be identified early on and that I don’t have to repeat any tests unnecessarily.

* Explain the purpose of different tests and what you hope to learn.

Testing can be very physically and emotionally challenging. It would help me to know what the purpose of the test is, how long it will take and what you expect to learn from the process. I would also appreciate the option of breaks during longer tests and an opportunity to ask questions.

* Give me tools for living with this disease.

Please don’t give me my diagnosis and then leave me alone to confront it. I need to know what will happen to me, and I need to know not only about medical treatment options but also what support is available through the Alzheimer’s Association and other resources in my community.

* Work with me on a plan for healthy living.

Medication may help modify some of my neurological symptoms, but I am also interested in other recommendations for keeping myself as healthy as possible through diet, exercise and social engagement.

* Recognize that I am an individual and the way

I experience this disease is unique. This disease affects each person in different ways and at a different pace. Please be sure to couch your explanation of how this disease may change my life with this in mind.

* Alzheimer’s is a journey, not a destination.

Treatment doesn’t end with the writing of a prescription. Please continue to be an advocate — not just for my medical care but for my quality of life as I continue to live with Alzheimer’s.

As our bodies and minds age, many changes occur. Our metabolism usually slows, we become more sedentary, and we fall into repetitive patterns of behavior – some of which negatively impact our health. So what are the best ways for seniors to stay forever young at heart?

Here are 10 health tips for seniors to maintain good health and keep themselves young even as they age:

1. Never Stop Learning.

Stay involved in activities that challenge and exercise your mind (and body!). It’s called ‘lifelong learning,’ and while companies encourage their employees to engage in it to stay current on changing practices, you don’t need a job to keep learning. The benefits of lifelong learning include keeping the mind sharp and improving both self-confidence and memory.

2. Surround Yourself With Good Friends.

Social activity is important for mental health, and having one or more good friends around you keeps you sharp and active. But lose the complainers and groaners… surround yourself only with the people who make you happy.

3. Laughter is Great Medicine!

Laughter creates a healthier and happier life. It lowers stress, improves memory and ability to learn, prevents heart disease, lowers blood pressure, protects against respiratory infections and so much more. It also feels good, and is just plain fun! So pay attention to the things that make you smile and laugh, and remind yourself how good it feels.

4. Get Plenty of Sleep.

People who get more sleep are healthier, so don’t cut yourself short. Men who get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly live longer than those who sleep either less or more. The same goes for women who get seven hours each night – they also have a lower mortality rate.

5. Nix the Bad Habits.

Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, junk food…we’re surrounded – and constantly tempted – by bad habits. Risks are highest for those smoking 2+ packs of cigarettes or consuming 5+ drinks daily. A little drinking is okay – in moderation, alcohol does not raise mortality rates.

6. Eat Healthy.

Being overweight is dangerous, as is malnutrition. Nothing beats three square meals a day, and remember – breakfast is still the best way to get your energy levels up for the day ahead.

7. Keep Stress Away.

Stress ages people. From the cost of living to family and health issues, we are surrounded by it – and it can become overwhelming at times. If you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, you need your body to release endorphins in order to relax. Both exercise and laughter are good stress relievers. Learn to recognize your stress, and identify coping mechanisms that work for you.

8. Exercise Regularly.

Regular exercise is one of the best steps people can take to stay forever young at heart. In fact, it’s also more likely to keep you independent and reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, stress and depression. There are four main types of exercise seniors should focus on: balancing exercises, endurance activities for the heart, stretching exercises for ligaments and tendons, and strengthening exercises for muscles.

9. Attitude Matters!

Maintaining a positive attitude is critical for remaining young. The adage ‘you are only as young as you feel’is very true – your attitude about aging has a tremendous impact on how you age. People who view getting older negatively tend to not age as well as those who see it positively.

10. Smell the Roses. Our golden years are a time when we finally have a bit of time to slow down and reflect, so take some time to do that! We live in an amazing world, and so many interesting things surround us. Taking pleasure in the small joys of life makes you happier, which can reduce depression and blood pressure. You’ve earned the right to slow down and observe life’s little details – so do it!

With the alarming rise in obesity amongst seniors, staying forever young requires work. Remember that aging well is important for both mental and physical health, and work to change routines that may be negatively impacting your health.

What do you do in order to stay forever young at heart?

To learn more, call us anytime at 

561-585-0400

Caregiver Crisis Line 800-209-4342

and remember, you are not alone.

In every 10 households, at least one of the family member’s is a caregiver. In the United States today, there are 34 million of them.

Over half are women and many are children! They’re looking after someone who can’t fully take care of himself or herself. In some cases, it’s a temporary disability. In other cases, it’s a progressive disability, like Alzheimer’s disease. In many, it is terminal. And in almost every case, the caregiver makes a huge and commendable effort looking after the care-receiver.

Caregivers are magnificent and generous people, but they stubbornly look after themselves last, very much to their detriment. Here are some helpful tips that may improve your health conditions.

1. Compromise

It’s not always easy, but work hard to avoid family fights and resentment. Don’t let old wounds or issues pull your family apart. This is a time to stick together and make compromises.

2. Coordinate

If you’re a family member or close friend, consider offering your services if you have a particular skill that might be helpful. Perhaps you are familiar with submitting insurance claims or the complexities of Medicare or Medicaid? If you are a caregiver, allow your neighbor to shop or run errands when they offer. Take advantage of the extra time and do something special for yourself.

3. Encourage

Encourage the caregiver to find some type of professional support. If he or she is not comfortable with in-person support groups, suggest online support. There is a wide variety of resources available in most communities. Do the research for them and then pass it along. If you are a caregiver, consider for a moment that although your experience is unique, others have traveled a similar path and might offer inspiration and strength.

To review the last six Caregiver Tips, click here now.

Presently, there are five FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs that treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease- temporarily helping memory and thinking problems in about half of the people who take them. But these medications do not treat the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s.

In contrast, many of the new drugs in development aim to modify the disease process itself, by impacting one or more of the many wide-ranging brain changes that Alzheimer’s causes. These changes offer potential “targets” for new drugs to stop or slow the progress of the disease. Many researchers believe successful treatment will eventually involve a “cocktail” of medications aimed at several targets, similar to current state-of-the-art treatments for many cancers and AIDS.

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Current drugs may help mask the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, but do not treat the underlying disease. A breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug would treat the underlying disease and stop or delay the cell damage that eventually leads to the worsening of symptoms. There are several promising drugs in development and testing, but more volunteers are needed to complete clinical trails of those drugs and increase federal funding of research to ensure that fresh ideas continue to fill the pipeline

-Alzheimer’s Association

Click here to learn more about the treatment of Alzheimer’s

I received this lovely email yesterday from Celia Pomerantz, author of Alzheimer’s: A Mother Daughter Journey:

After reading a couple of your tweets, I was inspired to introduce myself to you and share how I put a positive spin on being my mother’s primary caregiver to Alzheimer’s disease.

My story is unique to my circumstances, and you undoubtedly have met many children or spouses who are taking care of someone with this disease and their story is unique.  But there is a common thread that binds all caregivers – an overwhelming yearning to find the secret formula or silver lining that will help them manage their rollercoaster emotions.  With my positive approach I knew that my experience would help other caregivers, so I wrote the book that I wished I could have read while I was a caregiver.

Alzheimer’s: A Mother Daughter Journey emphasizes the importance of designing a set of compassionate mission statements to cope with the logistics and emotional tsunami of being a caregiver at all the stages of this disease.  As a final tribute, I chronicled the experience by silencing the shutter sound on my iphone camera to photograph her, often holding it with one hand so that I could keep physically connected with the other.  The result is a series of high quality sepia-toned images that pull readers into the story.

I am sharing my story with you so you might ‘pay it forward’ to others who are going through a similar experience.

Thank you for your time and thank you for what you do.

Celia Pomerantz
Alzheimer’s: A Mother Daughter Journey

You can purchase the book through Amazon.com here.

I received a call today from a daughter whose parents live in our area. Dad is 83, mom is 80 and they have been married for 60 years. The daughter called because her father was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has been “doing some strange things”. I discovered that the “strange things” really aren’t that strange to those of us that are professionals; but very upsetting to his wife and children.

Dad has been urinating outside the front door of their condo and recently urinated outside of his Church. He recognizes this behavior as inappropriate, tells his wife what he has done; becomes very angry and frustrated and has begun acting out in other ways. His daughter told me that mom is “in denial”; that dad has “done everything” throughout their marriage; and that she is very worried. She also said that dad mentioned he probably shouldn’t be driving anymore.

Most of the calls we receive usually result in our staff providing crisis stabilization services. Sometimes the crisis is so extreme that the patient is unable to remain in the place he most wants to be… his own home… Because this daughter reached out before a more serious crisis occurs, we now have the opportunity to work with the family and the patient as they begin to navigate the maze that is Alzheimer’s disease.

Once our crisis prevention services are in place, the level of anxiety and stress facing the adult children should diminish and the quality of life of the patient and his wife should improve. If and when a crisis does occur, the current investment this family is now making, of time, money and planning, will truly spare them unnecessary pain and anguish.

Let’s hope that as more people obtain early diagnosis, more physicians will recognize the need to give the patient more than just a prescription. Let’s hope they will give them information or access to other professionals that can guide them throughout the disease process and become an integral part of the patient’s on-going health care team.

This is the time of year when adult children often visit their aging parents in South Florida.   They use their visit to not only spend quality time with their parents, but to try and assess how mom and dad are really doing.

These are some of the things that the geriatric care managers at ElderCare at Home recommend you look for:

• Medication:  What prescription and over-the-counter medications are your parents taking? Can they take them without supervision?
• Appointments: How do your parents schedule their appointments and who takes them to the doctor? Do either of your parents refuse to go?
• Driving:  Do either of your parents still drive? How is their reaction time and general driving skills? Do you see any signs of damage to their car?
• Housekeeping:  How well is the inside of the home maintained?  Are there dirty dishes piling up in the sink or bathrooms that have obviously been neglected?
• Outside the home:  Is the exterior in good shape?  Is the grass overgrown? Windows cracked ?
• Personal Appearance:  Have either of your parents lost weight? Is your dad shaving? Does your mom take care of her hair and appearance?  Are they showering or bathing and free from body odor?  Do you notice dirt under their nails, bad breath or any sores on their skin?
• Financial:  Are there bills piled up and unpaid?  Do you see stacks of unread mail?  Are they careful with their credit cards? Are they acting responsibly with their money and not entering contests or lending money to friends? Do you see any signs of exploitation?  Have they bounced any checks or have they had any of their utilities turned off?
• Kitchen:  Do they have the appropriate amount of food and is it adequate to meet their needs?  Is there lot of spoiled food in the refrigerator?  Are there bags of trash stacked up in the garage or on the side of the house?
• Shopping: Do you notice if they have any difficulty writing checks or using cash? Do they use their credit card correctly?
• Socialization:  Are they able to carry on an extended conversation with you? Do you notice any repetitiveness? Can they remember the things you spoke about an hour later? Do their questions, comments and conversations make sense? Do they have a circle of friends that they spend time with? Have they stopped doing things they once enjoyed?

Although a recent illness or hospitalization might cause some of these issues to be apparent during your visit, a significant change in what you observe compared to your past visits is important.

ElderCare at Home provides comprehensive care management services to many adult children that live out of state.  Before you leave, call us for a complimentary consultation at 800-209-4342.

Insomnia is a common complaint among caregivers and older adults. Many assume that getting older or caring for a loved one automatically equates to not sleeping well.  However, illness, inactivity, poor sleep habits, and the inappropriate use of alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, rather than age, are the major causes of sleep problems.  Fortunately, proper medical care and changes in sleep habits can often bring about a good night’s sleep without the need for sleeping pills.

There are some myths about age and sleep, and there is the realty of age and sleep.

When we started the Alzheimer’s Care Resource Center, we knew that we wanted to create a place where caregivers could go that focuses solely on meeting THEIR needs.

What has surprised us so far is just how many caregivers need help. I’m not talking about the help they get when they send their loved one to day care or when the Doctor changes a prescription to a more effective medication, I’m talking about the help they need to make the unbearable, bearable.

Leaving the physician’s office armed with brochures and fliers that are supposed to serve as “resources”, or having a professional nurse or social worker make a home visit or two, is just not enough.

Caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive impairments are facing huge challenges, emotionally, financially, physically, psychologically and spiritually. Every day brings something new and thoughts of future can be frightening. If an unexpected crisis occurs the repercussions, and how they will affect both the patient and the caregiver can be dramatic and life-changing in so many ways.

The Alzheimer’s Care Resource Center helps caregivers make the unbearable, bearable. The first step is to simply reach out. We are here 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

To learn more, call us anytime at 

561-588-4545

Caregiver Crisis Line 855-476-7600

and remember, you are not alone.

Source: Alzheimer’s Care Resource Center, Inc. Reprinted with permission

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is difficult enough without adding the additional stress that comes when you can’t sleep.  Sleep problems can be the cause, effect, or complication of illnesses, mental disorders, and accidents.  Just like temperature, pulse, and respiration, sleep should be considered a vital sign of health.  The quality of one’s sleep cycle of sleep and wakefulness can be a sign of health or illness.

Primary insomnia is sleeplessness that cannot be blamed on mental disorders, physical illness, medications or simple problems with scheduling.  Excessive daytime drowsiness (called primary hypersomnia) is associated with nighttime periodic leg movements, restless led syndrome, sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep), and snoring.  Periodic leg movement disorder and restless leg syndrome are also associated with complaints of insomnia and non-restorative sleep. In either case, to qualify as a sleep disorder, symptoms must interfere with social or intellectual function and occur three nights per week for a month.

Obsessive worry about sleep and the use of alcohol or sedatives may be both a cause an and effect of insomnia.  An occasional sleep problem can become persistent by self-defeating solutions such as spending too much time in bed, abandoning a regular schedule of sleep and waking, or using alcohol as a sleep aid.

A few days of insomnia or restless sleep can be the result of a simple illness like the common cold or a change in routine, like staying in a hotel.  However, insomnia lasting four weeks or longer likely has a more complex cause.  Older adults with insomnia that lasts four weeks or longer should consult a physician.

Questions You and Your Doctor Should Consider:  If you are concerned about the quality of your sleep, talk to your doctor if:

• You have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
• If you do not feel rested upon awakening
• If you feel sleepy or fatigued during the day

Be sure to tell your doctor how long you have had problems sleeping.  The length of symptoms is important for diagnosis and treatment.  Also tell your doctor about your sleep habits and any medications, illnesses or recent events that may contribute to your sleep difficulties.  In particular, you may wish to discuss:

• How many time you wake each night to care for the person with Alzheimer’s disease and how long it takes for you to return to sleep
• How often you have to visit the bathroom during the night or assist the person you are caring for
• If you have any pain or difficulty breathing that interferes with sleep
• If you snore, choke or gasp while asleep
• If you are so sleepy during the day that you are at risk for nodding off or falling asleep while driving
• If you have an urge to move your legs or have uncomfortable sensations in your legs during rest or at night
• If you feel muscular tension or anxiety when trying to fall asleep
• Whether or not you have a routine such as reading or a warm bath that helps you relax before bedtime
• If you worry that you will not get enough sleep
• If you nap, how frequently and for how long
• If exercise and exposure to outdoor light is part of your daily routine
• How much caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco products you consume during the day or night
• If you use over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications or anything else as a sleep aid
• If worrisome thought intrude or prevent falling asleep or returning to sleep if you wake in the middle of the night
• If you feel sad, depressed or anxious
• Whether or not a recent life changing event may have changed your pattern of  sleep
• If your caregiving responsibilities have increased or changed

In part two of Causes & Effects of Insomnia on the Alzheimer’s Caregiver, we will discuss the myths and realities about age and sleep and some useful tips for achieving healthy sleep.