Living Well Blog » Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Historic Moment: National Alzheimer’s Plan Released

Doris Bersing — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:25:07 +0000

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today unveiled the first-ever “National Plan To Address Alzheimer’s Disease,” as mandated by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA). The comprehensive plan calls for the prevention and effective treatment of Alzheimer’s disease by 2025 and lays out strategies related to awareness and education, clinical care standards, long-term care and supportive services for family caregivers, and up-to-date training of healthcare professionals.

In a statement issued immediately after the release of the national plan, Eric J. Hall, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), commended the plan for providing “solid stepping stones toward substantial change. It offers the prospect of transforming the way our nation and the world view Alzheimer’s disease, altering the trajectory of this tragic disease, and changing lives forever. It substantiates the plight of millions of Americans and validates the concerns of generations to come. For the first time, we are making progress toward defeating this public health crisis.”

Read the full statement

Making Alzheimers Moms Happy With Just a One Minute Call a Day

Doris Bersing — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:02:31 +0000

Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Co-Founder of Presence Care Project, Marguerite Manteau-Rao explains in an article published by the Huffington Post how “being a long-distance caregiver is hard, especially when a loved one’s mind can no longer dwell on the memory of prior times together, or the anticipation of a future visit. One can easily feel helpless and overcome with grief, and guilt, and frustration. I would like to share one small thing I have discovered with my mother, that’s made a huge difference in how I feel about living so far from her…” This story if for the 2.3 million long-distance caregivers who have a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Read the article

Alzheimer’s Association honors legendary coach Pat Summit at the National Alzheimer’s Dinner

Doris Bersing — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:48:38 +0000

Alzheimer's Association

At a star-studded National Alzheimer’s Dinner attended by celebrities, prominent politicians and Alzheimer’s advocates in Washington, D.C., the Alzheimer’s Association presented University of Tennessee Head Coach Emeritus Pat Summit and her son, Tyler Summit, with the Alzheimer’s Association Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award.

A leader in the Alzheimer’s movement and the former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver, whose father Sargent Shriver passed away from Alzheimer’s, presented the award, which recognizes an individual, organization or company whose actions have promoted greater understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and its effects on diagnosed individuals, families and caregivers.

How Music Brings Elders with Dementia Back to Life

Doris Bersing — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:25:23 +0000

Research has shown memory to be affected by many different factors. One of these factors is music, which has been found to stimulate parts of the brain. Many studies have demonstrated that music enhances the memory of Alzheimer`s and dementia patients. Music has also been found to reduce stress, aid relaxation and alleviate depression. Look at how an old man comes to life just using an i-pod!

See the video

Keeping Your Brain Healthy: Preventing Alzheimer’s

Doris Bersing — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:57:34 +0000

See Dr. Gary Small’s interview on the Today Show about keeping your brain healthy: preventing Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Small is director of the UCLA Longevity Center at the University’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior and professor of psychiatry at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Named one of the world’s leading innovators in science and technology by Scientific American, he appears frequently on Today, Good Morning America, PBS, and CNN. Watch the interview

Signs of Alzheimer’s may become evident during the holidays

Doris Bersing — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:33:14 +0000

Holidays such as Thanksgiving are a time when family and friends come together to spend time together and to share memories. However, the holiday season is also a time that can raise questions about whether aging family members are experiencing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s important to know what is normal aging and what isn’t. The Alzheimer’s association emphasizes the difference between normal aging and early signs of Alzheimer’s. Read more.

A Shoe for Wanderers: technology for people with Dementia

Doris Bersing — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:10:37 +0000

The New York Times published an article Friday October 14th 2011 about “an ideal technology for people with dementia who wander.” The article was written by Paula Span, author of “When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions.” This technology was developed by GTX Corp, Los Angeles, CA.

Please click on the following link to read the New York Times article: A Shoe for Wanderers

Alzheimer’s Behavior Management: Tips for Managing Common Symptoms and Problems

Doris Bersing — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:03:45 +0000

Problem behavior is often a way the Alzheimer’s patient tries to communicate with others. As a caregiver for a loved one with dementia, it can be extremely worrying and upsetting to experience the behavior problems associated with mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Patients may exhibit a wide variety of behavioral problems that can threaten their own or other people’s safety, including wandering, aggressiveness, hallucinations, or sleeping and eating. Learn some tips.

Essential Checklist for Good Dementia Care

Doris Bersing — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:37:15 +0000

Marguerite Manteau-Rao, LCSW, ATR, Mindful living advocate, Memory care consultant, published on the Huffington Post The Essential Checklist for Good Dementia Care. She shares the work of Jane Verity’s about the 5 universal needs to be an essential framework for good care of people with Dementia. These unmet emotional needs are:

To be needed and useful
To have opportunity to care
To love and be loved
To have self-esteem boosted
To have the power to choose

Read the article

13 Essential Tips For Dementia Caregivers

Doris Bersing — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:17:31 +0000

Marguerite Manteau-Rao a LCSW and mindful living advocate, writes “…the journey of dementia is never easy, and it can be made many times worse if family members do not have the internal tools to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Here, based on years of experience in successfully navigating the dementia care landscape, are 13 tips that may save you a lot of grief as a care partner (caregiver) of someone with dementia…”