Living Well Blog

How to Best Help Alzheimer’s Caregivers? Teach Them Mindfulness!

Doris Bersing — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:31:29 +0000

Marguerite Manteau-Rao warn us about caregivers’ burn out. She says on the Huffington Post: “…For the 15 million in this country who are caring for a loved one with dementia*, this is what life is like — according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2012 Report:

61 percent of dementia caregivers suffer from high emotional stress
33 percent report symptoms of depression
They experience caregiving strain regarding financial issues (56 percent), and family issues (53 percent).
43 percent experience high physical stress
75 percent are concerned about maintaining their health.
Dementia caregivers are more likely to have adverse physiological changes such as high levels of stress hormones, reduced immune function, increased hypertension, coronary heart disease.
37 percent rate stress as their greatest difficulty.
In the last year of their loved one’s life, 59 percent feel they are on duty 24 hours a day.
72 percent of caregivers express relief after their loved ones die.

Products that Make Independent Living Safer and Easier, One Room at a Time

Doris Bersing — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:19:51 +0000

by Noelle Buhidar, The RetailMeNot Insider

It goes without saying that as we age, our needs change. Suddenly, it’s not so simple to reach up and grab that book from the top shelf, and even the once mundane task of showering is a difficult and dangerous chore. But leaving home for a nursing facility takes its toll, both emotionally and financially.

The average annual cost of nursing home care in 2011 was $86,040. Hiring in-home assistance is cheaper—but still not ideal—with annual fees averaging $38,000. But is it possible for seniors to maintain independence without completely surrendering themselves to someone else’s care? Yes. It just takes some determination and room-by-room modifications.

See some helpful products and suggestions

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

Ten Tips for Caregivers to Stroke Survivors

Doris Bersing — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:22:07 +0000

According to the American Stroke Association 5,700,000 stroke survivors are alive in the United States. Strokes, they say, are the leading cause of long-term disability. If your loved one just had a stroke, you (or another relative) will face the scary prospect of becoming a new caregiver as soon as your survivor is released from the hospital or stroke rehab center. It will be a long road filled with small and large disappointments, tiny and great rewards.

At times you will feel helpless and inept. At other times you will feel like you are your loved one’s greatest warrior in a world where you have to fight for therapies, information, understanding, help, payments from the insurance companies, and time to get everything done that needs doing. These are all normal experiences and feelings. Adapting the ten tips below can help you cope and become a more effective caregiver. Read More

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

THE ELDERS

Doris Bersing — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:32:04 +0000

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and some of the people some of the time, but you’re unlikely to slip anything past an old lady. A photographic look at the matriarchs and elder stateswomen of the world’s different cultures and civilizations.
See the photo show

Living Well proudly sponsors the Legacy Film Festival on Aging

Doris Bersing — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:29:02 +0000

July 2012 • San Francisco
The Legacy Film Festival on Aging showcases the best films from around the world that celebrate older adulthood and deal with the challenges & triumphs of aging. The festival allows younger people to see their potential in older years and older people to appreciate their journey to senior life.

The Future of Safety and Health Monitoring: Remote patient monitoring market to hit $295M by 2015

Doris Bersing — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:46:41 +0000

By Alicia Caramenico
New research from Frost & Sullivan predicts that remote patient monitoring will continue to play a significant role in transforming healthcare. In fact, it says the market for remote monitoring technology, especially for home healthcare and disease management, will soar to $294.9 million by 2015.

As the market continues to grow at double-digit rates, the research expects telemedicine to shift away from traditional services toward more consumer-focused products.

Such predictions are reinforced by recent research from Berg Insight, which estimates that globally, 2.2 million patients use remote monitoring services. According to findings released last month, the number of home monitoring systems with integrated communication capabilities will jump to 4.9 million connections worldwide by 2016.