Memory Care Information

As a loved one's disease progresses, caregivers should recognize that their personal relationships also may be affected. Communicating needs with others and sharing caregiving responsibilities may help ease these challenges. (more)

Alzheimer's Association offers suggestions to help people with early-stage memory-debilitating diseases maintain their independence. (more)

When elders vent their frustrations on their adult child caregivers, it can result in stress and hurt feelings. Following are some strategies for coping with hurtful behavior. (more)

How can you make your home safer for a person with Alzheimer's, affordably? The average yearly fee at an assisted-living facility – a place where older people live independently but also receive a host of services like medication management and meals, is $34,000.  And in the nation’s most expensive metropolitan areas, including New York, the costs may be closer to $70,000. But while home might be cozier and cheaper than a residential center, it’s not always safer...   (more)

Bathing and personal hygiene are often the most difficult tasks for caregivers to perform. Their loved one may be resistive, agitated and can become... (more)

Memories of home and youth are powerful aid to preserving sense of self in memory-impaired individuals. (more)

Now that the warm weather is here, people are spending more time outside gardening, walking, bike riding, picnicing and barbecuing. We like to make the most of the limited number of sunny, warm days we have in WNY. Persons with a memory impairing illness are no different... (more)

Another very common issue for persons with a memory impairing illness is unplanned weight loss and problems with eating. As the disease progresses, some people may experience loss of appetitie or increased anxiety and wandering. Because of this...

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Persons with a memory impairing illness, such as Alzheimer's Disease or related disorders, need to feel safe and secure in their environment. Because of their reduced ability to make sound decisions, caregivers need to consider changes to the home environment to... (more)

Similarly to bathing and hygiene, changing clothing can be very difficult for persons with a memory impairing illness to accomplish. They are confused by our seemingly obsessiveness with hygiene and dressing. If they feel comfortable, they cannot understand... (more)

It is not uncommon to hear cargivers complain that the person they are caring for chronically wakes during the night. Caregivers often remark that the person they are caring for will wander about the house, may get dressed thinking it is morning and may want to leave the house to "go to work" or "pick up children"... (more)

Sundowning Syndrome is a common set of behaviors for persons with a memory impairing illness. Usually occuring in mid-afternoon to early evening, the person may experience increased anxiety, increased confusion, delusions or paranoia may... (more)

The need for assistance with this very private matter is often the most difficult for the caregiver and the memory impaired. Although toileting and incontinence issues are expected as a memory impairing illness progresses, many caregivers... (more)

Caregivers often suffer burn out related to the changes they must face in their everyday life and routines. Caring for another - although rewarding, can be a very difficult and demanding of a persons' physical and emotional well being. The following questions reflect how people sometimes feel when... (more)

There are many articles and publications advising people about caregiver stress and the health risks involved for persons who ignore the signs of stress. The following is a list of the 10 most common changes a caregiver may be experiencing that indicates signs of stress. (more)

Aggression is a very troublesome behavior that can occur for a variety of reasons. Aggression can be verbal or physical and is often devastating to the caregiver. The following is list of 32 common causes for aggression in the Memory Impaired. The ability to avoid, correct or understand... (more)

From the Family Caregiver Alliance:

Most people will become cargivers - or need one - at some point in their lives. A caregiver is anyone who provides basic assistance and care for someone who is frail, disabled or ill and needs help. Caregivers... (more)

FROM THE CLEVELAND CLINIC INFORMATION CENTER:

Sometimes, the pressure of caring for someone who is elderly or who has a chronic illness can lead to stress and a condition called caregiver burnout. In order to prevent this, managing one' stress levels is essential... (more)

Persons with memory impairing illness, such as Alzheimer's disease, require a calm, predictable environment in order to remain at their highest functioning level. Emergency rooms are anything but calm and predictable -however, there are steps that caregivers can take... (more)

According to a recent report by the American Medical Directors Association, and the AMDA Clinical Practice Guideline on Chronic Pain Management - unresolved pain issues... (more)

A structured, predictable environment helps relieve anxiety commonly known to trigger behavior issues in the memory impaired. Even in the home, a daily activity structure should be planned to help your family member better understand and relate to... (more)

Within the last 20 years, a significant portion of Alzheimer's disease research has focused on understanding how family caregivers adapt to the stress of caring at home for a relative with the disease. Most studies have concentrated on caregiving burden and have found resulting... (more)

Caregiver coping is another area of Dr. Farran's research at the Rush ADC. In many ways, hope and finding meaning are closely intertwined. Included among her publications on this topic are her Twelve Steps for Caregivers. The orignial Twelve Steps, developed by... (more)

Everyone gets the blues now and then. It's part of life. But if you feel little joy or pleasure after visiting with friends or seeing a good movie, you may have a more serious problem. Being depressed for a while... (more)

From the National Parkinson Foundation and the Institute for Aging & Health

Dementia is a general term for an illness that has caused a patient to become progressively and irreversibly confused. Although the earliest symptoms may vary from patient to patient, depending on the cause... (more)

Paranoia is defined as suspiciousness of others that is not based on fact. Progressive brain impairment in persons with Alzheimer's disease affects their ability to interpret information accurately. Suspiciousness is a common response to the persons dwindling control of their world... (more)

People with dementia slowly move from forgetfulness into confusion and therefore also into a new, different, intially strange and threatenting mode of being. The attempt to keep up appearances and previous life has to be abandoned as memory increasingly dissolves. The person lives more and more in their own dreamlike world in which present... (more)

Many experts agree that Alzheimer's Disease follows a recognizable pattern as it progresses in most people. In each stage of the disease, there are specific symptoms and behaviors that are expected. Knowing what is considered "normal" for the disease progression can sometimes help.... (more)

From the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias:

Short-term, intensive counseling, in conjunction with readily available support, can significantly reduce the long-term risk of depression among husbands and wives caring for spouses with AD. The positive impact... (more)

Based on a 3 year study reported in the Gerontologist Magazine:

The ability to sustain care at home over the course of Alzheimer's Disease depends on how well caregivers implement effective strategies to cope with the complexity of caring for someone with dementia day to day... (more)

FROM THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) places incredible amounts of stress on the caregiver. Because of the disease's progressive decline, the burden of this illness is already greater than that of diabetes and equal to that of breast cancer ... (more)

California Council of Alzheimer's Association / Dr. Robert Griffith: In May 2001, the US Alzheimer's Association commissioned a survey about doctor-caregiver communications. Only one third of caregivers felt they received all the information they wanted from their family physician... (more)

Persons who are depressed require additional support and understanding. If you or your family member has a long period of being sad and blue, be certain to alert your physician. Assist them by... (more)

From Alzheimer's Outreach:

It is common to have impairment of the senses in Alzheimer's disease. The ability for a person to interpret what they see, hear, taste, smell or feel declines or changes as the disease progressess. The following... (more)

Human beings are creatures of habit. We find an easier way to drive to work, so we always drive that way, even to the point where we wind up at work without realizing how we got there! We eat the same food, talk to the same people, watch the same TV shows - over and over again... (more)

From the American Academy of Neurology: Spirituality and the practice of religion may help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to research that was presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Florida April 9th through 16th. (more)

Sometimes the emotional side of Alzheimer's disease is just as hard to deal with as the physical side. You may have fears and concerns or feel overwhelmed by your situation. Everyone has different ways of dealing with these feelings. Your attitude about your loved ones condition... (more)

From Health 24.Com:

To help the doctor keep track of how your loved one is doing, use an observation log. Before an appointment with their doctor, fill out an Observation Log based on your most recent observations of your loved one... (more)

Source: Dr. Robert Griffith - Journal of American Geriatric Society:

The use of tube feeding for adults with terminal illness is growing rapidly. There are several methods of artificial feeding, but the one most commonly used today is percutaneious endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)... (more)

Caregivers report that it can be difficult to interact with a family member who can no longer speak - or rarely has facial expression or rarely makes eye contact. I am often asked to suggest some simple ways in which caregivers can re-connect with their late stage family members... (more)

People with dementia have often been excluded from medical studies focused on pain and pain management, but there is evidence that they experience frequent pain, which is often poorly assessed and under-treated. A new treatment plan (called a protocol) has been developed for assessing and appropriately treating pain in patients with late-stage dementia, who typically have (more)

The dying process usually begins well before death actually occurs. Death is a personal journey that each individual approaches in his or her own unique way. (more)

Arkansas researchers maintain out-of-dating housing doesn't fit the lifestyle of aging Baby Boomers. They say smart housing design can help seniors maintain their independe in their homes longer and avoid pricey hospital stays and nursing home care (more)

New health care law includes millions to fight elder abuse. (more)

Persons with a memory impairing illness such as Alzheimer's Disease begin to loose their ability to understand and speak language as early as the first 2-3 years after diagnosis. It is very important that... (more)

The following questions may guide you in evaluating nursing facilities as you begin your selection process. Remember, your family member is unique and has different needs, preferences and desires that should be taken into account in the selection of a facility... (more)

As you've watched your parents age, perhaps you have struggled with situations such as these: You've traveled to visit your mother for the holidays, and found her refrigerator nearly empty, or her checkbook... (more)

Nearly one in five adults with Alzheimer's disease found wandering unsupervised leave from a nursing home or adult care center according to a detailed report written by Healthcare Review in 2002. Wandering occurs for a variety of reasons but experts reveil that 60% of persons... (more)

A new study from the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging has shown that a diet high in saturated or trans-unsaturated fats raises a persons risk of Alzheimer's disease. The good news is that high intake of unsaturated fats seems to be protective against Alzheimer's Disease!... (more)

Rapid advances in our knowledge about Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have led to the development of many new drugs and treatment strategies. However, before these new strategies can be adopted, they must be shown to work in patients. This means that clinical trials - studies in people to rigorously test how... (more)

DALLAS - Family Practice News:

Before resorting to medications to control agitation and other behavioral manifestations of advancing Alzheimer's disease, make sure the patient doesn't simply have constipation or a urinary... (more)

Brain shrinkage, a common symptom of aging when people hit their 60's, appears to have no impact on an individual's capacity to think or learn, according to ANU research. The research is part of a 20 year study by the ANU Center for Mental Health Research called PATH through life and suggests a revision of long-standing views on the impact of age-related brain shrinkage. (more)

It is true that for many the aging brain does have a tendency to become less full of the "joy of life". As the brain and body ages, less blood flow, less oxygen, less nutrients, less hormones and less neurotransmitters (brain messenger chemicals) or at least less sensitivity to the last two, all can be the basis for a physiological cause of moodiness, lack of joy and even... (more)

As a person ages, driving skills change due to both muscle and vision degeneration, slowing reaction time, and the effects of illnesses or medications. Although older drivers are among the safest drivers in the United States, car crashes are the leading cause of injury-related... (more)

Research is starting to shed some light on the thorny issue of talking about trauma. Does it help to talk about traumas you've experienced or not? Is it a good idea for someone to write about traumatic experiences? It turns out, like most things in life, that it depends... (more)

Getting older brings with it an abundance of new physical, emotional and mental challenges. Later life can be a time of rest, relaxation and retirement, and a time to enjoy life with one’s spouse, children and grandchildren. It can also be a time to embark on a new adventure, whether it is travel, a new hobby or a fun job. (more)

INDIANAPOLIS UNIVERSITY:

How can the U.S. health-care system and more specifically, primary care doctors - the physicians from whom older adults receive most of their care - prepare for the huge wave of dementia patients expected to engulf... (more)

A person with Alzheimer's disease gains the same kind of benefits from regular exercise as anyone else, including improved cardiovascular fitness, strength and endurance. Research suggests that expercise can also address some of the symptoms associated with the disease. (more)

Pick's disease is a relatively rare, degenerative brain illness that causes dementia. The first description of the disease was published in 1892 by Arnold Pick. Until recently, it was thought that Pick's disease could not be distinguished from Alzheimer's Disease during life... (more)

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a degenerative condition of the front part of the brain that controls reasoning, personality, movement, speech, social graces, language and some aspects of memory. It differs from other causes of dementia such as Alzheimer’s, Pick’s and Creutzfeldt Jakob’s diseases... (more)

From the American Journal of Public Health: There's been some doubt about whether smoking increases or decreases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Some studies suggested that the nicotine in cigarette smoke had a protective effect against the disease, while other indicate... (more)

Medline Plus - Reuters Health Info.

When recalling memories of negative or positive events that helped to shape our identity, such as a break-up or marriage, we tend to downplay the fear, anger or other negative emotions experienced at the time and remember more of the positive emotions, a new study indicates. "These findings suggest... (more)

Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in NY -

A simple odor identification test might help doctors more accurately predict which indivuals with mild cognitive impairment will go on to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to research funded by the National (more)

The number one complaint among the elderly is that they have trouble hearing speech because of background noise. Someone might hear fine in a quiet environment like their home, but when they go to a restaurant or a meeting or a party, it sounds like chaos to them... (more)

Newfound knowledge and ongoing learning about how the body works and what makes it run effectively means that there are a number of ways you can participate in the aging process and give yourself better odds for success.

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A look at centenarians, people who live to be 100 years or older, provides some final food for thought on the subject of aging well. Monika White, a world-renowned expert on the subject of aging and President of the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, California, put together the following summary on some important similarities among centenarians and factors important... (more)

An article in the June 3 issue of New Scientist says if you ignore your body's natural clock by working and playing at any time of the day or night, you could set a time bomb for illness, injury and even death, according to sleep experts. The price of ignoring your natural sleep patterns can range from aches and pains to heart disease to chronic fatigue syndrome. A regular... (more)

From the Panorama Memory Clinic:

There are many interesting facts about the brain and brain function that are frequently asked of memory care experts and persons in the medical field. The following are some interesting facts about our amazing brain!... (more)

What may seem like a faltering memory may in fact be a decline in the rate at which we learn and store new information. Practice these memory skills to enhance learning and making remembering easier... (more)

How often over the course of your life have you misplaced your car keys, forgotten an appointment or birthday, or made a wrong turn? Until recently, most of us would not have been concerned about the everyday things that can slip from our awareness. However, fears of developing Alzheimer's disease may overshadow what were once issues of little concern and instead... (more)

From an article written by Joanne Singleton, PhD,RN,CS,FNP

Throughout life there are occasions when memory fails us, but undatunted we continue on. Anyone for example who has, or knows children is well aware that they forget things on a regular basis. Parents often ask, "Where did you leave your mittens?" "Why didn't you bring home the books you need..." (more)

Source: Janssen Pharmaceutical

The basis of the relationship is the absolute and unconditional esteem for the person with a memory impairing disease, the love for them, the struggle for the acceptance of this person with their illness. This emotionally dedicated esteem has to be constantly renewed even in crisis situations... (more)

When we use the word "cognitive" we mean our thinking, reasoning, and perceptual abilites. Cognitive rehabilitation has two parts:restoring the actual cognitive skill, and learning to use strategies to compensate for the impaired ability.

The first part of cognitive retraining - restoring skills - is... (more)

The brain controls many of the complex activities that we perform on a daily basis. Many of these activities, such as comunicating and swallowing, are completed without needing much of our attention. We routinely express ourselves to other people, understand conversations, read, write, eat and drink without thinking about "how to" do these things. Frequently... (more)

From the MayoClinic:

Each year, thousands of families in the United States face the difficult task of deciding when it's time to seek additional help in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or other progressive dementias. Early on, many people with AD do well at home, especially when a spouse or other... (more)

An English professor's analysis of Agatha Christie's writing may hold clues to changes in language use by those with dementia. (more)

Several drug companies working on new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. (more)

Testing will begin on a new vaccine for people with Alzheimer's to help prevent the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which is believed to be a cause the disease. If effective, it may lead to preventive treatments for Alzheimer's. (more)

Survey notes people with young-onset Parkinson's may have more difficulty gaining diagnosis. (more)

Stroke patients who underwent therapy for arm weakness showed improvements in motor and language abilities after six weeks. (more)

Studies show magnesium can improve memory, but its absorption in the body depends on how it is taken. While over-the-counter supplements don't appear to enter the blood system, a new compound shows promise. (more)

Researchers aim to find out why Huntington Disease doesn't show up until later in life, (more)

Recent study indicates older people who provide academic support to young children benefit through improved cognitive brain function. (more)

Generic form of Aricept offers Americans greater access to treatment of dementia. (more)

A recent study may indicate that flu virus infections "prime" the brain to be more susceptible to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's. (more)

Everyday Cognition (ECog) helpful tool in screening loved ones for memory loss. (more)

Print the Everyday Cognition Screen for your own use. (more)

 A first of its’ kind study suggests that spouses of people with dementia are at substantially increased risk of developing dementia themselves. Researchers followed more than 1,200 couples for 10 years.  They found that wives who cared for husbands with dementia were nearly four times more likely to develop dementia than wives of men who didn’t have dementia... (more)

A new memory test is helping uncover how Parkinson’s disease can alter people’s ability to learn about the consequences of the choices they make. In an article in the journal “Brain,” Dr. Mark Gluck and his colleagues found that non-medicated patients in the early stages of Parkinson’s were impaired at learning from positive (rewarding) outcomes to events, circumstances and experiences. (more)

AN ARTICLE FROM EMEDICAL.COM

Cases of elderly patients with progressive language deterioration have been described since Arnold Pick's landmark case report of 1892. This case study, "On the relationship between aphasia and senile atrophy of the brain," still serves as a frame of reference for apparently focal brain syndromes in diffuse or generalized degenerative diseases of the brain. (more)

From a Newswise article from Northwestern University:

Chronic back pain, a condition afflicting many Americans, shrinks the brain by as much as 11% - equivalent to the amount of gray matter lost in 10-20 years of normal aging, a Northwestern University research study... (more)

Human memory not only stores facts, figures, knowledge - it stores our lives as well. Some psychologists call this "autobiographical memory", the memory of the birth of a child, a first kiss, a cruel slight. In his new book, "Why Life Speeds Up As You Get Older", (translated by Arnold... (more)

A comprehensive study on aging, conducted by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, supports the notion that lifestyle choices are the key to healthy aging. In their book, Successful Aging, Dr. Rowe and Dr. Kahn discuss the results of the study – results which debunk some of the common myths of aging. Below are the myths as well as some interesting... (more)

May issue - Archives of Neurology:

US Latinos develop symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease earlier, on average, than white non-Latino people, according to a study in the May issue of Archives of Neurology. Although Latino people are a geographic and genetically... (more)

An article from the Townsend Letter Group for Doctors and Patients reveils positive results in a recent study of 20 male Alzheimer's patients. Dr. Ardash Kumar and colleagues at the University of Miami School of Medicine (Florida) reported this study... (more)

Source: American Chemical Society.

According to a Cornell University study, quercetin, an antioxidant in apples appears to protect brain cells against oxidative stress, a tissue damaging process associated with Alzheimer's disease and other... (more)

Curcumin, the yellow pigment in curry spice, is to be investigated for its potential in prevention of Alzheimer's disease after tests on mice found it to be more effective than drugs currently being investigated for treatment. A dietary staple of India, where Alzheimer's disease rates... (more)

From : Geriatrics - Medicine for Midlife and Beyond:

Taken in combination, vitamin E and C supplements appear to reduce the prevalence and incidence of Alzheimer's disease in older adults, according to Dr. John Breitner, lead author of this study... (more)

ABC News:

You've heard fish and fish oil are good for you. So are antioxidants, but could they help slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease? New research is aiming to find out. Doris King, Alzheimer's sufferer: "I used to be really sharp with names and numbers, and poof! it all went." She's in a study to test... (more)

Implicit memory tests are stronger predictors than the common Mini Mental exam, as AD may hurt attention well before obvious memory loss.

From Washington: Two recent studies may help clinicians and researchers better predict and understand dementia of the AD type early in its history. Both studies appear in the Sept. issue of Neuropsychology, which is published (more)

From the American Journal of Alzheimer's disease and Other Dementias:

A person's own bone marrow may one day be used to replace brain cells lost to dementia and other neurologic conditions, according to research presented at the 2004 Academy of Neurology meeting in San Francisco... (more)

From the Dementia Center: People suffering from progressive dementia often go through stages where there are signs of behavioral and psychiatric disturbances: hallucinations, sleep disturbance, and wandering. Perscription drugs such as neuroleptics or sedatives are... (more)

The Business Journal : 2005

A Wake Forest University Medical Center researcher has found that most of the 15 drugs commonly used to treat dementia are not effective.

The results of this research, published this week in the Journal of American Medical Association, could have major implications for health care... (more)

A study in mice finds oral therapy helps prevent neuron damage. Drugs similar to one used in clinical trails for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis has been found to rescue memory in mice exhibiting Alzheimer’s symptoms. This discovery by UC Irvine scientists offers hope that a new treatment may be on the horizon for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s ... (more)

From the American Jounal of Alzheimer's Disease: A recent study suggests that holding a highly challenging job may be beneficial to your health. Individuals employed in these types of positions may have a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or other dementias later in... (more)

A research group based at the University of Chicago has found that an enriched environment - in this case more chances to exercise, explore and interact with others - can dramatically reduce the biological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in mice that are genetially predisposed to the (more)

University of California - Los Angeles

The human body has its own defense against brain aging: the innate immune system, which helps to clean the brain of amyloid-beta waste products. However, UCLA researchers discovered that some patients with AD have an immune defect making it difficult to clean away these wastes. (more)

From the American Academy of Neurology : The first patients ever to receive gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease appear to be doing well with no major side effects. It has now been around three years since... (more)

Boston University medical researchers indicate facts that satisfy the need to know for financial and care decisions.

Adult children of people with Alzheimer's disease were satisfied and unharmed by the experience of genetic risk assessment, even when results suggested they might be at risk, according to new findins presented by Robert Green... (more)

From an article in Medical News Today:

Even our grandmothers told us fish was "brain food" - and now scientists have evidence to back the claim. Researcher with the Department of Vetrans Affairs and the University of California at Los Angeles found... (more)

A study from Neuropsychologists in Washington DC establised a psychological test that can pick up early-warning signs of AD. A new study in the Sept. issue of Neurolpsychology explains how the dichotic listening task, which measures how well people process information when they hear one thing in the left ear and another in the right ear, confirms that very early in the (more)

AlzheimerSupport.com

Iron deficiency may play a role in Alzheimer's disease, according to an Oakland, California researcher. The finding could be a big step in understanding and ultimately delaying or preventing the disease. A shortage of a specific type of iron starves brain cells to death, says biochemist... (more)

Psychiatric Times: Arline Kaplan -2006

Assisted Living Facilities are frequently depicted as residential settings for cognitively normal older people with minor functional limitations. However, researchers in central Maryland found almost two-thirds (67.7%) of assisted living residents in central Marylyand have dementia and... (more)

From Rebecca Logsdon, PhD -

Dr. Craft and her colleagues are among the nation's leading experts on the effects of insulin regulation on the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). For over 10 years, Craft and the Memory Wellness Program research team at the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center of the VA Puget Sound... (more)

From: The American Journal of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Researchers have identified a protein in the brain that halts the progression of Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue. A protein called transthyretin protects brain cells from gradual detereoration... (more)