Some Suggested Responsibilities of Persons with #Dementia to Their #Caregivers

A mind model (aka mind map) on a very important topic in the care of persons with dementia for caregivers and PWD.

Much is written about the responsibilities of caregivers to those family members and others for whom they provide support, care, quality of life, and safety.

Let’s flip the issue over.

I make these suggestions from the viewpoint of a psychologist/healthcare professional who has lived well with dementia for many years. These are general guidelines and do not apply to everyone or possibly to you. But if you can, do think about these suggestions for at least a little time.

11 Small Things That Would Make A Big Difference To Caregivers

Family caregivers are the front line soldiers in the war to prevent our loved ones from dying along the side of the proverbial road. With nursing home costs and conditions making them places we most want to avoid, the value of family caregiving has been placed at about $500 billion a year by the Rand Corp.

Alzheimer's research would get $1.26 billion under House bill

The federal government would receive $1.26 billion for Alzheimer's research under a U.S. House of Representatives Labor, Health and Human Services Subcommittee funding bill put forth this week for fiscal year 2017. The amount is a $350 million increase over the current funding level.

The proposed Alzheimer's funding is part of the $33.3 billion budgeted in the bill for the National Institutes of Health, an amount that is $1.25 billion more than the level enacted for fiscal year 2016 and $2.25 billion above President Barack Obama's discretionary budget request.

AARP Film Features Caregiving Stories of Asian Americans

In June, AARP hosted the premiere screening for Caregiving: The Circle of Love at the University of San Francisco. The 14-minute documentary tells the powerful and inspiring stories of three Chinese American caregivers.

MSNBC anchor Richard Lui’s segment, “Coming Home,” explains how he flies from New York to San Francisco every weekend to help care for his father, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Elizabeth Chun’s segment, “Sandwiched Caregiver,” is about her efforts to care for her mother and her grandchildren. And former AARP historian Lily Liu shares how she aspires to be the “Dragon Daughter” for her ailing mother. Even the filmmaker, Toan Lam, is a former caregiver for family members.

Few Young Doctors Are Training To Care For U.S. Elderly

At Edgewood Summit retirement community in Charleston, W.Va., 93-year-old Mary Mullens is waxing eloquent about her geriatrician, Dr. Todd Goldberg.

"He's sure got a lot to do," she says, "and does it so well."

West Virginia has the third oldest population in the nation, right behind Maine and Florida. But Goldberg is one of only 36 geriatricians in the state.

"With the growing elderly population across America and West Virginia, obviously we need healthcare providers," says Goldberg.

Senior Relocation Transition Training Program (CRTS) Expanded to Include New Resources for Service Providers and Seniors

The CRTS certification has been a mainstay credential in the industry for a decade. Now the program of training service providers is being enhanced with new services for providers and the seniors they help. Providers will now have access to a value-added website that will make some parts of their work easier. Service summaries, planning tools and business management tools can be accessed through the main site. Additionally, seniors will have the ability to locate a service provider in their areas.

CRTS providers have earned a national certification that prepares them to better help seniors transition to smaller and/or more appropriate homes. In order to become certified, candidates must meet eligibility requirements and pass a standardized certification examination. CRTS providers come from many walks of life. They may be experienced as estate sales professionals, professional organizers, healthcare providers, real estate professionals, medical professionals or caregivers.

The (not-so-hidden) costs of caregiving

Family caregiving is a huge topic nowadays. With over 75 million “baby boomers” poised to become the largest generation in American history to require such caregiving, how can it not be? Already, family members — people like you and me — provide $642 billion worth of unpaid care for our spouses, parents, and relatives each year. But what is the price we pay in terms of our personal well-being, physical and otherwise?

While caregiving has been shown to have benefits — it helps to build character, enrich one’s soul, and even ward off cognitive decline —its burdens can be just as significant, if not more so, as demonstrated by a new study published in a recent issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Pat Summitt, Legendary Women's Basketball Coach, Dies at 64

Pat Summitt, the legendary University of Tennessee women's basketball coach, died today in Tennessee, the Pat Summitt Foundation announced this morning. She was 64.

Her son, Tyler Summitt, said in a statement, "She died peacefully this morning at Sherrill Hill Senior Living in Knoxville surrounded by those who loved her most."

Pat is survived by her mother, Hazel Albright Head; son, Ross “Tyler” Summitt (AnDe); sister, Linda; brothers, Tommy (Deloris), Charles (Mitzi) and Kenneth (Debbie).

Essay: Alzheimer's Just Killed My Dad and The Chinese Shame is Finally Over

My dad died last Monday at 92 from complications due to Alzheimer's. And as I grieve over the loss — trying to shake the image of his lifeless body lying in the hallway where he collapsed — it occurs to me that my struggle with Chinese shame is finally over.

Allow me to explain as my way to cope with my sadness mixed with relief, say goodbye to a man who will forever be my dad, and, most importantly, to help others like me who feel they got dealt the misfortune cookie of shame.

New Link Found Between Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease

Drugs used to treat diabetes could also be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, and vice versa, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen.

This is also the first study of its kind to show that Alzheimer’s disease can lead to diabetes, as opposed to diabetes occurring first as was previously thought.

The study reports that Alzheimer’s Disease and type 2 diabetes are so closely related that drugs currently used to control glucose levels in diabetes may also alleviate the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Two Stories from the Frontlines of Millennial Caregiving

As Alzheimer’s and brain awareness month comes to close, I want to highlight two powerful stories connected by trends that deserve our attention: the growing impact of Alzheimer’s on communities of color and the growth of the millennial caregiver.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s recently partnered with Genius of Caring, a web-based initiative that documents the growing impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia on families, to present the story of Kamaria Moore, 30, and her mother Mary, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 58. Kamaria is a new homeowner, recently engaged, and solely responsible for her mother’s intensive care.

Study explores impact of early dementia screening of older adults on their family members

A new grant to the Indiana University Center for Aging Research from the National Institute on Aging funds the first study to assess the potential benefits and harms to family members of early dementia screening of older adults.

The Effects on Families of older adults Experiencing Cognitive Testing (EFECT) study is linked to the Indiana University CHOICE trial, a ground-breaking randomized controlled study assessing the harms and benefits of screening for dementia, compared to no screening for dementia, among 4,000 older adults cared for in typical primary care practices.