Experts optimistic about solving puzzle of Alzheimer's

Research into Alzheimer's disease has reached a point of significant potential, even as the disease's looming impact on society grows more and more dire, experts say.
Some leading scientists, in fact, worry that we may not be doing enough to press forward with key advances and new insights into Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia among older people.
An estimated 5.3 million U.S. residents have the disease, which results from the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain and leads to memory loss, impaired judgment, wandering and, as it progresses, to the inability to perform such normal daily functions as dressing, bathing and eating.
As the population ages, the number of people with Alzheimer's is expected to spike dramatically. Today, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer's every 70 seconds, according to the Alzheimer's Association -- a number expected to rise to once every 33 seconds in a few decades.

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Barefoot seniors more likely to fall

A pair of recently released studies examines potential causes of falls. One study finds seniors' footwear to be a factor, while another looks at ways to predict falls among Parkinson's patients.

Researchers from the Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research have found that seniors who go barefoot or wear only socks around the home are at greater risk for falls.

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VA makes filing claims easier and faster

From: Rita Files, Veteran Service Representative

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reducing the paperwork and expediting the process for veterans seeking compensation for disabilities related to their military service."These reductions in paperwork, along with other improvements to simplify and speed the claims process, symbolize changes underway to make VA more responsive to veterans and their families," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said.

Disability compensation is a tax-free benefit paid to a Veteran for disabilities that are a result of - or made worse by - injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training.

Pension is a benefit paid to wartime veterans with limited income, and who are permanently and totally disabled or age 65 or older. Read full article...

A cell phone that does just about everything!

ActiveCare Inc. last week announced the availability of its new ActiveOne PAL (Personal Assistance Link) handset. The handset, also a cellular telephone, has one-button service where, when activated, a live operator greets each caller by name, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ActiveCare services range from GPS location and fall detection, by the built-in accelerometer, to turn-by-turn directions and simple phone connections. The device can also receive daily activity and medication reminders

"For a small portion of the cost of in-home care or assisted living facilities, seniors using ActiveCare can receive similar practical services, allowing them to have the confidence to continue living in the homes they love, knowing that they can get help whenever and wherever they need it," said James Dalton, Chairman and CEO of ActiveCare.

Features of the ActiveCare CareCenter line of services include:

■One Button CareSpecialist – The ActiveCare CareCenter maintains general health records on all members and recognizes member special needs. Reminder or check-in calls can be scheduled to keep seniors on track with daily activities, meals or medicines while providing reassurance to caregivers.

■GPS location identification – The ActiveCare PAL handset’s built-in Global Positioning System knows member locations at all times. When connected to the CareCenter, users can get turn-by-turn directions, roadside assistance or location identification to provide for a loved one, caregiver or emergency services, if needed.

■Fall Detection – The ActiveCare PAL handset’s built-in accelerometer notifies the CareCenter when it detects a fall. An ActiveCare CareSpecialist communicates with the member to identify proper next steps, ranging from false alarms or minor stumbles to necessary emergency services.

■Phone Book and Call Transfer – The ActiveCare CareSpecialists keep member’s phone books on file for anytime access. A user simply pushes a button, is greeted by name and can be connected to their grandchild, doctor, friend or relative. Members can also be connected to their local pharmacy, transportation service, restaurant or any place of business or person they choose.

■GPS "virtual fence" – For memory-impaired members, caregivers can establish a virtual fence, ranging from a few blocks to a few miles, around a certain zone. Should the member go beyond the established zone, caregivers or contacts are alerted by a CareSpecialist for more information.

■Emergency Services – The CareSpecialists at the ActiveCare CareCenter are trained in the same manner as emergency 911 medical dispatchers and can stay on the line with callers while they wait for help to arrive. Additionally, with the on-file knowledge the CareCenter keeps on each member, CareSpecialists are easily able to provide medical history, conditions and/or medication information to emergency services, speeding care and reducing time.

The Fine Art Of Transparent Caregiving

by Gary Barg,Editor-in-Chief, Today's Caregiver

From a young age, my grandfather was a fiercely independent man. As a 17-year-old, he jumped off a Russian ship into the Baltimore harbor and became an American citizen as quickly as he could. At 35 years of age, he enlisted to fight in World War II. After the war, he moved to Miami and started a painting contracting company. He went to college after he retired and became president of the Miami Art League when many of his compatriots were enjoying a more restful retirement.

In 1995, he started to develop signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of the family from that point forward was to create a sense of what I call “transparent caregiving.” We constructed a world where he felt he was still in charge, but where he was also safe from harm.

Through our efforts, Gramps’ world became a stage, and we all happily took on our roles. The home health aide, who stayed with him and his wife, became his “personal assistant;” the adult day care center where he spent the day became “his job.” We wanted to make sure he kept his sense of independence for as long as possible. These were the days before “smart home” technology, so our oversight goals were a lot more challenging than they would be today.

Thankfully, home safety technologies have come a long way since then. As well as using the traditional call buttons, you can discreetly monitor the safety of your loved one from your mobile phone. Sensors can be placed in the home to help him or her stay independent, yet allow you to know if your loved one fell in the bathroom, hasn’t gotten out of bed all day or opened the refrigerator for the past two days.
These new technologies can balance safety with independence, maintaining dignity and self-reliance for your loved one while providing peace of mind for everyone involved. As my family found out years ago, a little honest playacting goes a long way; yet I am gratified that technology has made the art of transparent caregiving easier than it has ever been. And that deserves a standing ovation.

A Decade Of Alzheimer's Devastating Impact

In 1999, Tom DeBaggio was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. He was 57. Soon after the diagnosis, he began talking with NPR about his illness. He wanted to document his decline, to break through what he called the "shame and silence" of Alzheimer's.

NPR's Noah Adams started the visits with Tom, his wife, Joyce, and his son, Francesco, at DeBaggio's Herb Farm and Nursery in Chantilly, Va.

"I still talk, I still stand up on both feet, I still look the same — maybe they go out of here and say, 'Doesn't look like anything wrong with him.' And of course you don't see it," he said in 1999.

Over the course of a year, Tom DeBaggio described his growing confusion with language: the sudden, inexplicable tears. And the waves of anger that came with Alzheimer's.

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Alzheimer's Study: evidence slim on preventive advice

A comprehensive analysis by an independent government panel has found that there is not enough scientific evidence to date to support the advice doctors currently give - such as exercising, doing crossword puzzles or eating a Mediterranean-style diet - for preventing or controlling symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.


As rates of age-related dementia and Alzheimer's disease have continued to rise in the U.S. - largely because Americans are living longer and the over-65 population has swelled to record highs - researchers have worked relentlessly to understand the causes of these mind-robbing diseases and to help prevent or slow their progression. To clarify the state of the current evidence and offer physicians clearer treatment guidelines, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in early 2009 commissioned a detailed analysis of existing studies, covering 165 papers published between 1984 and 2009. (See how to prevent illness at any age.)

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