Senior Independent Living
Midnight Snack for Midnight Wandering Dementia Patients
March 31st, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Fall Prevention
It seems that when elderly dementia and Alzheimer’s sufferers go wandering, they may be looking for something to eat.
Or maybe just something to do. But this seems like a fair idea … or at least a good try. NPR’s health blog, Shots, reports on a nursing home in New Hyde Park, New York, that began offering midnight snacks to their patients who wandered around at night.
…continue reading Midnight Snack for Midnight Wandering Dementia Patients
Prevention Will Be Key to Future Health Programs
March 31st, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Brain and Mind Health, Health and Wellness
As an important segment of our population reaches retirement age, they are going to be increasingly interested in not just taking pills for what ails them, but taking active steps to prolong their life and enjoy good health at the same time.
The boomers have proved that, if nothing else, they are interested in themselves. And while this has had its shortcomings, it also has a certain advantage sometimes. In the case of aging, the boomers’ exaggerated self-interest will lead to new products, services, and ideas for living a healthy life during their 9th and 10th decades.
…continue reading Prevention Will Be Key to Future Health Programs
GPS Technology to Locate “Wandering” Dementia Patients
March 30th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Independent Living
We are becoming more and more familiar and at ease with the idea of GPS technology to keep track of the location of all of our stuff — our cars, our phones, our pets — and ourselves.
So we are going to be using this technology more and more to keep track of our children and our parents. Especially our elderly parents who may be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s patients.
…continue reading GPS Technology to Locate “Wandering” Dementia Patients
Want to Improve Your Memory? Relax!
March 29th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Brain and Mind Health, Medical Research
One of the ways that medical science is making progress in treating Alzheimer’s and dementia is simple research into the way the brain works. A recent study shows that you will form memories better if you are relaxed.
We know this already. When we’re tense or upset, we don’t think as well. We think better when our minds are relaxed. This study seems to suggest that we also form memories better when we’re relaxed.
Checklist on How to Care for Elderly Parents
March 18th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Senior Housing
When your aging parents get to the point where some level of additional care is necessary, it can be very difficult to make the decision to move Mom or Dad out of the home, especially when you meet resistance from Mom or Dad.
…continue reading Checklist on How to Care for Elderly Parents
The Secret Dementia
March 18th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Brain and Mind Health, Caregivers
The Secret Dementia
By Frena Gray-Davidson
It is obvious to me, from everything I have now experienced in my 20 years of dementia care, that dementia starts at least 20 years before anyone outside the experience notices.
Maybe longer. Maybe it really is some genetic tendency you’re born with that just takes a long time or the right conditions to develop. Like arthritis. Or heart disease. That I don’t know — but medical science will be able to tell us perhaps more clearly how it happens as research continues.
Caregiving Aided by Physician Who Made Housecalls
March 16th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Caregivers
This one is hard to believe … someone found a doctor who would make a house call.
The story is a familiar one: one parent has Alzheimer’s and the other parent won’t face the facts. The stress lands squarely on the kids’ shoulders. What to do?
…continue reading Caregiving Aided by Physician Who Made Housecalls
More Technology to Help Alzheimer’s Patients
March 13th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Medical Research
The uses for communication technology keep growing, and a lot of these advances are being put to use specifically to aid the elderly and those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
The latest idea we’ve seen is the use of digital cameras to record images that will stimulate, it is hoped, the memories of Alzheimer’s patients.
…continue reading More Technology to Help Alzheimer’s Patients
Possible Connection Between Urinary Tract Infections and Dementia
March 13th, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's
Here’s a new one. There is apparently some evidence — or at least some folks believe that there is evidence — that a sudden onset of dementia or a noticeable increase in dementia symptoms might be linked to urinary tract infections.
Hat tip to Becky Feola writing at Eldercare ABC Blog for putting this together for us.
…continue reading Possible Connection Between Urinary Tract Infections and Dementia
Help This Developer Name His Brain Exercise Program
March 2nd, 2010
Filed under category: Alzheimer's, Health and Wellness
I noticed this little plea for help in my scan of the blogs today. The fellow who is working on a new brain fitness program has asked for some input. He wants ideas on naming his system.
…continue reading Help This Developer Name His Brain Exercise Program
