Many caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease have mixed feelings about holidays. Caregivers may have happy memories of the past but they also may worry about the extra demands that holidays make on their time and energy. Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are some suggestions to help you find a balance between… Continue reading Holiday Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Category: Caregiving
Breakthrough in Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have made an important breakthrough in the understanding of Parkin, a protein that regulates the repair and replacement of nerve cells within the brain. The discovery generates a new perspective on how nerve cells die in Parkinson’s disease. The Trinity research group, led by Seamus Martin,Smurfit Professor of Medical Genetics,… Continue reading Breakthrough in Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Caregiver Involvement in Hospital Discharge Is Beneficial
Results of a study published in November 2014 in The American Journal of Managed Care show that the presence of a family caregiver during patient discharge is associated with a greater rate of completion of post hospital transitional care coaching intervention, particularly among men. Discharge is a crucial component of the hospitalization process. Patients’ understanding… Continue reading Caregiver Involvement in Hospital Discharge Is Beneficial
Cost of Informal Caregiving Is $522 Billion Annually
The price tag for informal caregiving of elderly people by friends and relatives in the United States comes to $522 billion a year, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Replacing that care with unskilled paid care at minimum wage would cost $221 billion, while replacing it with skilled nursing care would cost $642 billion… Continue reading Cost of Informal Caregiving Is $522 Billion Annually
Hidden Population: Tween and Teen Caregivers
While the typical preteen or adolescent can be found playing sports or video games after school, more than 1.3 million young people spend their free time caring for a family member who suffers from a physical or mental illness, or substance misuse. According to a release from the American Academy of Pediatrics, these “caregiving youth”… Continue reading Hidden Population: Tween and Teen Caregivers
Mindfulness Training for Caregivers & Loved Ones
Mindfulness training for people with early-stage dementia and their caregivers together in the same class turned out to be beneficial for both groups by easing depression and improving sleep and quality of life. That is the finding of research done at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and published in August 2014 in the American Journal… Continue reading Mindfulness Training for Caregivers & Loved Ones
5 Questions About Long-Distance Caregiving
What is long-distance caregiving? It can be helping Aunt Lilly sort through her medical bills or thinking about how to make the most of a weekend visit with Mom. It can include checking the references of an aide who’s been hired to help your grandfather or trying to take the pressure off your sister who lives in the same town as both your aging parents and her aging in-laws.
Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are the answers to five key questions about long-distance caregiving:
Daughters, Not Sons, Are the Caregivers
Researchers at Princeton University found women appear to provide as much elderly parent care as they can, while men contribute as little as possible. The study was presented in August 2014 at at the 109th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association in San Francisco.
Managing Dementia Related Personality Changes
Alzheimer’s disease causes brain cells to die, so the brain works less well over time. This changes how a person acts. Here, from the National Institute on Aging, are suggestions that may help you understand and cope with changes in personality and behavior in a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
Common personality and behavior changes you may see include:
• Getting upset, worried, and angry more easily
• Acting depressed or not interested in things
• Hiding things or believing other people are hiding things
Telephone Support Helps Dementia Caregivers
Rhode Island Hospital researchers have found that a support program administered entirely by telephone can significantly reduce depression and other symptoms in informal caregivers, such as family or friends, of individuals with dementia. The study was published in July 2014 online in advance of print in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
3 Tips for Choosing an Assisted-Living Home for Your Parents
By Peder Johnsen
Seventy percent of people age 65 and older will need long-term care at some point in their lives, according to a 2014 study by CareScout, a division of Genworth Financial Services. But that doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice quality of life. In fact, a person who needs some assistance with day-to-day living will often find he or she is much happier in a good assisted-living community with an atmosphere that reminds them of their former home.
Professional Post-Stroke Care From Head to Toe
By Marki Flannery
At the end of nurse Lorraine Williams’ recent home care visit to Professor Samuel Kaplan, he walked her to the apartment’s front door. “I was so surprised,” she marvels. Only a year earlier, the 70-something professor had a stroke and couldn’t walk.
Long-Term Care Must Be Improved
As millions of Americans struggle to help loved ones with dementia, policymakers should consider more ways to improve long-term services and supports for the soaring numbers of people with the debilitating condition and their caregivers, according to a new RAND Corporation study done in June 2014. Thereport also offers possible ways to achieve those goals.
Synching Info Between Homes & Hospitals
Researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia are working to develop an in-home health monitoring and alert system that streams patients’ individualized health information between homes and hospitals. The system’s ability to provide comprehensive health information could lead to better care for patients as well as reduced costs for individuals and health systems.
Early Palliative Support Helps Cancer Caregivers
Dartmouth researchers have found that those caring for patients with advanced cancer experienced reduced depression and felt less burdened by caregiving tasks when palliative support services were offered soon after the patient’s diagnosis. The team presented the findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncologist (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on June 3rd 2014.
How to Avoid Financial Ruin as a Caregiver
By Hilary Young
A shrinking middle class, medical expenses at an all-time high and a caregiver shortage: it’s the perfect cocktail for financial ruin. And now a new study from researchers with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada has found that women in particular are more susceptible to going bankrupt when caring for an elderly parent.
Aging in Place: The “Granny Pods” Trend
By Hilary Young
According to the American Association of Retired Persons, over 80 percent of adults now intend to age in place. Nursing homes are no longer the norm. Many seniors prefer to stay active and remain independent for as long as possible. One major trend that is helping to make this wish come true is the proliferation of transitional housing options, otherwise known as “Granny Pods.”
Adult Day Care A Boon for Caregivers
Family caregivers show an increase in the beneficial stress hormone DHEA-S on days when they use an adult day care service for their relatives with dementia, according to researchers at Penn State and the University of Texas at Austin. A release from Penn explains that DHEA-S controls the harmful effects of cortisol and is associated with better long-term health.