Improving and Extending Quality of Life Among Older Americans (part 5)

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professinals,

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

Here is a great Valentine's Day Activity for those suffering from dementia

CDC

Healthy Brain Initiative
In 2007, CDC and the Alzheimer’s Association released The Healthy Brain Initiative: A National Public Health Road Map to Maintaining Cognitive Health (http://www.cdc.gov/aging/roadmap). This publication outlines specific actions for addressing cognitive health, a major public health issue that is increasingly affecting individuals, communities, and states. CDC supports several projects including supporting the HAN to increase understanding of the public’s beliefs about cognitive health (including those of caregivers and health care providers) and developing and implementing measures to assess and monitor the impact of cognitive impairment to guide national and state strategies.

Future Directions
State and local health departments, the aging services network, and other groups that serve older adults look to CDC to provide scientific and programmatic expertise and strategies that reduce long-term care needs and preserve health and quality of life for older adults. In response, CDC and its partners are working in several areas including the following:

•The Healthy Aging Program conducted research to identify health disparities. They examined the health and characteristics of American Indian and Alaska Native caregivers and included a “call to action” in The State of Aging and Health in America 2007 report to address health disparities among older adults.

•Working with the NACDD, the Healthy Aging Program examined state health departments’ needs, priorities, and activities related to older adult health to better support state-based efforts.