Easy to do activities with those who have dementia

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

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care professionals to get an easyceu or two

I am glad to be back.

I will be sharing ideas for caregiving and easy to do activities with you residents, clients and loved ones in the days to come.

So visit this blog often.

In the meantime visit activity director

Strategies for Coping With Senile Dementia

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 Corrier-journal.comactivities

Here is a dementia music activity

eHow

Dementia refers to the loss of mental functioning. It slowly progresses over time. Having a diagnosis of dementia does not mean your life is over. It means it will be different than you had planned.
Experiencing a wide range of emotions is normal just as with the news of any serious disease.
Make your life as good and as easy to cope with as possible by sticking to these important strategies.

Physical Functioning


Exercise is importantTaking responsibility for your physical well being is important in slowing the decline and coping with dementia. Going to a doctor who is an expert in dementia, on a regular basis, insures that you will get the best treatment possible. Eat a healthy diet including plenty of fruits, vegetables and fish. Exercise at least five days a week for 30 minutes per workout. Doing these things will not only make you feel better and slow down the progression of dementia but will likely promote better sleep.
Going outside and getting plenty of sunshine makes you feel better and boosts your vitamin D level. Adequate vitamin D helps reduce dementia symptoms.

Mental Stimulation


Stay mentally activeEngaging in mentally stimulating and other favorite activities everyday keeps your dementia from progressing as rapidly and helps you to cope better. Try a wide variety of activities. Modify activities with the help of a family member or friend, if necessary, to ensure success.
Going to the senior center in your town is a good option. Most provide transportation. All encourage socialization and offer a wide range of activities.
At home, trying more difficult tasks at the times of the day when you are most focused and most alert is best. Give yourself enough time to work on jobs like paying bills or balancing your checkbook.
Keep a written schedule of your days events including appointments.
When staying at home by yourself is difficult and unsafe, attending adult day care is a good choice because they provide activities that those with cognitive impairments enjoy that are success oriented.

Precautions and Safety

Make sure your home is safe. Injury from falling is...read all of Strategies for Coping With Senile Dementia

Caregiving and Dementia

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 Corrier-journal.comactivities

Here is a dementia music activity

eHow

Caring for someone with dementia at home is a difficult job that can become overwhelming at times. Each day is different with new challenges and opportunities because the caregiver must cope with changing behaviors and levels of ability of the person with dementia. As with any other demanding situation, the better you care for yourself, the more knowledge you have and the more help you can get, the better you will be able to care for your loved one with dementia.

Dementia

Dementia is the result of damage to brain cells because of head injury, stroke, brain tumor or diseases such as Alzheimer's. Dementia is a brain disorder that affects memory, the ability to learn and communicate, think clearly, have good judgment and exercise caution. These changes make it difficult for people with dementia to care for themselves. Dementia often causes changes in personality and mood. Disruptive behavior can result which can create a burden on caregivers.

Caregiving

Caregiving is assistance to another person who is disabled, ill or needs help with daily activities. The caregiver most often must handle the mental, physical, psychological and social needs and well-being of the elderly person needing care. Caregivers include spouses, adult children and other relatives and friends. According to the Alzheimer's Association, almost 11 million Americans provide unpaid care to a person with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. There are support and resources available to assist caregivers so they can be successful in their role. Using these resources makes it possible to provide the best quality of care to their loved ones and to themselves. To learn more about the resources that are available, contact your local Alzheimer's Association. Also your local elder services group can help you find the support and assistance you need. The Alzheimer's Foundation has a free quarterly publication with many tips and ideas for caregivers.

Activities

Keeping the body and mind of a dementia patient active is an ...read all of Caregiving and Dementia

How to Apply a Person Centred Approach to Dementia Care

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Here are more interesting dementia brain boosting activities

eHow

A symposium in April 2008 helped change the thinking about nursing homes. The theme of the discussion, called "Creating Home in the Nursing Home," was person-centered care and living surroundings.

With this theme in mind, accomplish person-centered care in a nursing home by creating a homelike atmosphere.and centering residents' care on their interests, talents and preferences. Understand the individuality of each resident with dementia. An atmosphere that works for one person may not work for someone else. Preferences and needs may change from day to day. Awareness of the whole person challenges the caregiver. Bringing a smile to the faces of people who have dementia rewards those who care for them.

Step 1Get a family history of the resident's past interests, jobs, siblings, children and hobbies by talking to family members, friends and the resident.

Step 2Communicate with the resident in a way that he can best understand, using verbal reminders, gestures, written messages, or whatever it takes. He may have trouble finding words. Fill in the blanks for him. At the same time, compliment him.

Step 3Observe the resident in his new environment. See what time he gets up naturally. Detect his current likes and dislikes. Determine what his behaviors are and what sets off problem behaviors.

Step 4Nip agitated behavior in the bud. Divert and redirect. Do something to stop the unwanted behavior, then redirect him to another activity.

Step 5Set his new room up with favorite items from his former home. Provide him with necessities like a television, clock, easy reading material or other things that delight him and improve his quality of life.

Step 6Discover tips for environmental modifications that make life easier for the resident and the caregiver.

Step 7Keep the resident safe. New surroundings and diminished identification skills might combine to put him at risk of interacting with his environment in a dangerous way; for example, he might try to eat inedible objects.

Step 8Make sure you address the resident's cultural needs.

Step 9Allow the resident to engage in group activities and in individual activities designed specifically for him. Adapt and modify an activity he used to enjoy.

Step 10.......read all of Apply a Person Centred Approach to Dementia Care

How to boost Alzheimer’s-fighting compounds’ value

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News Times

Washington, August 18 (ANI): A team of researchers from Purdue University and Mount Sinai School of Medicine have shown that some of the polyphenols found in red wine, thought to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, in fact reach the brain.

The researchers have found that the amount of polyphenols from grapeseed extract that can reach a rat’s brain is as much as 200 percent higher on the 10th consecutive day of feeding as compared to the first.

They point out that many past studies, in which absorption was measured after single or sporadic doses, often found very little of the bioactive polyphenols reaching brain tissues.

However, they add, more chronic exposure appears to improve absorption.

“This shows that reasonable and chronic consumption of these products may be the way to go, rather than single, high doses, similar to drugs. It’s like eating an apple a day, not a case of apples over two days every month,” said Mario Ferruzzi, a Purdue associate professor of food science, who collaborated on the research with Mount Sinai’s Dr. Giulio Pasinetti.

Pasinetti says that discovering how polyphenols are absorbed and distributed to the brain can impact the scientific understanding of the amount of grape products or red wine a person would need to consume to most effectively combat Alzheimer’s disease.

“The most important thing is that when.....read all about How to boost Alzheimer’s-fighting compounds’

Middle-age smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes raise dementia risk

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

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d

McKnights

Those who smoke, or suffer from hypertension or diabetes during their middle-age years have a higher risk of developing dementia later, according to a new study.

Current smokers were 70% more likely than those who had never smoked to develop dementia. People with high blood pressure were 60% more likely than those without high blood pressure to develop dementia. People with diabetes were more than twice as likely as those without diabetes to experience cognitive impairment, the study found. Investigators studied more than 11,000 people who were part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Participants were aged 46 to 70 years. Patients were followed up for more than a decade to see how many would later develop dementia.

Overall, blacks had a......read all of raising dementia risk

Specialist training is key in dementia care

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

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Healthcare Republic

For years, there has been a lack of awareness and understanding about dementia. It is incorrectly associated with mental illness, rendering it taboo.
This is despite the fact that more than 700,000 people in the UK are currently living with dementia, and living with it for an average of 10 years. By 2020, the number is expected to reach a million and these people will require varying degrees of care. It is a complex disease that affects different people in different ways.

Fortunately, last February's publication of the national dementia strategy, combined with high-profile figures like TV presenter John Suchet speaking out about caring for loved ones with dementia, has opened up discussion.

The national strategy aims to improve the quality of dementia care; this requires specialist training for all those involved in caring for dementia patients. For example, it is important for individual care staff to learn about a patient's background; preferences; tastes; and fears to enable personalised and effective interactions. This will enable them to prevent or deflect behaviour that challenges others, creating a safe, familiar and engaging environment.

Staff should understand that a......read all of Specialist training is key in dementia care

High Blood Pressure Linked to Memory Loss in Those 45 and Older

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Bloomberg.com

By Meg Tirrell

High blood pressure may contribute to memory loss and other declines in brain function in people 45 and older, according to a study. The higher the reading, the more likely the individuals were to show impairment.

With each 10-point increase in diastolic blood pressure, the odds of cognitive difficulties grew by 7 percent, according to the report published today in the journal Neurology. This measurement is the force exerted on arteries when the heart is at rest.

The study builds on previous research probing the connection between blood pressure and brain function. The research thus far has yielded conflicting results, said Georgios Tsivgoulis, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and a lead study author, in an e-mail today. The study is noteworthy because it analyzed more than 19,000 participants, Maria C. Carrillo, senior director of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, said today in a telephone interview.

“It lends further support to what we had already really thought was the case,” said Carrillo. “That is that high blood pressure, and certainly cerebrovascular diseases, do contribute to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”

When diastolic blood pressure rises, it can........read all of High Blood Pressure Linked to Memory Loss

Many docs off mark on off-label scripts

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Chicago Sun Times

HEALTH | 45% in study wrong about FDA's approval

BY MONIFA THOMAS Health Reporter/mjthomas@suntimes.com

Doctors often prescribe drugs "off-label" to treat conditions for which they're not approved.

But a new study suggests that some off-label prescribing may be driven by doctors' mistaken belief that certain drugs are actually approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for such use.

Researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Virginia asked 1,200 psychiatrists and primary care doctors to identify whether 14 common drugs were approved by the FDA for treatment of various illnesses.

The average doctor was wrong about the FDA approval status of 45 percent of the drugs he or she was asked about, according to the study, published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety.

One example was the schizophrenia drug quetiapine. Nearly one in five doctors who said they prescribed the drug for dementia erroneously believed that it was FDA-approved for this purpose. In fact, at the time of the study, the FDA had issued a "black box" warning about an increased risk of death in elderly dementia patients who used quetiapine.

Study co-author Dr. G. Caleb Alexander said the results suggest that doctors need to have a better understanding of the science supporting certain off-label drug uses.

"Our findings highlight an urgent need for.....read more about docs off mark on off-label scripts

Reading and crosswords help ward off dementia

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24 Medica

Written by Jessica Smith

Most of us worry about losing our memorymentia act and our general mental sharpness as we age – but there’s plenty we can be doing right now to slow the decline.
Researchers have found that social activities that engage the brain – such as reading, writing, doing crossword puzzles, playing card and board games, and having group discussions – all help to keep us sharp.

We can even start these activities late in life, and still delay the onset of memory loss and dementia, as researchers discovered when they tested a group of 488 people aged between 75 and 85 years, who were still mentally sharp.

During the five years of the study, 101 of the group developed dementia – but researchers discovered that those who engaged their brain with one or more of the social activities were able to delay the time their mental functions began to deteriorate.

Of those who developed dementia, most took..... read more about Reading and crosswords help ward off dementia

Lie-ins may be an early sign of dementia research suggests

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Telegraph.co.uk

Sleeping late in the mornings or napping in the afternoons doubles the chances of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, the elderly are warned.

By Pat Hagan

Research has found that people aged over 65 who sleep more than eight or nine hours a night may be twice as likely to develop the deadly condition as those getting six to eight hours.

Napping during the day may also have the same effect.

The reason remains unclear but researchers believe excessive sleep could be an early sign of the disease. It's also possible that staying in bed is a sign of depression, a known risk factor for dementia in the elderly.

Now researchers are urging doctors to be on the lookout for long sleep as a warning that a patient is at risk.

Alzheimer's affects an estimated 24 million people worldwide and the number is expected to grow as the population lives longer.

Most die within ten years of being diagnosed, and the cost of caring for victims is more than stroke, heart disease and cancer put together.

The disease destroys chemical messengers within the brain and starts with the build-up of deposits – called plaques and tangles – that can disrupt normal messaging systems by causing inflammation.

The cause remains........read all of early sign of dementia

Patients can cope with learning their Alzheimer's risks

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AMNews.com

Genetic testing results can alarm patients, but distress levels are not clinically significant, a new study says.
By Kevin B. O'Reilly, AMNews staff. Posted Aug. 7.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alzheimer's disease is unpreventable and largely untreatable. Though genetic testing can tell patients if they have an elevated risk of developing the condition, the expert consensus has been that disclosing such information would distress patients while giving them no medical benefit.

That consensus may be wrong, according to a study in the July 16 New England Journal of Medicine (content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/361/3/245/).

More than 160 patients whose parents had Alzheimer's disease were offered genotyping results for apolipoprotein E, or APOE, which is associated with increased susceptibility to the disease. There was no significant difference in pre- and post-test disclosure measures of anxiety, depression or distress up to one year, the study found.

The authors said the data "support the psychological safety of disclosing data regarding genetic-counseling protocols to screened adult children of patients with Alzheimer's disease who request such information."

The findings could change medical professionals' minds about whether patients can handle these potentially life-changing test results, said Angela M. Trepanier, immediate past president of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She was not involved in the study.

"The study takes this test off the taboo list and makes it something to....read all of Learn Alzheimer's risks,

Midlife cholesterol linked to dementia

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San Francisco Chronicle

Victoria Colliver, Chronicle Staff Writer

You might want to think twice about that plate of steak and eggs.

A new study that looked at Kaiser Permanente Northern California members over a four-decade period found that even borderline to moderately high cholesterol levels in your 40s can significantly raise the chances of developing dementia later in life.

The study, published recently in the journal Dementia & Geriatrics Cognitive Disorders, found the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease increased by as much as 66 percent among people with high cholesterol in midlife, a level defined as 240 or higher milligrams per deciliter (1.75 pints) of blood.

For those with just moderately high cholesterol - between 200 and 239 milligrams per deciliter - the risk of developing vascular dementia, the second-most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's, increased by 52 percent.

"The thing that struck us as most surprising was that not only was high cholesterol associated with elevated risk of developing dementia later in life, but also borderline levels of cholesterol," said the study's senior author, Rachel Whitmer, a Kaiser research scientist and epidemiologist. "This is a new piece of the puzzle as we're trying to understand risk factors for dementia."

The Kaiser research, considered the largest and most diverse long-term study to examine the link between cholesterol at midlife and the development of dementia later on, adds a growing body of evidence to link cholesterol and vascular health with the two most common forms of dementia.

Bill Fisher, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada, said Kaiser's results were consistent with many studies over the last five or six years that show a link between cardiovascular health and dementia.

"We never say to people, 'You do this and you won't develop Alzheimer's,' because we can't say that," Fisher said, adding that genetic components to the disease, such as an inherited type of protein, can't be changed with diet and exercise.

"But we do say, what's good for the heart is good for your brain. There's a lot of data behind that."

More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, an incurable brain disorder that is the sixth-leading cause of death. Vascular dementia is linked to strokes, but lacks the abnormal brain structures known as plaques and tangles associated with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. This form of dementia is caused by blockages to the brain's blood supply.

The Kaiser study looked at 9,844 men and women who were 40 to 45 years old between 1964 and 1973 when their cholesterol levels were first collected. Of the total participants, 469 were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease between 1994 and 2007 when the members were between 61 and 88 years old, and 127 developed vascular dementia.

The tests did not break down cholesterol to examine the impact of the ratio of "good" to "bad" cholesterol on developing dementia.

Whitmer found the overall results....read all of Midlife cholesterol linked to dementia

Working Overtime May be a Risk for Dementia

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Brain Blogger

By Jennifer Gibson, PharmDcloseJennifer Gibson, PharmD Name: Jennifer Gibson
Site: http://brainblogger.com

Many occupations can make you feel like you are losing your mind, but new evidence suggests that long working hours may actually lead to cognitive decline. Notably, cognitive impairment in midlife is already established as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. A new report from the Whitehall II Study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology finds that long working hours in midlife are associated with a decline of cognitive function, and possibly dementia.

Earlier studies from the Whitehall Study group and related evaluations reported that long working hours are associated with cardiovascular and immunologic disorders, reduced sleep quality and duration, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and overall adverse health outcomes. Data examining the association between work hours and cognitive function is scarce, but the current study attempted to evaluate the link, since risk factors in midlife are important predictors of dementia in late life. For the cross-sectional study of 248 automotive workers in Britain, participants completed numerous tests related to memory and vocabulary, as well as general health, psychological well being, and physical functioning. People who worked more than 55 hours per week had significantly lower scores on vocabulary and reasoning tests at baseline and follow-up 5 years later, compared with those who worked 35 to 40 hours per week. The results were not changed when confounding factors were considered, including age, sex, marital status, education, occupation, income, and health risk factors.

Similar studies have concluded that...read all of Working Overtime May be a Risk for Dementia

Do Carbs Help With Memory?

Here is some interesting news about eating carbs ansd memory.Could eating more carbs help those with dementia?
USA Today
Need justification for grabbing that crusty roll at Christmas dinner or ripping from challah bread during Chanukah? Here it is, albeit from a small study.

A 19-woman Tufts University psychology study found that people on low-carb diets performed worse on memory tests than those on low-calorie diets. But once they started eating carbs again, their memory skills....Read the whole article
Certainly more research is needed to see if this information holds out in a larger study and if eating more carbs helps those with dementia

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Home for the Holidays, Check List

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By Fay Abrahamsson, Courier Senior Staff Writer:

During the holidays, there’s one thing that registered nurse Barbara Katz can count on, and she’s not talking tree lighting or eggnog. She knows she will receive numerous phone calls from adults anxious over their elderly parents. especially if they have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.

“Adult children come to visit their aging parent who they haven’t seen in a while and notice a striking difference,” said Katz, who is also director of clinical program development at VNA Community Healthcare in Guilford. “A year can make a big difference in a senior’s ability to cope.”

This time of year when families visit families, adult children, especially in the 50- to 60-year age group, call the VNA Community Healthcare in a panic about changes they see in their mother or father.

“You may find that the situation is an emergency that requires residential placement but in most cases, you will find that you can, with competent help, keep your parent independent at home much longer,” Katz adds.

For the holidays, and other times of the year when children visit their parents such as Mother’s Day or a family...read the whole post

More more holiday tips for those with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, click here

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Two cardiovascular proteins pose a double whammy in Alzheimer's

e! Science News
health and Medicine
Researchers have found that two proteins which work in tandem in the brain's blood vessels present a double whammy in Alzheimer's disease. Not only do the proteins lessen blood flow in the brain, but they also reduce the rate at which the brain is able to remove amyloid beta, the protein that builds up in toxic quantities in the brains of patients with the disease. The work, described in a paper published online Dec. 21 in the journal Nature Cell Biology, provides hard evidence directly linking two processes thought to be at play in Alzheimer's disease: reduction in blood flow and the buildup of toxic amyloid beta. The research makes the interaction between the two proteins a seductive target for researchers seeking to address both issues.

Scientists were surprised at the finding, which puts two proteins known for their role in the cardiovascular system front and center in the development of Alzheimer's disease.

"This is quite unexpected," said Berislav Zlokovic, M.D., Ph.D., a neuroscientist and a senior author of the study. "On the other hand, both.... read the whole story

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Dementia Information blog is write on

Today.com
I have to compliment Dr. Susan Berg at Dementia Today. She has been running a couple of post series at her site dedicated to dementia. The first was Top ways to enjoy Thanksgiving with those who have dementia (ten parts). The second has been Creativity and dementia which has covered a wide range of creative ideas to share with those close to you who suffer from dementia. This is such an important time for families and in many instances a difficult time to celebrate with those suffering from dementia. I want to bring Dr. Susan' Berg's work into the creative spotlight since her dedication to the topic of dementia should be commended. I hope all enjoy their time with friends and family this Thanksgiving, especially those dedicating a special amount of time to those in need. ........read the full article

Top ten, 4th of July, activities for those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Author and dementia healthcare professional,Susan Berg, suggests ways to enjoy the holiday with dementia folks that are stress and falure free.

Here are some easy, yet fun things to do on or near the 4th of July together

10. Arrange flowers real of fake. You can use red, white and blue flowers to make the bouquet or centerpiece look patriotic.

9. Plan a picnic or a party from beginning to end

8. Have a picnic perhaps using the ideas from your plans. If the person with dementia does not want to go outside, no problem, have the picnic inside.

7. Go to the beach or the park. Go at off times to avoid the crowd. You can always go on different day. Again if you fear a negative reaction to going to the beach, bring the beach to your home. Get some sand, sea shells and other beach paraphernalia.

6 Have a small get together at home. Hire or have someone to assist the Alzheimers or dementia person.

5. Draw some patriotic pictures. You can use paints, magic markers or crayons. Fireworks are easy to draw.

click here for all the activities