According to data from the Alzheimer’s Association, there are approximately 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older who currently are living with Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common type of dementia. A large majority of Alzheimer's patients are 75 years old or older (72 percent), and almost two out of three Alzheimer’s patients are [...]
Taking on the role of unpaid family caregiver can be difficult even under the best of circumstances. But caring for a loved one who suffers from dementia can present a unique set of challenges. In addition to the burnout and stress faced by many caregivers, dementia caregiving is rife with unpredictability, safety concerns, behavior issues, [...]
(Photo credit: snoezelen.info) Dementia, an over-arching term for memory loss and other cognitive issues that interfere with daily life, is a growing problem in the United States. From 2000 to 2017, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease (the most prevalent form of dementia) have increased by 145 percent, according to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association. In fact, [...]
On May 21, I'm scheduled to speak at River’s Edge, New York City's first and only life plan community (also known as a continuing care retirement community or CCRC). River’s Edge is an innovative community being developed by a not-for-profit organization called RiverSpring Health, which also operates several other senior living and senior healthcare properties [...]
There are a number of so-called “brain game” products on the market these days. These typically are computer or smartphone/tablet-based games that claim they can help improve seniors’ cognitive function and memory. But do they really work? Could playing video games be the secret to decreasing the prevalence of neuro-degenerative conditions like dementia? And what [...]
In last week’s post, I highlighted a recent article that discussed the advice that caregivers of a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease would share with others who are newly embarking on this labor of love. Much of the advice centered around the emotional and financial challenges that caregiving can present and the need to [...]
Money. Even under the best of circumstances, it’s a subject few people want to discuss…even with individuals in their own family. But as people age, it becomes important—and sometimes necessary—that the senior’s adult children or another trusted person has an understanding of their financial situation—what is sometimes referred to as “financial caregiving.” It happens too [...]
Dementia is not one specific disease. Instead, it’s a general term used to describe a decline in mental capabilities, such as memory issues, that are severe enough to affect activities of daily living (ADLs). Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for around 70 percent of diagnoses, but there are other types too, [...]
A concern that is commonly voiced by adult children is that their aging parent is beginning to get forgetful. Maybe they are losing their keys more frequently. Perhaps they uncharacteristically failed to pay some bills on time. Such changes can seem especially pronounced for those who only see their parents occasionally (such as around the [...]
