Home Care Assistance: Dementia

Showing posts with label Dementia. Show all posts

Home Posts filed under Dementia

World Mental Health Day

posted on 2:31 PM in Aging, Alzheimer's, Brain Health, Dementia, Fitness, Health communication, Mental Health, Oakville senior, Women's Health with 2 comments

Did you know that Monday October 10th is World Mental Health Day? This day was established by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992 to provide education, awareness and advocacy for those affected by mental illness worldwide.

Family caregivers are disproportionately affected by mental health concerns as a result of the stress and strain of caring for individuals with chronic disease or other health issues. Beyond managing the day to day activities for the care recipient, many family caregivers find that the biggest struggle they face is letting go of the person they used to know and accepting the current status of the individual they care for. Other factors that can impact a caregiver's mental health include the nature of the relationship with the care recipient, the stage of the disability or disease and the strength of the social support network.

There is hope – and there is help. We would like to share with you the Caring for the Caregiver Plancreated by the World Federation for Mental Health. This customizable plan ensures that the mental and physical health of the caregiver is not only maintained but also improved.

The Caring for the Caregiver Plan has three components:

1) Cope with day-to-day demands by getting the help that you need

Understand that it is okay to ask for help
Define the help you need
Seek out resources in your community for help

2) Create a community of care providers

Utilize a web-based caregiving coordination service, or a paper and pencil calendar method, to organize offers of help
Contact a reputable home care agency to provide respite care

3) Care for your mental health

Monitor signs of caregiver burnout
Watch for signs of anxiety, and if necessary, seek help
Watch for signs of depression, and if necessary, seek help

Take the time to write out a Caring for the Caregiver plan for yourself. In doing so, you can help sustain – and ultimately improve – your own mental and physical well-being while continuing to provide excellent care. At Home Care Assistance, we wrote the book on family caregiving, and we're here to help with respite care when you need us. Have a great weekend!

Visit our website

Find a location near you

Read about our Live-in and Hourly services

Home Care Assistance offers the highest quality 24/7 live-in home care in the Region of Halton (Oakville, Burlington, Halton Hills, and Milton), Region of Peel (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon), Hamilton and surrounding areas.

10 Everyday Activities for Seniors to Boost Memory

posted on 12:00 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Fitness, Food and Nutrition, Home Care, Lifestyle, Mental Health with 0 comments

Changes in your thinking processes and memory are inevitable as we age. According to the 2011 Alzheimer's Association's Annual Report, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer's disease every 70 seconds. Luckily, simple lifestyle activities, both physical and mental, can decrease your chances of dementia and keep your mind sharp as a tack!

Also note that debilitating memory loss doesn't happen to everyone. Here are 10 ways to boost your memory power. You will notice that most of these activities are probably already incorporated into your daily routine.

1.    Take the stairs – Exercise benefits your brain as well as the rest of your body. Increasing blood flow to the brain results in less brain shrinkage and lowers the risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Remember, one step at a time – it all adds up. Avoid elevators, park at the far end of the lot and try taking an evening walk around your block.

2.    Take a nap during the day – Memory storage happens while you sleep, which is why a good night’s sleep is so valuable. A six-minute nap is as valuable for short-term recall as a 90-minute nap has been shown to speed up the process that helps the brain consolidate long-term memories.

3.    Play a ‘brain’ game - A study in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society shows that people over 65 who used a computerized cognitive training program for an hour a day, over a period of eight weeks, improved memory and attention more than the control group.

4.    A Cup of Joe - Green and black teas have a protective effect on memory by influencing enzymes in the brain while the caffeine sparks concentration. People who drink moderate amounts of coffee, as many as three to five cups, have lower odds of developing dementia later life.

5.    Eat your greens - People who are deficient in folate and vitamin B12 have an increased risk of developing dementia. Great vegetable sources for folate include romaine lettuce, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, mustard greens, parsley, collards, broccoli, cauliflower and beets. Don’t like vegetables? An abundant amount of Folate can also be found in lentils, calf's liver, pinto and black beans. Home Care Assistance offers a great health-oriented program for clients that caregivers are trained in called the Balanced Care Method.

6. Learn something new - Pursue a new type of activity using skills far different from those you are accustomed to using. Learn a new language or try a sculpting class!

7. Eat chocolate! - In 2007, a study by the Journal of Neuroscience reported on the memory-boosting effects in rats from a plant compound called epicatechin. In addition to cocoa, epicatechin is found in blueberries, grapes and tea.

8. Put everything in its place - Your memory needs a certain amount of familiarity to keep your life functioning smoothly. Place your keys and glasses in the same place every time. Write notes to yourself as a reminder (the very act of writing will help your recall).

9. Don’t retire – Volunteer. A satisfying work life offers social stimulation and decision-making opportunities, exercises and problem-solving skills. Volunteering after retirement involves learning new material and interacting with others.

10. Spend time with loved ones – Being around other people who keep you engaged and stimulated lowers your risk of developing dementia.

By setting aside time each day to walk, learning something new and munching on chocolate, you can help boost your memory for years to come.

(via Home Care Blog)

Six lifestyle changes to protect your brain

posted on 8:30 AM in Alzheimer's, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Dementia, Food and Nutrition, Mental Health with 1 comments

It is never too early to be concerned for your mental well-being. According to an article in The Huffington Post, by the year 2030, 615,000 people are said to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that annual number is expected to be just under 1 million, with someone developing Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds.
Those are very harrowing statistics. Thankfully, there are things that we can do to hopefully decrease those numbers.

Dr. Cindy Haines shares six lifestyle changes to protect your brainpower:

Avoid Other Chronic Conditions – People with other chronic conditions, like diabetes, are about twice as likely to develop dementia. Obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are all potentially chronic problems that you can control.
Try Mediterranean Food – The Mediterranean diet is gaining popularity in its ability to help prevent dementia. The diet consists of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain bread and other whole-grain foods, beans, seeds and nuts.
Stay Active – Regular exercise keeps your blood vessels healthy, which can help prevent vascular dementia and other forms of Alzheimer’s.
Avoid Tobacco Smoke – Smoking has been proven to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, new research is suggesting that simply being exposed to tobacco smoke can also increase that risk, so avoiding it altogether is the best bet.
Keep Your Brain Busy and Stay Socially Engaged – Studies have shown that people who keep their brains active are less likely to develop dementia. Activities like crossword puzzles and reading increase your cognitive reserve.
Keep an Eye on Depression – Currently, there still needs to be more research involving exactly how depression and dementia are linked, but studies show that there is a strong connection between the two.

As mentioned, it is important to start taking precautions to prevent dementia, no matter your age.

Courtesy of CareNotes: The Home Care Newsletter

6 lifestyle changes to boost your brain

posted on 10:35 PM in Alzheimer's, Blood Pressure, Brain Health, Cholesterol, Dementia, Diabetes, Food and Nutrition, Lifestyle, Mental Health with 0 comments

It is never too early to start protecting your brain. According to an article in the Huffington Post, by the year 2030, 615,000 people are said to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that annual number is expected to be just under 1 million, with someone developing Alzheimer's every 33 seconds.

Those are very harrowing statistics. But, there are things that we can do to hopefully change those numbers.

Dr. Cindy Haines shares 6 Lifestyle changes to protect your brainpower:

1. Avoid other chronic conditions – People with other chronic conditions, like diabetes, are about twice as likely to develop dementia. Obesity, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are all potentially chronic problems that you can control.

2. Try Mediterranean food – The Mediterranean diet is gaining support in its use in preventing dementia. Lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain bread and other whole-grain foods, and beans, seeds and nuts.

3. Stay Active – Regular exercise keeps your blood vessels healthy, which can help prevent vascular dementia and forms of Alzheimer’s.

4. Avoid Tobacco Smoke – Smoking is has been proven to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, new research is suggesting that simply being exposed to tobacco smoke can also increase that risk.

5. Keep your brain busy and stay socially engaged – Studies have shown that people who keep their brains active are less likely to develop dementia. Activities like crossword puzzles and reading increase your cognitive reserve.

6. Keep an eye on depression - There still needs to be more research involving exactly how depression and dementia are linked, but studies show that there is a strong connection between the two.

Like I said earlier, it is important to start taking precautions to prevent dementia, no matter your age.

Researchers identify dementia gene

posted on 11:31 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Prevention with 0 comments

Researchers in Vancouver have identified the gene that destroys brain cells in people with Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and usually affects people over age 60. More than 238,000 Canadians are believed to suffer from Alzheimer's. By 2031 that and other forms of dementia are expected to affect about 750,000. The study was completed by researchers at UBC and the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute.

"It will likely take years to find a therapy or drug that could block the spread of the disease and that's our next target," said Dr. Weihong Song, Canada Research Chair in Alzheimer's disease at the University of B.C.

The team found that the excessive production of a protein called Regulator of Calcineurin 1 sets in motion a chain reaction that kills neurons in the hippocampus and cortex regions of the brains of people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's.

"Neuron death is the primary reason for the memory loss and cognitive impairments of Alzheimer's disease and it's the main reason people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease long before most people, usually in their 30s," said Song.

Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality that impairs cognitive ability and physical growth. About one in 800 Canadian babies are born with it, according to the Canadian Down Syndrome Society.

Source: Montreal Gazette

Caregiver interventions crucial in treating Alzheimer's and dementia

posted on 11:28 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Home Care, Mental Health, Treatment with 1 comments

With a new year, comes new innovations in the healthcare industry. The New York Times reports that recent research is stressing the importance of caregiving to those with Alzheimer’s. With no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s, dementia therapy comes from caregiving performed by families, or at nursing homes.

“There’s actually better evidence and more significant results in caregiver interventions than there is in anything to treat this disease so far” -- Lisa P. Gwyther, education director for the Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Duke University.

Research suggests that creating positive emotional experiences for Alzheimer’s patients reduces distress and behavior problems. Emotions exist even after cognition deteriorates, so changing things like food, art, exercise, or the aesthetics of a room can generate positive emotions. The Journal of the American Medical Association found that brightening lights in dementia facilities decreased depression and cognitive deterioration.

Additionally, the research is stressing the importance of a caregiver’s emotional state, so much that agencies are developing programs to provide caregivers with education and emotional support. This type of support is not only beneficial to the caregivers themselves, but to their patients as well.

Home Care Assistance similarly stresses the importance of emotional support to both the patient and the caregiver. This type of innovative research is an exciting start to 2011. Hopefully we will continue to see even greater breakthroughs in the treatment of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

By Dr. Kathy Johnson

Source: Home Care Blog

Home Care Assistance offers the highest quality 24/7 live-in home care in the Region of Halton (Oakville, Burlington, Halton Hills, and Milton), Region of Peel (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) and Hamilton.

January is Alzheimer's Awareness Month

posted on 10:49 PM in Alzheimer's, Awareness, Dementia, Prevention, Seniors' Health with 0 comments

Since it is Alzheimer's awareness month, Canadians should take time to reflect how much they really know about Alzheimer's and how they can take steps to prevent the disease. This year, the first wave of baby boomers turns 65 in Canada and the risk of dementia doubles every five years after that. To spread awareness, Alzheimer's Canada has created a test of knowledge for Canadians that we should all try at some point this month. If you want to participate in Alzheimer's awareness month in other ways you can wear purple or purchase any purple paraphrenalia such as ribbons and wristbands.

See Alzheimer Society of Canada

Financial planning advice for your 80s, 90s, and 100s

posted on 9:26 PM in Dementia, Home Care, How to Live to 102, Legal Issues, Lifestyle, Mental Health with 2 comments

As more seniors live well into their 80s, 90s, and 100s, the need for long-term financial planning becomes more imperative. Particularly, those stricken with deteriorating health or mental diseases must deal with a multitude of costs such as living arrangements and medical care. In the case of dehabilitating mental diseases such as dementia, arrangements should be made as soon as possible while they still can be made.

Perhaps the most important decision to be made is where you intend to live in your elderly years. If you already have a home that is paid for, it is still important to have money saved to cover the costs of health care. In many unofrtunate circumstances, seniors have been forced to sell their homes to sover these costs. Often times, living alone in a house can be dangerous and arrangements should be made for home health care or residential care. All of these factors should be considered when planning for your future.

Make sure to watch out for elder financial abuse by having an enduring power of attorney. It is a good idea to require the attorney to provide full transperancy of financial information with those involved. If a family member can demand a financial update from your attorney it makes stealing and other abuses much harder to commit. Use your power of attorney to get someone to do the banking for you rather than have a joint account. This reduces the tension and complications involved with sharing finances with family members and loved ones.

The need for compassionate, independent legal and financial advice is just as critical at this stage of life as it is at any other. The difficulty lies in the loss of control that some seniors experience because of failing health or simply by being too trusting.

Source: The Globe and Mail

The relationship between mental health and body health

posted on 3:53 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Mental Health, Prevention, Treatment with 0 comments

If you suffer from depression or an anxiety disorder and you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease, you have a considerably higher risk for disability and premature death. People who are in the early or middle stages of dementia or Alzheimer's are likely to be depressed or anxious which futher impairs their mental cognition. Someone who suffers long-term severe mental illness is expected to live at least 10 years and perhaps even 30 years less than the average person.

The Surgeon General of the United States described the relationship between mind and body as such: "There is no health without mental health. There is no mental health without health. Sound mind, sound body."

Each year almost 25% of the population will get a diagnosable mental or substance use disorder. However, only 40% of people with these disorders get the appropriate treatment. The primary cause of this problem is that many people just don't know when they need help and when they do, there are not enough qualified mental health professionals available. While we may chalk it up to the ups and downs of everyday life, deteriorating mental health is very serious and can take hostage of our lives.

Here are five tips to maintaining your mental health:
1) Stay active and involved with other people such as colleagues, friends and family
2) Maintain a balance in your life to reduce stress
3) Get regular screenings for mental health problems
4) Seek treatment for the earliest and smallest symptoms of mental health problems
5) Call a mental health centre near you.

Source: The Huffington Post

30 second test could identify Alzheimer's early

posted on 1:15 AM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Prevention with 0 comments

Researchers have found that many adults in their 40s have tiny lesions in parts of the brain where Alzheimer's patients typically have much larger lesions. The study, published in the journal PLoS One, indicates that the signs of brain degeneration can begin long before any Alzheimer's symptoms are noticeable and the appearnace of lesions in certain areas may be an early sign.

Doctors can use a simple test of physical reactions and memory to identify adults whose lesions could be related to early-onset Alzheimer's. Researchers believe that this test could be offered by general practitioners within two years.The test could help significantly with helping to treat Alzheimer's earlier and with younger people. According to The Alzheimer's Association, the average Alzheimer's sufferer dies within eight years of the first symptoms.

"The study lays open possibilities for screening, early detection and intervention. The earlier we can intervene with people vulnerable to eventual dementia, the greater the chances of preventing or delaying the disease onset. Although we cannot be certain that these middle-aged people will go on to get dementia, the results are important" -- Professor David Bunce of Brunel University in London.

Source: AOL News

Which vitamins are important for seniors to take?

posted on 12:10 AM in Alzheimer's, Arthritis, Cancer, Cholesterol, Dementia, Food and Nutrition, Glaucoma, Heart Disease, Medicine, Seniors' Health, Stroke, Vision and Sight with 0 comments

As we age, certain health conditions arise that require daily medication. For instance, if you have hypertension, you take a blood pressure pill daily. If you have high cholesterol or another ailment, medication can be taken to keep your symptoms under control. What we sometimes forget that is very important, is that many of these medications can affect the absorption of vitamins into our bodies.

The Cleveland Clinic claims that, “deficiencies in vitamins exist in about a third of the elderly.” However, there are over-the-counter vitamins that we can take to correct these deficiencies such as, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B and Folate.

Vitamin D is especially important to take because it treats those with osteoporosis, which is common among seniors. Taking vitamin D regularly keeps calcium levels high and lessens the bone loss that occurs with kidney failure.

Vitamin A is another essential supplement as it helps with good eyesight and a healthy immune system. As noted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Vitamin A “is used in the treatment for cancer and to prevent heart disease.”

Vitamin C, on the other hand, works to limit the development of dementia, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, glaucoma, arthritis and stroke, according to the U. S. National Library of Medicine.

Vitamin B-12 helps to maintain our energy levels. Folate, which is another type of vitamin B, helps with preventing stroke, heart disease, breast cancer and colon cancer for seniors.

Now that you have a rundown of all the important vitamins seniors should consume, remember to consult with your doctor first before you start taking any new supplements.

Courtesy of Home Care Blog

Sports concussions worry neurologists; risk of Alzheimer's and dementia

posted on 12:30 AM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Fitness, Mental Health, Prevention with 1 comments

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) released on Monday broad recommendations on how sports can deal with the issue of concussions. The AAN stated that sports where athletes have concussion risks should have a qualified athletic trainer on the playing area at all times - even for children's games and for practices. Currently, only 40% of high schools in the United States have certified trainers and many younger-aged programs do not have certified trainers at all. The AAN recommends avoiding contact sports entirely in your school if a certified trainer cannot be hired. However, the Academy recognizes that this is merely a golden standard to strive towards and may not be feasible. Rick Bowden, the assistant executive director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, called the AAN's recommendations "a laudable goal" but added that "there is no way that could happen."

We understand completely that is undoable in today's environment, but we think that is a correct way to organize our priorities -- Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, chair of the AAN's sports neurology section

The group said that an athlete with concussion symptoms should be evaluated by a specialist and should not take the field until medically cleared. Concussion symptoms include unconsciousness, unsteadiness, memory or concentration problems, dizziness and headaches. College football and professional football leagues have already taken greater measures towards dealing with concussed players even before this announcement by the AAN. This season, professional players - in particular quarterbacks - must pass a set of test before even being allowed to practice. The NFL has also increased fines and suspension time for helmet-to-helmet hits which often cause concussions. These changes are in the face of overwhelming evidence that concussions have long-term ramifications to the health of athletes. Research has shown that repeated concussions on NFL players may increase the likelihood of dementia and Alzheimer's. Kutcher pointed out various long-term consequences of concussions such as decreased mental ability, depression, anxiety, and personality changes. Last week, a 17-year-old football player from Kansas collapsed on the sidelines and later died. While his cause of death has not been found, the boy had not been cleared to play by a doctor after suffering a concussion earlier in the season. In March, the National Hockey League banned shoulder hits to the head from the blind side.

It has long been known that repeated head blows can cause brain degeneration in boxers however more information is coming in on concussions in other contact sports such as football and hockey. Kutcher believes that standards for dealing with concussions will improve as society changes and that the new rules in the NFL and NHL are a good head start which will hopefully transcend down the the younger players.

Source: NPR

Maria Shriver: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's

posted on 11:48 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Home Care, Seniors' Health with 0 comments

New findings regarding elder care have been released by the Families and Work Institute. Findings were such that 42% of the U.S. workforce — nearly 54.6 million employees – have cared for an elderly parent or relative over the past five years. That means that approximately one in five people are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other neurological disorder.

The Families and Work Institute highlights Maria Shriver’s report: A Woman’s Nation Takes on Alzheimer’s, which was created with the Alzheimer’s Association. The report goes on to say that “the annual per patient cost of Alzheimer’s is $56,800, with 60% of those costs being borne by families. The estimated societal cost is $300 billion a year.”

The Shriver Report further supports past research that women are more likely to provide care - 44% of women compared to 38% of employed men provide care on a regular basis rather than on an intermittent basis.

In the coming years, an increasing portion of the workforce will be providing care to parents and other family members, so it is important to start factoring this into future plans.

Courtesy of Home Care Blog

Hispanics Presumed To Have Higher Risk of Developing Alzheimer’s

posted on 4:36 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Stroke with 0 comments

The New York Times recently published profiles of Hispanic people with Alzheimer’s providing a real perspective on the disease, how it affects families and a number of important facts. According to studies, Hispanics develop Alzheimer’s earlier in life than other ethnic groups. They are not genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, but have other risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and hypertension, which put them at higher risk than other groups for developing dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association said that about 200,000 Latinos in the United States have Alzheimer’s. This number could increase to 1.3 million by 2050.

Antonio Vasquez, a 60-year-old with Alzheimer’s is highlighted in the slideshow. One time he once wandered away during a family visit to New York and returned to his home in Philadelphia nine hours later. He boarded a Philadelphia-bound bus, giving his driver’s license to the bus driver, as he did not know where he was going.

Another woman, Teresa Mojica, 63, also suffers from dementia. The disease makes her delusional, causing her to occasionally strike her husband. Interestingly, she has diabetes and hypertension which she developed earlier on in life due to stress. Both are risk factors for the disease.

Courtesy of Home Care Blog

Preventing Wandering Among Seniors With Dementia

posted on 4:31 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Prevention, Seniors' Health with 0 comments

An article in the San Jose Mercury News discusses Alzheimer’s disease and how it has changed over the past 20 years. Since 1980 the amount of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease has doubled from 2.8 million to 5.3 million. Currently, 42 percent of those over the age of 85 will develop Alzheimer’s.

This article opened with a story about a son who came home to find that his mother had escaped the house and was wondering around the neighborhood. Police agencies are now training officers how to detect and search for wanderers with dementia, as wandering is one of the most common behaviors associated with the disease.

About 60 percent of those that have dementia have wandered and about 20 percent wander repeatedly. Many people with dementia do not recognize objects and try to go to a place from a past memory that many times no longer actually exists.

The man featured in this story said that he changed his sleep schedule to follow his mother’s, even if it was in the middle of the day. He also sought advice from experts who told him to hang a curtain over the window at night to disguise and hide it. Other advice offered was to put a medical bracelet on his mother’s wrist with his home phone number on it in case she was to wander out of the house.

As more people are living longer, dealing with dementia and recognizing the signs are becoming more and more important. Learning different ways to decrease wandering behavior among those with Alzheimer and Dementia will be imperative to their safety and your peace of mind.

Courtesy of Home Care Blog

Dementia's Crippling Effect on the Canadian Economy

posted on 9:12 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Health Care, Home Care with 0 comments

The global cost of caring for the 35.6 million people worldwide with dementia is $604-billion - equivalent to the revenues of Wal-Mart and Exxon Mobil combined - as it is fast becoming one of the world's biggest health challenges. Its prevalence will increase at an "alarming rate" for at least 40 more years according to a study by Alzheimer's Disease International, a London-based consumer group. By 2030, the report estimates that the number of people with dementia will nearly double to 65.7-million with annual global costs totalling $1.1 trillion (US). In Canada, dementia costs the economy about $15-billion a year and is expected to grow to $153-billion by 2038 while case will jump from 500,000 to 1.1 million.

"The figures are cause for great concern, and we hope that this report will act as a call to action for governments and policy-makers across the world. It is vital theat they recognize that the cost of dementia will continue to increase... and we must work to improve care and support services." -- Marc Wortmann, executive director of Alzheimer's Disease International

Currently, the cost of caring for dementia is split between direct medical care ($96-billion), residential and nursing care ($255-billion) and unpaid labour by family caregviers ($253-billion). The costs of dementia equal roughly the economies of Turkey and Indonesia making it the world's 18th largest.

Dementia affects developed and developing countries alike however there is a stark discrepancy in costs between high- and low-income countries. The average cost of caring for a person with dementia in a high-income country like Canada is $32,865 annually compared to $868 for a low-income country like Bangladesh. Low-income countries which account for 14% of global dementia cases make up only 1% of the costs whereas high-income countries have 46% of the cases and 89% of the costs. A major difference is the lack of accessibility to professional medical and nursing care in low-income families where the burden typically falls on family members. This is expected to become a serious problem for developing countries where dementia is expected to grow at a faster rate than developed countries. For example, in the next 20 years dementia cases are expected to increase 63% in North America compared to 117% in East Asia and 146% in Latin America.

The report recommends developing a national strategy to deal with dementia with policies that explicitly focus on supporting family caregivers and to reorganize health systems so that they better meet the needs of patients with chronic conditions such as dementia.

Source: Picard, Andre. "'Alarming' Rise in Dementia Comes with a Crippling Price Tag." Globe and Mail. 21 Sept. 2010. A1-A2

Dementia Could Be Next National Health Crisis

posted on 9:59 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Health Care, Home Care, Mental Health with 0 comments

I'd give anything to see inside his mind, to know just for a day, what's going on in there" -- Donna Macdiarmid, whose husband Roger suffers from dementia.

Currently, a half-million Canadians have a form of incurable dementia including Alzheimer's disease and there are approximately 100,000 more cases every year. This rate is expected to grow the number of dementia cases in Canada to 1.1 million by 2038. The direct costs of caring for dementia would be expected to grow from $8-billion a year today to $92-billion in 2038. Add in the lost productivity from higher rates of dementia and Canada could have a significant domestic health issue on its hands.

One-hundred and ten years of research have produced few practical results for prevention or treatment. Some argue that demention is merely a part of aging and treat it as less a disease and more an inevitability. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and Norway have publicly opposed this passive approach whereas at the Canadian federal level there is no official strategy and provincial strategies are varied at best. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the government's medical research funding body, has a $5 million annual budget for an international project on dementia. In comparison, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty recently announced $225 million for Grand Challenges Canada, a five-year health project designed to provide creative solutions for developing countries. Although Grand Challenges Canada should be lauded for its aspirations one can't help but question whether the money could have been allocated to rescuing the thousands of Canadians who are holding onto their body, minds and lives under the grasp of dementia.

"Kick at the Darkness." Editorial. The Globe and Mail [Toronto] 18 Sept. 2010: A26. Print.

A Holistic Approach to Longer Life

posted on 4:53 PM in Alternative Health, Alzheimer's, Dementia, Fitness, Food and Nutrition, Heart Disease, Home Care, Immune System, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Muscle Pain, Prevention, Seniors' Health with 0 comments

Our population is growing older at the fastest pace in history. These demographics, combined with a rapidly increasing life span, make it critical and necessary to re-evaluate how we plan for old age. Based on groundbreaking scientific research of the longest-living people on Earth, a new book, “Happy to 102,” lays out all the factors that affect not only how long we live, but how well we live.

Kathy N. Johnson, a certified geriatric care manager, James H. Johnson, a licensed clinical psychologist and author, and Lily Sarafan, a corporate executive and advocate in the senior care industry, wrote this book, which looks well beyond caregivers and emphasizes not only proper nutrition and exercise, but also sociability, independence, mental challenge and sense of purpose.

“The mental side is absolutely key. Maintaining healthy cognitive function will help you focus your lifestyle on longevity, not just life span. In fact, the earlier you start taking control of your health, the less time your immune system will have to spend fighting disease in your later years.” -- Lily Sarafan, Co-author of Happy to 102.

“Happy to 102” is very accessible to people of all ages. She added that even though there is a lot of push to eat right and exercise, many people still don’t fully understand the link between waist size and quality of life.

The book also does a great job of pointing out the benefits of in-home senior care as opposed to facility-based care. “Nine out of 10 seniors would rather live at home than anywhere else,” Sarafan said. “However, it all starts with the individual. Seniors need to learn and accept the best options out there.”

Forrest Scogin, chairman of the American Psychology Association’s Committee on Aging, said in the book there is a need to incorporate content on aging into all levels of schools’ curricula. A 2005 study by the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Illinois State University reveals students’ negative attitudes toward older adults significantly decreased and their positive attitudes increased after taking a course on aging and family.

The book goes on to explain that empathy for seniors includes understanding that even simple daily tasks can become extremely difficult if you become frail. The consequences of a fall can be disastrous.

“This is why we urge everyone (young and old) to incorporate walking and stretching into their daily life so they can help the body maintain circulation, balance and bone density” -- Lily Sarafan

Exercise not only helps the heart, bones and muscle, but it alleviates depression and can slow Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia by improving blood flow to the brain.

“Happy to 102” reminds readers that independent living does not necessarily mean doing everything yourself. It means being in control of how and when things are done. From birth to old age, we live and thrive in interdependent communities; there is no justifiable reason for modifying our lifestyle drastically just because we require some personal assistance in our later years.

Courtesy of the Washington Examiner

Almost 40% of All Dementia Cases Could Be Avoided

posted on 12:46 PM in Alzheimer's, Dementia, Diabetes, Food and Nutrition, Lifestyle, Mental Health, Prevention with 0 comments

Dr.Kathy Johnson, PhD, CMC

According to a recent article from The Guardian, doctors are now reporting that banishing diabetes and depression, prolonging education, and eating more fruits and vegetables would greatly lower that amount of people suffering from dementia.

At Home Care Assistance we train all of our caregivers in The Balanced Care Method, a proprietary lifestyle program that focus on a variety of factors, one of which is healthy eating and which foods to incorporate in your daily diet to help decrease risk of Alzheimer’s, Dementia and other chronic diseases.

Reducing diabetes and depression are clearly the two more difficult factors in this situation. In knowing that diabetes and dementia are linked, doctors are now striving to succeed in earlier detection and better, more effective treatments for those with diabetes. Diabetes has also been linked to depression, so any strides made in the field of diabetes could affect both depression and dementia. Eating fruits and vegetables also tie into the diabetes effect, and more education increases crystallized intelligence, whose presence is thought to ward off dementia. The most important thing that doctors are focusing on now is earlier detection of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Source: Home Care Blog

New Tea on the Block: Pu-erh

posted on 11:56 AM in Balanced Care Method, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Cholesterol, Dementia, Digestive System, Food and Nutrition, Heart Disease, Mental Health, Muscle Pain with 0 comments

Pu-erh (Pronounced pew-er:) tea may be new to most North Americans, but it isn't actually "new." It's been grown and cured in the Yunnan province of China for over 2000 years and its distinguishing characteristic is, in fact, its age.

Xiaguan Te Ji (Special grade) raw tuo cha

Broad leaf tea leaves are fermented, pressed, and aged to make pu-erh tea (some versions are made without fermenting the tea first). All pu-erh tea used to be aged for decades, some are even aged as long as a century. Modern tea producers have found ways to speed up that process for most commercially available pu-erh tea.

Chinese medicine uses pu-erh tea to flush out toxins, treat dysentery, improve digestive function, facilitate weight loss, and improve blood circulation.

Modern scientific studies have found that pu-erh tea can lower blood pressure, reduce free radicals, and aid weight loss. It has also been shown to lower blood sugar levels and promote healthy bacterial flora in the intestines, thus, as traditional Chinese medicine proclaims, promoting healthy digestion. One Chinese study found that the fungi and bacteria that increase in pu-erh tea as it ages and give the tea its unique flavor are also those that develop polyphenols and cancer-fighting properties.

For as cure-all as this can start to sound, most striking are the studies that point to pu-erh tea's ability to lower cholesterol levels.

All tea – whether black, oolong, green, or pu-erh – contains antioxidants and polyphenols. Several studies have found that pu-erh tea is particularly effective at lowering bad cholesterol. A 2005 study at the Wun-Shan Branch Tea Research and Extension Station in Taipei, Taiwan looked at the cholesterol-lowering properties of all four types of tea and found that while they all decreased LDL-C (bad cholesterol), only pu-erh tea did not also lower HDL-C (good cholesterol) to some extent. When it comes to cholesterol, pu-erh tea takes the bad while leaving the good.

The same study found that pu-erh and oolong teas lowered triglycerides more than did black or green teas. All teas improved the activity of an important antioxidant enzyme.

An earlier French study found that subjects with high blood lipid levels experienced a 22% reduction in those levels when they were given three servings of pu-erh tea daily. The control group showed no change.

A similar study at Kunming Medical College in China found that subjects with hypertension or coronary heart disease (all of whom were admitted to the hospital for these conditions) who were given three servings of pu-erh tea daily showed a 64% reduction in blood lipid levels as compared to a 67% reduction in subjects who were given standard cholesterol-reducing drugs.

The Balanced Care Method™ recommends drinking several cups of tea daily because of the significant levels of antioxidants and flavonoids. Okinawan elders – the longest and healthiest lived population on earth – regularly drink large amounts of tea, keeping them hydrated and full of health-enhancing antioxidants and flavonoids.

Hydration is an important health benefit of tea. Sipping tea, including pu-erh tea, helps people stay hydrated. Unlike sodas and juices, tea provides water without empty calories or high levels of simple sugars. Dehydration in seniors can lead to symptoms that mimic serious conditions, even dementia. Symptoms of dehydration can include fatigue, headache, dry mouth, little or no urination, muscle weakness, dizziness, confusion, forgetfulness, rapid breathing, and even an increased heart rate.

Aim for a total of eight glasses of water or the equivalent every day. More may be necessary if taking medications that have diuretic or laxative effects. To avoid dehydration:

• Drink before you feel thirsty

• Have water or tea nearby for sipping throughout the day

• Drink water or tea before eating food at meals

Many American tea companies are starting to carry pu-erh teas in their lines. For the best quality, look for pu-erh teas from Yunnan province. Note that the older pu-erh teas will be more expensive.

Pu-erh teas are more forgiving when it comes to brewing than other types of tea. They are hard to over-brew. Brew pu-erh teas with boiling water and let steep about three minutes. Sweeten or add lemon to taste.

Source: CareNotes Newsletter (Volume 3, Number 3)