10 New Facts About Alzheimer's

Research on Alzheimer’s progresses every year, and some of the statistics are staggering. The Alzheimer’s Association provides an annual report detailing costs and complications of the disease to patients, caregivers and the health care system.  We’ve pulled out 10 of the latest facts about Alzheimer’s disease..

1. Nearly half of adults aged 85 and over have Alzheimer’s disease.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s, an estimated one in eight people aged 65 and over (13%) suffer from Alzheimer’s, and .  It is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
2. Out of approximately 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer’s, more than half may not know they have it.
3. More women than men have Alzheimer’s disease.  The Alzheimer’s Association reports that nearly two-thirds of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s are women. The primary reason for this statistic is that women generally live longer than men.
4. Early-onset Alzheimer’s can develop in people as young as age 30.  Though the cause still isn’t well understood, some of these cases have a genetic component.
5. In America, a new case of Alzheimer’s develops every 68 seconds; by 2050, the incidence will increase to every 33 seconds. The rate at which Alzheimer’s disease occurs is projected to double by the middle of the century because of the growing population over age 65.
6. Alzheimer’s is the 6th-leading cause of death in the U.S., and the 5th-leading cause of death in adults aged 65 and over.
7. Over 15 million Americans are unpaid caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, most (70%) of those caregivers are female family members.
8. Alzheimer’s caregivers have an increased likelihood of physical strain, mental and emotional stress, depression, financial problems, and familial/interpersonal issues.
This is largely due to the communications difficulty and personality changes that affects the sufferer. Therapeutic and social support are shown to reduce this risk.
9. In 2012, the average annual cost of health care and LTC services for someone with Alzheimer’s was $43,847.
10. An estimated 800,000 Americans with Alzheimer’s are living alone.  Many of those have no identified caregiver, a situation which puts them at greater risk of social isolation, poor self-care, falls and other medical emergencies, wandering, malnutrition and a range of other issues.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

From Alzheimer’s Association, 2012 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. March 2012; 8:131–168.

When the Child Becomes the Parent

As we age, caregiving requirements can often result in an role reversal of the parent-child relationship – one where the child begins parenting the parent. One day we find ourselves caring for parents who are as dependent on us as we were on them during our childhood. This can be emotionally challenging for the elderly parent as well as the adult child.

For the senior parent, it’s common to have feelings of embarrassment, frustration and depression when they are forced to rely on a grown child for care. Loss of independence and sense of helplessness can lead to feelings of despair, and sometimes resentment.

Adult children may resent having to take on full time or part time caregiving.  There is no pay, but it’s as strenuous as any other job that you may undertake. Many grown children feel a sense of loss as they witness the deterioration of a once  vibrant parent that they previously depended on in their younger days. Because the relationship between you and your parent has changed, you may need to explore new ways of expressing love and receiving love that are appropriate to you both. The following are a few quick tips on helping to keep a loving relationship:

• Use of affirmative words.Say, “I love you” regularly, and share compliments with your loved one daily. Be careful not to overdo this, as it can be concieved as condescending if over applied.

• Physical touch.  If your parent is the touchy type, they will feel loved if you make it a habit to give hugs regularly.

• Gifts.  Gift giving shows the recipient that you care for them, and that you are willing to sacrifice in order to make them happy. Make sure not to miss a birthday, anniversary, or other important event as they could take this as a sign of being unloved.

• Quality time.  Everyone appreciates moments when they have your undivided attention, being together enjoying each others company without distractions. If this is important to your parent, set aside time each week to spend just with them, and don’t look at it as caregiving. Turn off your smart-phone, computer, TV, etc, and get together with your parent in a quiet room or over the dinner table for one-on-one time.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that veterans will no longer have to complete an annual Eligibility Verification Report or EVR.  Historically, this report was required in order to maintain Veteran's benefits. This elimination will allow more Veterans Aid & Attendance Benefits Newsthan 100 VA staff to focus on the compensation claims backlog.
  In lieu of requiring the report,  VA staff will now work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration, essentially establishing a partnership between the two agencies.  This will allow them to verify continued eligibility for pension benefits.  The current backlog of benefits claims is nearly 900,000 applicants. Any moves taken towards reducing that backlog is a step in the right direction.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Reducing Dementia Risks, Part II

In our first installment of this two part series, we discussed 3 tips on how to reduce the risk of developing dementia.  This installment continues on that topic with 3 additional tips:
4. Alcohol in moderation
You knew this one was going to pop up, didn’t you?  There are a host of dangers associated with drinking too much, and dementia can be added to the risks. Surprisingly, alcohol abuse is the second leading cause of adult dementia in Western countries! Men consuming six drinks daily and women who have four drinks daily place themselves at a higher risk of developing dementia.
5. Spend More Time with Friends and Reduce Stress
An active social life is linked to longevity, happiness,and good health, but it also associated with a lower risk of developing dementia. Experts are not clear about the reason for this, but there appear to be definite benefits!  And, it’s fun.
6. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep and dreams have been fascinating research topics for years. While much is understood about sleep, much of it remains a mystery.  For instance, we still don’t have a concrete answer as to what dreams really are. We do have a pretty good picture of what happens to people who don’t get enough sleep though. In the short term, sleep deprivation can change your mood, decrease reaction time, and make you more prone to simple mistakes.  Going without sleep for 24 hours or more can lead to hallucinations and other signs of mental distress. Even modest disruptions to sleep cycles could be linked to Alzheimer’s.  Studies have shown that when older people sleep poorly, it can prevent them from “storing” memories and lead to dementia symptoms.  Bottom line, get some rest.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

Reducing Dementia Risks, Part I

Anyone who has witnessed someone deal with Alzheimer’s disease knows how cruel it can be. Although it can strike anyone and there isn’t a cure,  there are steps one can take to minimize the odds of developing the disease. There are factors under our control that are linked to a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. By looking at published research, we can adopt healthy lifestyle changes that may decrease our chances of developing dementia. Simultaneously, we are also improving the quality of our lives. There is always contradictory advice available about diet and lifestyle.  For instance, we see articles that proclaim eggs should be avoided because they cause heart disease. You can also read that eggs are the greatest food since vegetables because they contain all 20 protoeogenic amino acids. It can be hard to make sense of it all, but one shouldn’t tune out entirely.

Let’s look at some easy steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s or at least help you live a healthier life.
1. Heart-Healthy Lifestyle
The leading cause of death in America is heart disease. However, risk factors such as smoking and eating a high-fat diet are under an individual’s control. A heart-healthy lifestyle also lowers your risk of developing memory loss, particularly vascular dementia. Research suggests that vascular dementia can be caused by high blood pressure and heart disease. With that in mind, here’s the first advice:
Exercise regularly
Eat a healthy diet (low fat, low sugar, lots of vegetables)
Don’t smoke
Simple enough, but it’s not always easy. It is hard to break longstanding habits, and our hectic lives often aren’t conducive to healthy eating and exercise. Knowing this, try to incorporate increased activity into your daily routine. Take a walk at lunch and use the stairs instead of elevators. Simply parking at the rear of a parking lot is a great way to squeeze in more walking. And stay away from the couch & TV.
2. Use Your Brain
Research has shown that higher education levels are linked to decreased risk of cognitive decline.  This doesn’t mean you have to return to college!  Reading, puzzles, crafts, etc., activities that make you think help to exercise the brain.
3. Head Protection
The Alzheimer’s Association is very clear here: “There is a strong link between future risk of Alzheimer’s and serious head trauma, especially when injury involves loss of consciousness.” While you may not be involved in contact sports, that doesn’t remove all possibilities of injury. To minimize head injury risk, always wear a seat belt in a car and a helmet when cycling. Falls are also a cause of head injuries. If you or a loved one have limited mobility or vision problems, take extra precautions that assure the home is without fall-hazards.
To be continued in Part II.
Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!

A New Year & Heart Health

Every new year, Americans are made aware that it’s a good time to be aware of the symptoms of a heart attack, adopt a healthy diet, or stop bad habits, all to help avoid heartdisease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Some of us make a true effort to change lifestyles, for others, it never really takes hold.  And while a cardiac event can temporarily slow a person of any age, it is particularly limiting for older adults.

Differences in activity level for those with and without heart disease are substantial. Adults with heart disease are much more likely to have difficulties with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking, etc.  A task as simple as walking out to get the mail, can become challenging for a person affected by heart disease.  Among those with coronary heart disease, about one-third of those age 51 to 61 and about half of those age 70 and older have difficulty with one or more of these activities, or what’s commonly referred to as ADLs.

We strive to help people remain in their homes by assisting them in a safe and compassionate way. If you know someone who is limited in their activity because of a cardiac event, or any illness, give us a call.

Bringing useful news to educate our clients is one more way that Home Helpers has been making life easier for over a decade.  Call us today at 704-909-7958.  And as always, you can find us on our website,  Facebook and Google+!