A thank-you gift honoring caregivers – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

A thank-you gift honoring caregivers – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Dedicated caregivers are on the front lines of the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, caring for friends and family both day and night.
When you join us in honoring caregivers by making a contribution today, you’ll receive a special lapel pin as a thank-you in time for National Family Caregivers Month.
Your Alzheimer’s Association lapel pin will be our gift to thank you for your donation of $25 or more. Your support shows you stand in solidarity with the more than 15 million Americans who care for those living with Alzheimer’s.

It isn’t easy providing care for someone living with Alzheimer’s. November is National Family Caregivers Month, and it’s our chance to show these amazing individuals we are grateful for all that they do.
To receive your lapel pin, please make your generous donation today. Your gift in recognition of caregivers furthers our mission to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
I hope you’ll wear your Alzheimer’s Association lapel pin with pride. Thank you for caring about caregivers.

RV Insurance: Is Auto Insurance Company Coverage Enough? – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

RV Insurance: Is Auto Insurance Company Coverage Enough? – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Evaluate the pros and cons of insurance through an RV insurance company versus your auto insurer.

RV Insurance: Is Auto Insurance Company Coverage Enough?
Evaluate the pros and cons of insurance through an RV insurance company versus your auto insurer.

Is it really so important where your recreational vehicle (RV) insurance comes from? Absolutely! There are huge differences between coverage from your auto insurer or a company that only covers RVs, and it could end up costing you tens of thousands if you make the wrong choice.

Whether you’ve just purchased your own personal ticket to the open road, or you’ve owned an RV or travel trailer for a while, it’s important to know exactly what your insurance will cover.

How an Auto Insurance Company Policy Protects Your RV

Most any company that covers your car will sell you a policy for your motorhome, travel trailer or fifth wheel. It’s easy to call an agent or go online and add another vehicle, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the cost. This insurance is enough to satisfy the financial institution carrying your loan. But what are you getting for your money?

Not a whole lot, as it turns out. Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive insurance, the same as with your car. However, with RV trailers, your auto policy already covers collision insurance. So, all that you’re getting on the trailer itself is comprehensive coverage.

Comprehensive coverage kicks in when your RV gets stolen, a tree falls on it, a bear gets inside and wreaks havoc, or lightening starts a fire. Phew. What else could go wrong? Well, that payout could be a lot smaller than you were expecting: The auto insurance company will depreciate the value of your RV, and it won’t pay a thing for its contents.

Furthermore, auto insurance companies expect you to store your RV during the off-season, and they consider that reduced likelihood of damage in your premium. If they discover that you are living in your RV, they can drop you faster than a lead balloon.

Situations Not Covered or Only Partially Covered by an Auto Insurer’s RV Policy

  • Your sweet golden retriever finds the only dog in the world he hates in the next campsite, and attacks it. Not covered.
  • Your grandchild with the great pitching arm tests his aim and triumphs, sending a rock through the window of the most expensive RV in the park. Not covered.
  • The breaded pork chops you were frying go rogue, and the resulting grease fire turns your RV into ashes. The titanium fishing rod you just bought, the fancy waders and antique tackle are destroyed. Contents aren’t covered. Your RV will be covered only at replacement value, which can be halved in as little as three years.

It’s important to cover what an auto insurer’s standard RV policy probably doesn’t cover:

Four Travel Trailers to Try

Winter is around the corner, and that means it’s time to find a great sale on an RV for next year. More and more, seniors are opting for a travel trailer instead of a full-size, gas-guzzling rig. Easy to park and smaller than their drivable cousins, camping trailers are the RV equivalent of the tiny house. Here are four stylish models that Sunset magazine picked as 2017’s best:

1. Homegrown Trailer (from $26,500)

This modern take on a classic bullnose shape has a pullout queen bed, twin extra-long bunks, mini fridge, induction cooktop, cork floors, composting toilet, cedar siding, wool insulation and a pop top. Solar panels charge lithium-ion batteries to power dimmable lights and USB ports. At 2,500 pounds, a Nissan Murano V6 or similar has adequate towing strength.

2. Timberleaf Trailers (from $17,650)

Who can resist this teardrop trailer loaded with extras like birch-wood cabinetry, generous galley counter space, plumbing, skylight, cooler and stove pullouts? The queen mattress sleeps two, and your Subaru Outback has plenty of power to pull 1,400 pounds. Add a battery that charges while you drive or via the sun, LED lights and USB ports, and you’ll never want to call anything else home.

3. HC1 by Happier Camper (from $18,950)

This ultralight weighs only 1,100 pounds but manages to sleep five, thanks to modular components that turn into a queen bed, dinette, storage space, pullout fridge and freezer, two-burner cooktop, outdoor seating, and solar-heated exterior shower with shatterproof glass in a light, fiberglass shell. Your Mini Cooper Countryman can tow the HC1 in style, including solar powered dimmable LED lights, iPad dock and exterior AC inlet.

4. Basecamp by Airstream (from $35,900)

If luxury is your thing and campgrounds are your game, try the Basecamp with heater, seamless vinyl flooring, china toilet, exterior shower, retractable clothesline, flexible seating and a patio awning. Only two of you will fit on the queen bed that converts to a banquette, but who cares when you have a wireless speaker, solar panel wiring, LED lights and USB ports. Oh, and you’ll need a Toyota 4Runner or similar because all that bling weighs 2,585 pounds.

  • Liability, such as damage to a neighboring vehicle or backing into or over something.
  • Personal injury, like a dog bite or someone taking a tumble as they enter or exit your RV.
  • Personal possessions, such as firearms, jewelry, dishes and clothes in the RV.
  • Full replacement cost. Instead, the auto insurance policy will only cover the depreciated value of your RV.

The reason an auto policy is so inexpensive is it only covers the vehicle itself, and only at its depreciated value.

Who Needs To Use an RV Insurance Company?

If you only take your older RV out for the rare weekend, it’s possible that a policy from your auto insurance company will suffice. You can buy additional coverage for big-ticket items, such as an extended warranty on the refrigerator and an insurance rider for the tires. But if you have a newer RV, particularly if you live in it, you shouldn’t think of hitting the gas until you’re covered by an RV insurance company.

If you use your RV as your permanent residence, you need a policy that covers you like a homeowner. You should have riders for contents, personal liability, replacement cost coverage and possessions you have in storage. Will it cost more than the skimpier package offered at an auto insurer? Of course. It’s your home on wheels, and riskier to insure than a house since, unlike a stick and brick residence, it is often moving.

Evaluating RV Insurers

Who can you go to for RV-specific insurance? The following companies will give you a free quote online:

You will appreciate going with a national company that has multiple locations when a moose has tangled with your trailer in the backwoods of Wyoming, or anywhere parts and service may be hard to find.

You can compare quotes on sites such as Consumer’s Advocate. But beware, not all of the companies they are comparing are RV-only insurers. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples in terms of the coverage you are getting.

Price is the first thing that narrows down your choices, but service is a consideration. Will they pay for you to take your RV to the nearest shop when it breaks down in the boondocks? Is there a 24/7 helpline for emergencies?

Lastly, don’t ignore the value of online reviews. Make your top two or three picks, and check the company reviews before deciding who will get your business.

Five Best Places to Live Well on Social Security Alone – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Five Best Places to Live Well on Social Security Alone – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Retirees can find quality of life on a fixed income by relocating outside the United States.

Monday, October 2, 2017


Five Best Places to Live Well on Social Security Alone
Retirees can find quality of life on a fixed income by relocating outside the United States.

Prices in the U.S. seem to be going up faster than your monthly check can cover them. Groceries, gas and insurance all take a big chunk out of your budget. You’ve watched the taxes on your home soar in the last few years.

There are places overseas where your social security check will cover restaurant meals as well as rent. Places where you can dig your toes into powder-white sand, or view mountains from a colonial-era town. Places where you get dirt-cheap health care and a gorgeous climate all year. Places where your costs are as low as $1,000 a month.

If you can’t bear the thought of being so far from loved ones, factor in a couple of trips home every year. In this global age, you’re never far from an airport. Or decide to take it six months at a time, renting a place to live and re-evaluating as you go. You can even rent out your house while you’re gone for some extra income, and assurance that you can return to your old life.

We’ve found five communities where retirees can live especially well and cheaply. Four of them are in the Americas, and one is Asia’s best bet for retirees. All offer outstanding bang for your buck. Each one is paired with the approximate cost for two people. Yes, there will be money left over for those trips home!

How Safe is Living Abroad?

Safety is another important concern. None of the areas is on the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Alerts list, although some parts of Mexico are quite dangerous and include travel warnings due to cartel activity. The Global Peace Index attempts to measure a nation’s peacefulness. It ranks 163 nations from first to last. Here is where the following countries stand, including the U.S. for reference:

  • Malaysia: 29
  • Panama: 49
  • Ecuador: 66
  • Nicaragua: 74
  • United States: 114
  • Mexico: 142

Another safety concern is especially pertinent to Americans who have just watched multiple hurricanes slam the country. Inland is always safer from hurricanes, but if you prefer to live on the coast, you might try Panama, which has had only a single hurricane, in 1969. Ecuador doesn’t get hurricanes, but El Nino causes intense weather patterns that generate rain and floods on the coast. Only two hurricanes have made landfall in Nicaragua, and the Yucatan in Mexico does occasionally get hit, though less often than the same coast to the north. Finally, Malaysia officially has typhoons instead of hurricanes. Penang is vulnerable to flash flooding, wind and storms. It has also been hit with a tsunami after an earthquake in the ocean.

Taxes on Income Earned Outside of the States

What if you earn money while living abroad? The IRS has a very long arm. But you may be able to avoid paying taxes. Here’s a quote from their site, and a link for more information:

“If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude from income up to an amount of your foreign earnings that is adjusted annually for inflation ($100,800 for 2015). In addition, you can exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts.”

Without further ado, here are our top picks for living abroad on a fixed income:

What About Medicare if I Retire Abroad?

Local health care varies, but many expats find it more than adequate for most of their needs. Larger cities often provide outstanding care for a full range of issues. But if you’re more comfortable getting treated in the States, make sure you understand how to manage your Medicare benefits.

You should enroll in Medicare when you are eligible, whether you are living in the U.S. or abroad. If you qualify to collect Social Security benefits, or if you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident who has lived in the United States continuously for five years, you can get Medicare benefits. However, Medicare typically doesn’t cover medical care you receive outside of the U.S.

Most people don’t pay any premium for Part A coverage for inpatient hospital services. Usually, you should keep Part A, even if you’ll be living abroad, since it’s free.

Part B coverage for physician visits and outpatient care requires you to pay a premium. You’ll likely need to pay the premium if you plan to move back to the U.S. or come back frequently or for extended visits. If you continue to pay Part B premiums, Medicare will cover you any time you step on U.S. soil.

If you decide to quit paying for Part B, it’s at your peril. If you return to the U.S., you may have to wait until the General Enrollment Period (January 1 through March 31) to enroll, and even then, coverage won’t kick in until July 1. You could also confront lifelong premium penalties that will increase the cost of Part B as long as you live.

Some sites tell you to stop paying for optional Medicare Advantage and Part D (prescription drug coverage) when you move overseas. To qualify for either, you technically must live in that plan’s service area. But there is a workaround if you plan your visits to the States in advance. You can qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP) for Part D each time you move into a plan’s service area. About a month before your return, call your Part D plan and say you are moving back to the U.S. and you need to use your SEP to re-enroll in the plan because you are moving back to its service area.

You may be able to obtain a zero-dollar Medicare Advantage plan that won’t charge you a monthly premium. Be aware that it may require a higher deductible, more expensive copays, and less prescription drug coverage when you need to actually use it.

Every situation is slightly different. Be prepared to enroll in Medicare as soon as you are eligible, even if you live abroad. Have a plan for medical coverage if you plan to return to the United States. Check out your options if you plan to settle in a foreign country permanently.

Finally, check with Medicare regarding your particular situation. You can contact Social Security or the United States Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence before you make any final decisions.

$1,000 a Month
Santa Fe de Veraguas, Panama

Rolling green hills snuggle next to cool mountains in this small community of just over 3,000 people located two hundred miles west of Panama City. You can sit on your veranda and sip coffee that was grown locally, watching for monkeys and toucans in the trees above you.

Local industries harken back centuries to a slower pace of life. Master craftsmen make Mejoranas, Spanish guitars that you can buy for under $100 to strum as evening falls. Or visit local gardens to view more than 300 orchid varieties. The exotic flowers merit their own festival each August.

Santa Fe National Park features 270 square miles of hiking trails in pristine rainforest that you can explore with a guide or on horseback. Rent an inner tube for $5 and float down the Rio Bulaba. Or meander along the many streams and rivers punctuated by waterfalls and birds chattering in the canopy above.

Home rental starts at $400 a month. A mere $6 will get you a bag of fruit and vegetables, plus a pair of chicken breasts for dinner. The local internet café charges 60 cents per hour, and your monthly water bill rarely climbs above $3. Cleaning people or local builders run about $15 per day.

You won’t find a big expatriate community in Santa Fe, but you will find friendly locals. Bill and Mitzi Martain have been residents for years.

“We chose to be here primarily because of the people,” says Mitzi. “Panamanian people are so wonderful, and will do anything and everything to help you out when they see you’re trying to adapt and find your way. We respect and admire them, and we try to earn their respect and admiration, too.”

Plus, a pensionado visa will grant you discounts on meals (15%-25%), hotels (30%-50%), medical check-ups (20%), and prescriptions (15%-20%) … as well as many other benefits.

$1,000 a Month
Granada and San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Nicaragua has arguably the lowest cost of living in Central America. There are many gorgeous locales where a retiree could afford to settle down, including the historic colonial city of Granada and the seaside village of San Juan del Sur.

No matter where you go in Nicaragua, you’re bound to be healthier. The government bans genetically modified food (GMOs), nor does it allow animals, fruits or vegetables injected with hormones, antibiotics or “plumping” chemicals. Communities are built for walking, with town squares and local proprietors. Traffic is scarce, although you may have to wait when the local herd of cows crosses the road.

Granada

The historical colonial town of Granada has a population of just over 150,000 and sits on Lake Colcibolca, the 19th-largest lake in the world. Anchored by the famous yellow church in the city center, the town has a quaint vibe backed by views of the nearby Mombacho Volcano. Tourists flock to the stalls featuring local Nicaraguan handicrafts, clothing, and jewelry; horses pull buggies down the streets; and children play in the central park.

Take a boat ride around the lake’s tiny islands, stopping off at one for lunch. Try the zip-line at the volcano, or go for a swim in the warm volcanic waters of Laguna de Apoyo, 20 minutes outside of town. Art galleries and concerts are easy to find.

In the evening, choose among dozens of outdoor restaurants where you can enjoy two-for-one $2.50 mojitos, eat barbecued ribs and watch break-dancers, or listen to wandering mariachis. The large expat community makes it easy to find food from back home, and connect with new friends who speak English.

Donna Tabor, a single retiree who has lived in Granada since 1996, loves Granada’s amenities and its low cost. She owns her home not far from the lake, and says her monthly expenses rarely top $1,000, including gas and maintenance for her old truck.

San Juan del Sur

If you prefer to fall asleep to the sound of waves licking the shore, check out San Juan del Sur, cradled in a perfect crescent bay with golden sands near the border of Costa Rica.

The culture and the sense of community here, says Renda Hewitt, who retired to San Juan del Sur with her husband, Ralph, in 2003, reminds her of what it was like growing up in rural Texas back in the 1940s. Children are taught to be respectful and well mannered, she says, and they don’t have to worry about their safety, because everyone in town is looking out for one another.

Her husband values the temperate climate. Temperatures stay within a narrow range near 90 degrees year round, cooled by an easterly breeze.

The couple put their monthly expenses at about $1,000, including visits to restaurants, weekly shopping trips to the nearby town of Rivas, monthly shopping trips to Managua with hotel stays and dinners out, groceries and gas.

“Our monthly expenses are just $1,000…a thousand dollars,” says Ralph, for emphasis. “We actually have money left over each month from our Social Security … so every October we take a cruise.”

$1,400 a Month
Campeche, Mexico

Sitting on the Gulf of Mexico, this World Heritage city is quickly becoming a mecca for American retirees in search of an affordable beach destination. One of the safest cities in Mexico, Campeche features Spanish-colonial architecture with candy-colored facades.

A population of 300,000 ensures plenty of amenities, while the eight-block city center is walkable for nearly anyone. The three-mile boardwalk beside the ocean is augmented with running and cycling paths, small parks and workout equipment. In fact, if you live in one of three historic neighborhoods nearby, you can get by without a car.

The highway from Campeche to Merida has been widened to four lanes, reducing the driving time to an hour and a half. Campeche itself has a range of big box stores familiar to Americans. Sam’s Club and Walmart compete with a more traditional market just outside the historic center. Traffic within the center is limited, replaced by promenades decorated with sculptures and outdoor cafes.

Daily expenses are low. A week’s worth of fruits and vegetables at the market goes for as little as $8. Pop in for a sandwich or taco from a small lunch stand for $2 to $3. Or go all-out with a seafood plate at a sit-down restaurant for $12 or $15.

A small house will set you back $400 a month, while a more modern home with two or three bedrooms runs $500 and up, unfurnished. The same sort of home will sell for $150,000 or more.

“The weather is good, the people are friendly, and there are fresher fruits and vegetables year-round here than you get back home,” says expat Daniel Record, of life in Campeche.

$1,500 a Month
Vilcabamba, Ecuador

Clean air and constant sunshine are abundant in this lush valley in the southern Andes of Ecuador, and so is fresh, organic food. Vilcabamba reportedly has one of the four healthiest populations on earth.

Many residents live to be 100 years old or more. The stress-free living, ideal climate and clean water contribute to longevity. Near the equator at 5,000 feet above sea level, temperatures average between 65 and 81 degrees all year long.

While it is not a simple task to get to Vilcabamba, about 150 foreigners live there full time, and another 100 or so make it their residence for part of the year.

Renting a furnished two-bedroom home in Vilcabamba runs about $375, with another $155 for utilities. Weekly maid service is $15, and groceries for a month will set you back $400 for two. In addition, expect to spend about $140 for your car, $75 for personal items and $200 to dine out six times, and your monthly bill is still under $1,500. National health care is only an additional $80 for both of you.

Patrick Robinson moved to Vilcabamba after 30 years of living on Maui, Hawaii. He did it alone, at age 80, without speaking a word of Spanish.

After traveling for four years in search of his own retirement paradise, he settled on Vilcabamba as an entrepreneurial haven, with low taxes and cost of living, and a “healthy environment that would nurture mind, body, and soul,” Robinson says.

$2,000 a Month
George Town, Malaysia

A lively, modern restaurant scene blends with old-town charm in George Town, the capitol of Penang, Malaysia. A Unesco-listed city founded in 1786, buildings mostly date from the 1800’s and provide the main attraction for visitors. When tourists tire of the busy city, they can relax on deserted white-sand beaches and lush jungle trails, all for an affordable price.

Art and music events abound. Street culture is anchored in local religious festivals, and a new performing arts center anchors the Straits Quay Marina. An entire month is devoted to performances at the George Town Festival, while music is on stage at the Penang World Music Festival.

Take home a bag of fresh fruits such as mangoes, bananas, apples, pineapples and oranges for $6. For $900 a month, you can live in a spacious, four-bedroom apartment with a swimming pool and gym facilities. Go ahead and add a weekly maid for $14 a visit.

Internet is $30 monthly, and a premium cable TV package will bring you HBO, CNN, BBC and numerous sports and movie channels for another $40. Dinning out is particularly inexpensive. Residents swear you can pick any cuisine and eat out every night, all without going over a $2,000 monthly limit.

Six world-class hospitals sit within George Town, where all the medical staff speak perfect English. Need to see a specialist? No appointment is needed, and it may cost as little as $12.

Proven Best Way to Decrease Your Risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

Proven Best Way to Decrease Your Risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

The most recent comprehensive research analysis from hundreds of studies finds three practices may reduce cognitive decline.

Proven Best Way to Decrease Your Risk for Alzheimer’s and Dementia

 

The most recent comprehensive research analysis from hundreds of studies finds three practices may reduce cognitive decline.

Strong evidence that anything prevents Alzheimer’s disease is lacking, but a few changes can likely delay memory loss, according to a 2017 review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Specific memory training, consistent exercise and controlling high blood pressure offer the best hope, the committee concluded. Members examined the best research on ways to limit or prevent cognitive impairment, the loss of ability to think clearly and make decisions, that often afflicts older adults.

The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is more than 5 million, and growing as the overall population ages. Treatments such as Aricept (donezepil) and Namenda boost working brain cells with unaffected neurons, but there is no cure.

Commercial Products Are Not Effective

There is no evidence that the profusion of online and commercial products, from supplements to memory games, slow or prevent the decline, according to experts.

Can Lumosity Prevent or Slow Mental Decline?

Many people play computer brain games such as Lumosity, hoping to avoid cognitive decline. A recent study analysis (see main article) indicates brain games may slow the advance of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“We’re very concerned about the brain game industry taking this and running with it, and saying the National Academy of Science has shown that cognitive training is going to forestall cognitive decline, and we have our brain game here,” said Dr. Ronald Petersen, an Alzheimer’s expert at the Mayo Clinic and member of the review committee.

Lumosity was fined several million dollars last year for claiming that their “games can help users perform better at work and in school, and reduce or delay cognitive impairment associated with age and other serious health conditions.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Lumosity didn’t have data to support its ads.

“Lumosity preyed on consumers’ fears about age-related cognitive decline, suggesting their games could stave off memory loss, dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease,” said Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Jessica Rich.

A new study published by the Journal of Neuroscience has more bad news for the company. It found “no effect of commercial cognitive training on neural activity during decision-making.”

What subjects did get better at, whether using Lumosity or standard online video games, was the specific game they were playing. The study found no evidence that this task-specific improvement would transfer to other cognitive tasks.

“At present, there are no pharmacologic or lifestyle interventions that will prevent mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Ronald Petersen, an Alzheimer’s expert at the Mayo Clinic, who was on the committee.

“All this is not new, but this review is the strongest evidence base we have,” Petersen added.

“We have all been exposed to a study here, a study there. One suggests this intervention is beneficial, the other finds it’s not. This review looked at the totality of literature over the last six years and put it to the most rigorous test you can imagine.”

Cognitive Training, Exercise and Blood Pressure Control

“Even though clinical trials have not conclusively supported the three interventions discussed in our report, the evidence is strong enough to suggest the public should at least have access to these results to help inform their decisions about how they can invest their time and resources to maintain brain health with aging,” said Dr. Alan Leshner, chair of the committee and CEO emeritus of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“The strongest evidence was in the area of cognitive training,” Petersen said.

Do crossword puzzles or Sudoku qualify? They won’t hurt, but studies show gains from specialized training called mnemonic strategies.

Mnemonic memory programs include face-name recognition and name-face learning, number mnemonics, story mnemonics, and the method of loci, where key details are kept along a familiar route or place you recall.

Additionally, training programs often entail instruction on how to take advantage of environmental supports, called external memory aids.

“Can you, in fact, find a new way to try to remember a list of grocery items?” Peterson asked. Also, try figuring out restaurant tips in your head, he advised, instead of using a calculator or your smartphone.

Commercial products have not proven they help, Petersen cautioned. See sidebar for information about common commercial brain games.

Exercise Helps Your Aging Brain

Several studies indicate that exercise is important.

“Here we’re talking about modest aerobic exercise,” Petersen said. Brisk walking and cycling are good choices.

“How much? Maybe 150 minutes a week—30 minutes five times, 50 minutes three times—can have an effect on reducing cognitive impairment later in life,” Petersen said.

A preponderance of documentation demonstrates the health benefits of physical activity. Some of these benefits, such as stroke prevention, are causally related to brain health.

“Is it going to prevent Alzheimer’s disease?” asked Peterson. “I can’t say that. But I think it may have an effect on reducing cognitive impairment.”

Control Blood Pressure to Help Brain Function

Managing hypertension by controlling blood pressure seems to delay vascular dementia, according to the committee. High blood pressure damages delicate blood vessels in the brain.

Controlling blood pressure is particularly important during midlife, from ages 35 to 65. There is also strong evidence that using antihypertensive medications and making lifestyle changes to manage blood pressure can help prevent stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions

None of the evidence is strong enough to justify a public education campaign, the committee of experts found. But it did point to the need for more and larger randomized, controlled research.

“We’re all urgently seeking ways to prevent dementia and cognitive decline with age,” said Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging.

We have the diagnosis, now what? a post title Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers

We have the diagnosis, now what? a post title Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregiverswww.OptimumSeniorCare.com

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be an overwhelming one. It is a disease that not only affects those with the disease but the entire family, who often struggle with what to do next. This diagnosis is unique – there is no way to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s, and this fact can be daunting. Alzheimer’s disease often presents an uncertain and even confusing future for all those involved.

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be an overwhelming one. It is a disease that not only affects those with the disease, but the entire family, who often struggle with what to do next. This diagnosis is unique – there is no way to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s, and this fact can be daunting. Alzheimer’s disease often presents an uncertain and even confusing future for all those involved.

Start with the Alzheimer’s Association®
Contacting the Association’s free 24/7 Helpline after receiving your diagnosis provides you with different resources for each of your specific needs. The Helpline is answered 24/7 by master-level social workers or counselors who are trained to get to the heart of your concerns and ensure you have the support and information to help with whatever you are going through. This service is available throughout your diagnosis so you can call as things progress and change. You do not need a diagnosis or a specific question to call – we are always here to help.

In addition to our Helpline, the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter offers Care Navigation, a 90-minute one-on-one session, which focuses on your specific needs and concerns. Together with loved ones, you will develop an action plan which includes resource referral to ensure you make the connections needed to develop your allies. Care Navigation can be provided in one of our regional offices or over the phone.

Follow-up visit, what to ask your physician?
The Alzheimer’s Association suggests a diagnosis be confirmed by a neurologist or diagnostic center. A primary care physician will know you and how you have changed over the years but may not be specifically well-versed in Alzheimer’s disease. Be sure to write down questions as you think of them and keep a notebook or journal as it is helpful to focus concerns in one place.

What might those questions be? Here are some possibilities about the diagnosis:

  1. How did you determine the diagnosis?
  2. What are you measuring?
  3. Could the tests be wrong?
  4. Could my symptoms be related to another disease?
  5. What makes it Alzheimer’s disease?

You may want to know more about the disease itself.

  1. How will the disease progress?
  2. What can I expect in the next six months, year or two years?
  3. How will Alzheimer’s affect my daily living?
  4. Will Alzheimer’s disease affect my physical health?

As the disease progresses and symptoms manifest, discussing options for mediating symptoms for comfort is important.

  1. What are my options – medication versus environment?
  2. What are the risks and benefits of those options?
  3. How will I know if a medication is working for me?
  4. If a side effect becomes noticeable, what are my options?
  5. How will these medications interfere with other medications I already take?

We also suggest that your healthcare team has a strong knowledge-base of and experience with the disease, so they can better understand your specific needs.

Your number one ally is YOU
As you learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, you will see that you and your loved ones must advocate for your future. While many things will be out of your control, there is some planning that can ease your anxiety and provide loved ones with a peace of mind. Advanced planning for financial and legal matters allows the wishes of the person recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease to be heard. Having power of attorney for property and healthcare along with a will are the minimum advanced planning documents to put in place. The requirements, forms and processes vary from state to state, so working with an elder law attorney or geriatric care manager may make this process less overwhelming. These professionals are versed in issues specifically related to older adults and can guide you through the decision-making process of advanced planning. If in place, legal documents of your wishes should be communicated to your loved ones and medical team.

If you need referrals and information about elder law attorneys, geriatric care managers, diagnostic centers, support groups, etc., please call the helpline number 800.272.3900 at any time to get support and help you need during this overwhelming time.

The Alzheimer’s Association Free 24/7 Helpline provides reliable information and support to all those who need assistance. For more information please call us at our toll-free number, anytime day or night, at 800.272.3900 or contact Melissa Tucker, Director of Helpline & Support Services at the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, at mtucker@alz.org or 847.324.0367.

Support – Education – Resources
The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter can help you through.
Helping You!