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Ending Alzheimer’s disease is a global effort – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Ending Alzheimer’s disease is a global effort – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Optimum Senior Care Blog

The impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementias on individuals, families and health care systems is devastating and will only grow with the aging of the population. Alzheimer’s Association Chief Science Officer Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., writes that no person or place is immune to Alzheimer’s — and the disease demands a global solution.

It Takes Us All: Ending Alzheimer’s Is a Global Effort

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December 13, 2018

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In my 14 years traveling to more than 25 countries with the Alzheimer’s Association, one thing has been made abundantly clear to me: no person or place is immune to Alzheimer’s disease.
The impact Alzheimer’s and other dementias have on individuals, families and health care systems is devastating, and will only grow with the aging of the population. The differing ways that Alzheimer’s is perceived and experienced by cultures and communities around the globe adds another complicating layer to the disease that demands our attention and understanding. Solving Alzheimer’s disease is the biggest challenge medical science faces this century.
There is widespread recognition that the unique cultural, demographic, and economic characteristics of individual countries demand country- and culturally-specific plans to address the burden of the disease and gaps in research. By more broadly sharing locally-conducted research and statistics, the international research community can better collaborate and find commonalities.

In addition to conducting our own research, the Alzheimer’s Association is committed to supporting global research initiatives through convening, funding and advocating on behalf of the international research community. We are dedicated to identifying ways the global Alzheimer’s research community can collaborate across international borders toward the mutual goal of finding better treatments, preventions and eventually a cure.

Recognizing the need to create more opportunities to assemble the international research community, and ensure that early career researchers around the world have opportunities to learn from and present their research to global leading researchers, the first annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) was convened in 2000. The conference has since expanded to include smaller symposia, starting with Mexico City in December 2015, which bring together researchers and policy experts from 14 countries across the Americas and Spain.
Since then, we’ve held similar symposia in Varna, Bulgaria, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Through collaboration with the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), the symposium in Buenos Aires brought together a diverse network of more than 300 Latin American researchers, clinicians, policy makers, and scholars, along with colleagues from Spain and other European countries, the U.S., and Australia. The meeting was also an opportunity to convene South American families affected by a rare inherited form of Alzheimer’s who are part of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN).
On December 18 and 19, Bengaluru, India will host the Alzheimer’s Association’s fourth AAIC Satellite Symposium. Much like the U.S., India’s population has a high prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. An estimated 4.4 million individuals in India are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Only ten percent of those individuals have been diagnosed. That number is anticipated to grow rapidly to 14.3 million people by 2030.
This conference aims to share the latest in dementia research with scientists in India and across Asia, while showcasing the important research being conducted locally, such as examining the relationship between yoga, meditation and brain health. The Alzheimer’s Association has partnered with two leading local groups — the India Institute of Science’s Brain Research Centre and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences. We are deeply grateful for their efforts.
The crucial work of encouraging data sharing and collaboration doesn’t stop there. In 2019, the Alzheimer’s Association will again collaborate with GBHI and researchers in South America to bring an AAIC Satellite Symposium to Brazil.
Alzheimer’s is a global problem, and it demands a global solution. Through these Satellite Symposia, the great work of the global research community and other international collaborative efforts, we continue to move closer to discovering methods of treatment and prevention, and ultimately, a cure.
About the author: As chief science officer, Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., sets the strategic vision for the Alzheimer’s Association global research program. Under her leadership, the Association is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research.
Related articles:
Research
Brain Health

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Ask a Care Consultant: Holidays and dementia – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Ask a Care Consultant: Holidays and dementia – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Optimum Senior Care Blog

Holiday celebrations are often joyous occasions, but they can also be challenging and stressful. The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter tells caregivers and families that with some planning and adjusted expectations, the holidays can still be happy and memorable occasions for everyone.

Ask a Care Consultant: Holidays and dementia

The holidays can be a challenging time for families coping with dementia. Planning ahead and knowing what to expect can make this time less stressful. It’s also important to adjust your expectations—don’t try to put too much on yourself or on the person with dementia.

Planning ahead
Communication is key here. If you have people coming in from out of town you may need to clearly communicate with them regarding your caregiving situation, and what the person with dementia is and is not capable of. In the early stages of dementia, your loved one may seem to not have changed very much, but may have trouble with large groups or following a conversation. Telling visitors ahead of time that they can help by being patient, and not interrupting or correcting the person with dementia, will help prevent frustration and hurt feelings.

If the person with dementia is in the later or middle stages, there may be significant changes since the last time the visitors saw him or her. These changes can be difficult to accept, and it can be helpful to prepare the visitors in advance so that they know what to expect. For example, if the person with dementia might not recognize them it can be less hurtful if they understand in advance that this is a part of the disease process.

Don’t take on too much
Holidays can be stressful even without the added responsibility of being a caregiver. Do not be afraid of scaling back your celebration, and delegate, delegate, delegate. Clear communication is key here, as well. Consider scheduling a conference call with other family members to divide up responsibilities, and to set appropriate boundaries on what you can and cannot do. Consider scaling back to a smaller celebration to avoid overwhelming yourself and the person with dementia.

Focus on meaning
Look for ways to involve your loved one in meaningful activities that they can enjoy. Singing along with holiday songs can allow people even in the later stages to connect and feel part of the holiday. Looking through photo albums of past holidays and reminiscing with your loved one can be a soothing and meaningful way to spend time together. Perhaps they can help set the table or tie the ribbons on the gifts. Look for ways that your loved one can be a part of the celebration by scaling down activities to a level that is manageable for them.

Celebrating in a facility
When a family member is in a residential facility, people often want to know if it is a good idea to bring them home for the holidays. Consider carefully if this is wise for you and for the person with dementia. Sometimes changes in routine can be upsetting for the person with dementia, and they may not do well in a crowd of noisy people. Think about joining your loved one at the facility in their holiday celebration.

Take care of yourself
Be realistic about what you can and cannot do during this stressful time. Caregivers often feel guilty that they are not “doing enough” for the person with dementia and for their families. Holidays can make these feelings even harder to deal with when we have so many expectations about how things are supposed to be. Try to let go of these expectations, and give yourself some quiet time to grieve if you need to. As much as you can, focus on the moments of connection and happiness that you share with all your family members, and give yourself permission to not do it all.

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BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passes Congress – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passes Congress – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care

Posted on December 20, 2018 by Optimum Senior Care Blog

The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, the Association’s priority legislation, has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate and will soon be signed into law. Thank your members of Congress today for their support of this vital legislation that will combat the Alzheimer’s crisis and create a public health infrastructure to address the disease.

THANK CONGRESS FOR PASSING THE BOLD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALZHEIMER’S ACT

Alzheimer’s is an urgent public health crisis impacting our nation’s health care infrastructure. Investing in a nationwide public health response to this crisis will improve quality of life for those living with the disease and their caregivers, and reduce associated costs for individuals and the government. The Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (S. 2076/H.R. 4256) would combat this crisis and create an Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure to address Alzheimer’s.

Thank your members of Congress for passing this critical legislation.

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Under which roof? Residential placement vs. in-home care – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care – www.OptimumSeniorCare.com

Under which roof? Residential placement vs. in-home care – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Care

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Optimum Senior Care Blog

As the roles transition from care partner to care giver, we find that there is no way one person can do it all alone. However, not every situation calls for a placement in a residential facility. Join us for a live webinar on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. or 12 p.m. to learn about the different options and levels of in-home care that are available before a residential placement becomes necessary.

What Is A Webinar?

“Webinar” is short for “web-based seminar.”

The Alzheimer’s Association now offers these live, interactive programs conducted through the Internet. Participation is easy and is a great solution if you cannot easily attend a program in person. Instead, you attend via your computer, smart phone* or tablet*.

If you can open an email and click a link, you can join our webinars – it’s that easy!

We offer a variety of topics, professional speakers, and an opportunity to ask questions if you desire. Webinars are convenient and designed to meet the needs of busy caregivers and family members.

*With the Adobe Connect app installed on your mobile device. Available at Google Play & App Store.

Equipment You Need

You will need an internet connection AND a computer (PC or Mac) OR a mobile device with Adobe Connect app (Android or iOS).

How to Register & Join

Register online below by selecting the program(s) you are interested in. After registering, you will receive an email with a link to the webinar. On the day of the webinar, click on the link and launch the webinar.

Expert Speakers

Best-in-class experts who have extensive knowledge of the topic. All speakers are curated for their expertise.

Program Schedule

All Upcoming Programs

Dave Meyers
Care Partner

Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia

WED DEC 19, 2018

Alzheimer’s is not normal aging. It’s a disease of the brain that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, Alzheimer’s disease stages and risk factors, current research and treatments available to address some symptoms and Alzheimer’s Association resources.

REGISTER » 11 AM-12 PM CST / 12-1 PM EST

REGISTER » 1-2 PM CST / 2-3 PM EST

View Past Webinars

Melanie Perry, MS, CDP, CADDCT
Director of Memory Care Support Services

Under Which Roof? Residential Placement vs. In-Home Care » 12.04.18

As the roles transition from care partner to care giver, we find that there is no way one person can do it all alone. However, not every situation calls for a placement in a residential facility. Join this webinar to learn about the different options and levels of in-home care that are available before a residential placement becomes necessary. Read more »

PROGRAM NOTES

Rebecca Freiman, MA, MT-BC
Board Certified Music Therapist

The Art & Science of Music & Dementia » 11.29.18

Music has been shown to improve mood, behaviors and quality of life for people at all stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Log in to learn from a board certified music therapist about the science behind music therapy, and how you can employ music to help your loved one with dementia. Read more »

PROGRAM NOTES

Liana G. Apostolova, MD, MSc, FAAN
Alzheimer’s Researcher

Is it Time to See the Doctor? Alzheimer’s Symptoms vs. Normal Aging » 11.06.18

If you or someone you know is experiencing changes in memory and cognition, how can you tell if it’s normal aging or something more serious? Join us as we speak to a board certified physician to learn about the symptoms of dementia and the diagnostic process. Read more »

PROGRAM NOTES

Lee Moriarty, CTRS/BS
Healthcare Consultant, IL Pioneer Coalition

How to Choose the Best Residential Care for Your Loved One » 10.24.18

The move to a residential facility can be traumatic for all involved. Financial pressures, guilt, sadness and anxiety are all part of the process of transitioning to residential care. Learn how to select the best level of care for your situation. Once chosen, learn how to manage the process of choosing which option is best, from making the first phone call to making the most out of your first tour. Read more »

PROGRAM NOTES

Daryl Carlson
Mgr of Education & Outreach, Alzheimer’s Association IL Chapter

Sundowning, Sleeplessness & Alzheimer’s: How to Cope in the Evenings » 10.16.18

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease can not only have a tough time making it through the day, but the nights can be especially challenging. Day and night can become confused, and late afternoons can be difficult due to a variety of contributing factors. We will look at those factors and discuss effective strategies for dealing with late day confusion, lethargy and sleeplessness. Read more »

PROGRAM NOTES

Dr. Stephanie van Ulft
Medical Dir, Sr Behavioral Health Services, Decatur Memorial Hospital

Prescription Medications for Dementia: Pros, Cons & Watchouts » 9.26.18

Wed Dec 19, 2018 – Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia

What medications are currently available to treat Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias? Are the benefits worth the side effects? Learn from a physician how these medications are prescribed, how they work and what you can expect from them. Read more »

PROGRAM NOTES

Meet the Experts

Dave Meyers

Care Partner

Dave Meyers lives in Normal, Illinois where he cares for his wife, Cheryl, along with working a full time job. Six years ago the Myers family entered the Alzheimer’s family when Cheryl received her diagnosis. Read more »

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