Can someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s live in an assisted living facility (ALF)? According to most facilities: yes.
Alzheimers Care
Signs of Alzheimer’s Family May Miss
Monday, October 24th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, General Info
Alzheimer’s disease tends to begin gradually with unnoticeable signs, and then it progresses into symptoms that are easily recognized. The beginning stages, though, are where it gets tricky for family members. It is not uncommon for family members to miss some of these signs.
Stimulating Activities For Residents With Dementia
Monday, August 22nd, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Activities
Residents that are suffering from any type of dementia benefit from activities that stimulate the brain and body. When activities are instituted to improve the quality of life of residents with dementia, their overall health can be improved. Behavior that has been affected by the dementia or ‘acting out’ can be suppressed or even eliminated for some residents.
Even if someone is losing their memory, they can still enjoy many activities. It is not that difficult to find interesting things that anyone with dementia can enjoy. Think of simple, relaxing activities.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Monday, August 15th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Resident Care
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is most often portrayed as a disease of memory. Important dates are forgotten, names of friends and family, and eventually the people that a sufferer of this disease may have know their whole lives are erased from memory.
While the loss of memory is terrible, other symptoms affect the lives of those with AD. Alzheimer’s is a disease that steals not only the memory, but the quality of life from those it affects. Simple day to day activities become difficult or even impossible to perform.
Alternative Alzmeimer’s Treatments
Monday, August 8th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Life in Assisted Living
Some individuals choose to try alternative treaments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Below you will find a list of a few treatments.
Coenzyme Q10-
An anti-oxidant known that is manufactured by the body and is used to promote proper reactions in cells. It has been determined by some studies that Q10 does not have a prfound effect on Alzheimer’s, though some physicians do encourage their patients to use the supplement. Too much Q10 can be detrimental to the body and self treatment without the aid of a physician should not be undertaken.
Alzheimer’s And Environmental Links
Monday, July 25th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns
For years medical science has been researching the various elements that are suspected to play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). When science understands what causes a particular condition, that brings us closer to treatments for established cases of a disease and one step closer to preventing or curing the condition altogether.
Environmental elements are large players in the development of AD. Heredity poses a large portion of risk, but there have been many instance of Alzheimer’s in patients with no definite family history of the disease. For these diagnosed cases, there may have been an environmental link.
Non-Alzheimer’s Dementia Causes
Monday, July 11th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Resident Care
When dementia is mentioned in conversation, the first diagnosis that leaps to mind is Alzheimer’s. While Alzheimer’s disease is one of the top causes of dementia, it is not the only culprit. Dementia affects about one in seven Americans over 70. All memory loss is not dementia and unlike dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, some dementias can be reversed.
Dementia itself is not a disease. It is a symptom of an underlying condition. Different conditions can mimic the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Thorough testing of the stricken individual’s mental cognition and their ability to complete their activities of daily living (ADLs) can help pinpoint the underlying cause of dementia.
Current Alzheimer’s Treatments
Monday, July 4th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, General Info
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has a long list of medications that are prescribed. The type of medication depends on the severity of the disease at the time of examination.
Cholinesterase inhibitors-
These drugs are prescribed for individuals in the mild to moderate stages of AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors may help with certain behavioral issues and may help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease for a short time. All of the cholinesterase inhibitors work the same way, by helping the brain chemical acetylcholine avoid breakdown. As the disease progresses, these drugs may lose their ability to help reduce the signs and symptoms of AD.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Monday, June 6th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, General Info
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a type of dementia that at one time was very hard to distinguish from Alzheimer’s disease. Today, medical advances have made it possible to map and see images of the brain. Thanks to these advances, physicians can positively differentiate between Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal dementia without a postmortem exam.
FTD has an average onset age of 60. This is not a concrete number because some cases of FTD have been observed in patients as young as 21 years of age. Alzheimer’s disease is most commonly diagnosed at or after the age of 70.
Drinking Apple Juice May Decrease Alzheimer’s Behaviors
Friday, February 4th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, Life in Assisted Living
In 2006, experts at Johns Hopkins University estimated that over 26 million people globally were living with Alzheimer’s disease. They also projected that instances of Alzheimer’s disease would increase globally to more than 106 million cases by the year 2050.
Alzheimer’s History
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011, Alzheimers Care, General Info
Even in ancient history, seniors experienced signs of memory loss. It is well documented that in ancient medical texts that people in advanced age would exhibit some signs of dementia and the physicians of the day prescribed various treatments from diet to bloodletting. Today we no longer use bloodletting for such maladies, but diet has been useful ever since!
Early 1900s
In the early 1900’s, Dr. Alois Alzheimer identified certain structures in the brain of a deceased patient that had suffered from what we now would refer to as dementia. He found what medical science calls ‘tangles’ in the nerve structures. Thanks to his research and discovery, a definite diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is made when these tangles are found in the brain during a post-mortem autopsy. Of course, the name for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is that doctor’s legacy.
Assisted Living Communities With Skilled Nursing Options
Monday, December 6th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Assisted Living Locations, Life in Assisted Living
More and more assisted living facilities are seeing the importance of providing care to seniors who suffer not just from old age, but from Alzheimer’s or other forms of memory loss. Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart, an assisted living home in Toledo, Ohio, plans to add more nursing beds, as a result of a generous donation of 22 bed licenses, worth $330,000, from ProMedica Health System. This will bring the home’s total skilled nursing beds to 47.
Medication Advances: Ingredients Printed on Actual Pills
Friday, December 3rd, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Resident Care
For those charged with caring for seniors, one of the most difficult and most important jobs is ensuring that they get the appropriate medications at the right time. Because the elderly often suffer from a number of illnesses, they may take several different pills each day.
Proper Resident Indepedence in Assisted Care Settings
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
If you are among the many family members searching for an option for your loved one that will allow them to continue being independent–you may want to look very closely at the facility you are considering. All assisted living communities are not created equal in regards to independence.
Caring for Mental Health Needs in Assisted Living
Monday, November 1st, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Life in Assisted Living
A Scary Statistic
A recent study that examined elderly patients in long-term care institutions in Italy reported that the elderly in ALFs and skilled nursing homes are more likely to commit suicide than seniors who live in community-centered housing.
Can an Assisted Living Resident be Forced to Move Out?
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Assisted Living Locations, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Life in Assisted Living
There are situations where a resident can be forced to move out of their assisted living facility. Families are often caught by surprise when something like this occurs and are not sure where to turn for help.
Do You Need a Personal Caregiver in Assisted Living?
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
If you have a loved one in an assisted living facility, you know that the staff will help with certain daily tasks. However, there are limits as to what help and support assisted living employees can provide to residents. When seniors need additional care beyond what is offered by the facility, they often hire personal caregivers to pick up the slack.
The Importance of Quality Sleep for Assisted Living Residents
Friday, October 15th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society published the results of a study that studied the sleep habits of 121 people. All were residents of Assisted Living Facilities- residents of these facilities for two years or less.
Making Life Easier in Assisted Living: Adaptive Clothing
Wednesday, October 6th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
Adaptive Clothing
Regular clothes can be difficult to put on and take off for seniors in assisted living. Residents who struggle to lift their arms or bend at the waist may find it easier to get dressed with a wardrobe that is specially designed to help them avoid problems.
Alzheimer’s Developments Require More Funding, Time
Monday, September 13th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living
We don’t know. Scientific evidence is still lacking in an understanding of how Alzheimer’s disease develops, whether lifestyle choices can affect the progression of the debilitating illness or even whether or not professionally administered memory tests can predict its course.
Assisted Living and Sexuality
Monday, September 6th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
The move into an Assisted Living Facility need not mean the loss of a healthy love life. Leaps and bounds in medical science has improved the enjoyment of sexual activity for those beyond entry into life as a senior citizen. Attention to good diet and exercise has created a healthier older generation that can (and will!) continue dating and having sexual relations far beyond what was once considered ‘the norm’.
Steps You Can Take To Protect Loved Ones Who Wander
Monday, August 9th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Activities, Assisted Living Concerns, Resident Care
It’s a sad fact that because assisted living facilities are designed for transition periods, it’s possible for residents with deteriorating mental faculties to find their way away from their new home.
How Safe Is Assisted Living Staff?
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Life in Assisted Living, Resident Care
The majority of staff members at assisted living communities are friendly, professional, adequately trained and qualified. However, you should ALWAYS research the staff at assisted living communities you are considering.
Assisted Living News for July 2, 2010
Friday, July 2nd, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Locations, General Info
New Senior Housing in Minneapolis
Iowa Case Brings Alzheimer’s Disease Concerns Close to Home
Monday, May 24th, 2010, Alzheimers Care, Assisted Living Concerns, How to Select an Assisted Living Facility, Resident Care
They say that smell is the sense tied strongest to memory. If that’s the case, I’m shocked that my dad has the ability to remember as much as he is able to these days. Luckily, he was a musician before becoming an engineer, and for him music plays the role of triggering previous good times.
New Diagnosis Strategies for Alzheimers Means Numbers Could Triple
Sunday, January 10th, 2010 (updated December 27th, 2010), Alzheimers Care
Alzheimer’s is thought to begin years, perhaps even decades, before symptoms are noticeable. But there is no single, generally accepted way to identify the disease in its earliest stages – before symptoms are evident.
