In caring for those with dementia, we were taught that dementia (according to the Mayo Clinic) is an umbrella term for a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities. It is not a specific disease, but rather several different diseases encapsulated under the term of dementia. What is PCA? In our agency’s work as dementia specialists, we recently came across a rare and little known form of dementia called Posterior Cortical [...]
Dementia: The Reality When someone is diagnosed with dementia, people might assume that life will stop for that individual. However, dementia is a chronic condition that can be managed based on its stage and our own understanding of the disease. Confusion is likely to increase as dementia progresses. Those living with dementia begin to rely on what is most familiar to them in an effort to feel safe. Confusion can trigger a [...]
Understanding Dementia Dementia is often misconceived as a specific disease when, in reality, it is the universal term used for impaired thinking, memory, decision-making, and everyday activities overall. About 50 million individuals around the globe suffer from the effects of dementia-related diseases, and almost 10 million people are diagnosed every year. The most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease (60-70% of all dementia cases), vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and dementia with Lewy [...]
Understanding Halloween and Dementia: Importance of Extra Care It is important to pay extra attention to those living with dementia, especially during the holidays when their normal lifestyle may be disrupted. If changes are noticed, try identifying the items or situations that you feel could be the issue and remove them. Some examples of changes in behavior would include sleep changes, anxiety, agitation, wandering (as this can be a sign they are [...]
Home To Stay is excited to announce that our proprietary training program (AlzBetter) that we utilize to train all of our aides and family members has had its curriculum reviewed and approved by the Alzheimer's Association. The AlzBetter system is one of four training programs that the Alzheimer's Association reviewed and approved nationally for training of others outside of their own organization. Home To Stay is grateful to the Alzheimer's Association for [...]
Let’s begin with a reality check - and the unfortunate truth for many of those living with dementia - the majority of care is typically done by non-professional caregivers such as family and friends. This, along with the overwhelming complexity of the disease, can cause worry and anxiety for whoever is responsible. Dementia Care: A labor of love. A unique challenge. Far too often, we see that caring for someone with dementia is [...]
Home to Stay would like to share this informational article written by Gary Skole, founder of AlzBetter, on May 12, 2020. We are proud to be an exclusive South Jersey partner of AlzBetter. Can small steps produce big results in dementia care? Let’s begin with a reality check: for many of those living with dementia, the bulk of the care and attention has traditionally been delivered by informal caregivers such as families [...]
A New Alzheimer’s Drug Offers Hope A company called Biogen has been conducting trials on a new drug that they believe holds promise for helping those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. This tragic condition affects millions of elderly Americans, and the number afflicted is only expected to go up over the years as the median age of our population continues to rise. Conflicting Data Biogen had conducted a couple of studies on [...]
Delaying or Avoiding Dementia Is Just One More Reason to Exercise Does better fitness delay dementia? The incidence of dementia is only expected to increase when looking a couple of decades into the future as the average age of Americans keeps going up. There is no drug or other treatment for dementia, which makes prevention extremely important. Medical researchers have discovered a link between fitness and dementia prevention that holds great promise. While [...]
Medical research is constantly pushing the frontiers of medicine in areas such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and the treatment of Alzheimer's. Another area of interest is the study of Alzheimer's disease. There are nearly six million Americans with this form of dementia, and the numbers are only expected to go up as people live longer unless successful medical interventions are discovered. An Alzheimer's Breakthrough? Researchers at the University of Alberta have [...]
