'The Age of Alzheimer's'

We're heading to the latest caregiver Town Hall Forum this morning at the Ramada Inn in Clairemont Mesa, where we're going to try something new for us: live tweeting. You can find out what our medical and administrative experts have to say by following us at GlennerCenters on Twitter.

In the meantime, we also wanted to pass along a good read from today's New York Times, penned by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and two men experts in their fields. It sounds a familiar bell to those familiar with Alzheimer's growing impact on our population and underscores the need to act now.

Consider this passage:

If we could simply postpone the onset of Alzheimer’s disease by five years, a large share of nursing home beds in the United States would empty. And if we could eliminate it, as Jonas Salk wiped out polio with his vaccine, we would greatly expand the potential of all Americans to live long, healthy and productive lives — and save trillions of dollars doing it.

Experience has taught us that we cannot avoid Alzheimer’s disease by having regular medical checkups, by being involved in nourishing relationships or by going to the gym or filling in crossword puzzles. Ronald Reagan suffered the ravages of this disease for a decade despite the support of his loving family, the extraordinary stimulation of his work, his access to the best medical care and his high level of physical fitness. What’s needed are new medicines that attack the causes of the disease directly.

The article goes on to stress the need for a national agenda focused on Alzheimer's research and, ultimately, a cure. Be sure to read it, and also be sure to follow us at Twitter today.

Op-Ed Article: The Age of Alzheimer's (New York Times)

Free Forum on Health Care Reform

We know many of you have a lot of questions about how you and your family will be impacted by the new Health Care Reform that goes into full effect early next year. That's why The George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers is hosting a free 2.5-hour forum next month with experts in the field. Bob Prath with the AARP California Executive Council is the main speaker and will address parts of the new law that could impact you. We'll also hear from representatives of Genworth Financial on long-term care options and California Prudential Realty on the current real estate market, given many people still have much of their "wealth" tied up in their homes and other real estate assets.

We expect seats to fill quickly, so be sure to sign up by November 8 for this important event.


For a larger view, click on the image.

San Diego Memory Walk 2010

The Glenner G-Squad participated yesterday for the 20th annual Memory Walk put on by the Alzheimer's Association. Thousands turned out to support those with memory impairment diseases. Many carried memorial signs. Some carried their mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters, and brothers. All carried away great memories, maybe a few sore legs and smiles to spare.

We captured a little of what it was like that morning in a short video that we hope you like. Thanks again to the Alzheimer's Association, title sponsor Mission Federal Credit Union and all of the other sponsors and supporters of this amazing event.

Sundowner Syndrome

At a Glenner-sponsored Dementia Care Class in San Marcos, a group of caregivers discussed a common behavior, particularly among those with Alzheimer's disease: Sundowner Syndrome.

The syndrome is characterized by:

--Increased confusion and anxiety from mid-day to evening
--Increased tiredness
--Decreased ability to process information
--Inability to interpret the environment

Some other symptoms include:

--Rapid mood changes
--Anger
--Crying
--Agitation
--Pacing
--Fear
--Depression
--Stubbornness
--Restlessness
--Rocking

What's a caregiver to do? Caregivers in the class recommended music or soothing sounds like the ocean or birdsong to calm agitation. Sometimes, if the person is not in an angry state, a soothing touch or light massage will work. Some in the class recommended aromatherapy or pet therapy.

Know too that often there is a trigger and if you can find it, you may be able to stop or at least mitigate the behavior associated with sundowner syndrome. Importantly, if you cannot calm a loved one after repeated attempts, it may be they are in physical pain. Try to narrow the source of that pain by asking simple questions that can be answered with a yes or no, such as "Does your stomach hurt?"

Wandering also is characteristic of sundowner syndrome. They may seek an exit, pace constantly, go exploring or follow anyone and everyone around. Be sure to maintain a safe environment with safeguards -- such as door locks and ID bracelets. Know too that a little reassurement can go a long way.

Helping the Mind Move to Music

Music therapy plays a significant role at our George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers. Therapists use music to help dementia patients stimulate memories and develop a strong sense of self.

According to the magazine Aging Well, music stimulates feelings, emotions and sensations. It promotes memory recall; positive changes in moods and emotional states; a sense of control over life; non-pharmacological management of pain and discomfort; stimulation that promotes interest even when other approaches are ineffective; structure that promotes rhythmic and continuous movement or vocal fluency as an adjunct to physical rehabilitation; and opportunities to interact socially with others.

Last week the San Diego Master Chorale spent the morning entertaining our Hillcrest Center participants and staff with a great singalong to some of the most popular Broadway and radio tunes of the past. We grabbed our camera and created this two-minute video to show you a sample of the program. Enjoy.

'Alzheimer's is a Women's Issue'

California First Lady Maria Shriver is urging government officials and researchers -- and us -- to focus more time, money and energy on the needs of Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. "The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's" is a collaborative research effort with the Alzheimer's Association focused on the impact the disease has on women.

According to the report:

• 60 percent of Alzheimer's patients are women.


• 60 percent of Alzheimer's caregivers are women.

Alzheimer's experts praise the report for drawing attention to the challenges caregivers face.

"One of the most interesting things is that often, women actually don't even realize they need the support or that's it's acceptable to get support, because they're so used to caring for children and taking care of other responsibilities," said Mary Sano, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "This additional burden is taken on without even realizing it's going to have an impact on them and everything they do."

The report also calls for more affordable services for people with Alzheimer's to take some of the stress off caregivers and more programs designed to help caregivers deal with negative emotions. The Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers' adult day health care programs provide such an outlet for caregivers throughout San Diego County.

Article: Maria Shriver Takes on Alzheimer's Disease
Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's

The Scope of Coping with Alzheimer's

A news item widely circulated over the weekend reintroduces the need for new Alzheimer's guidelines to improve early diagnoses.

A Reuters article puts the impact of Alzheimer's into perspective:

Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a fatal brain disease in which people gradually lose their memories and their abilities to reason and care for themselves. It affects more than 26 million people globally and there is no cure.

A report last month said the worldwide costs of coping with dementia will reach $604 billion in 2010, more than one percent of global GDP output, and those costs will soar further as the number of sufferers triples by 2050.

Advocates want to see more money go into finding a cure for the disease as it claims more lives -- and families -- in the coming years due to an aging population. Said one U.S. Congresswoman: "For every dollar that the federal government spends today on the costs of Alzheimer's care, it invests less than a penny in research to find a cure. That simply does not make sense."

Article: New Alzheimer's guidelines aim for early diagnosis

When It's Twilight Time

One of the biggest concerns (and physical drains) of caregiving is sleep. Much like newborns and infants, elderly dementia patients can wake frequently in the middle of the night and prevent everyone in the house from getting a good night's sleep. This places a huge burden on their caregivers, who must also remain awake for their safety. Over time, the lack of sufficient sleep can greatly impact a caregiver's health.

There are ways to help simulate the natural environment that prompts someone to slumber. We've already mentioned in an earlier blog post that you should limit caffeine intake and make sure the person doesn't doze on and off during the day (at least for long stretches). Staying physically and mentally alert is key.

But when night falls, there are things you can do in your home to signal it's twilight time. Here are some suggestions from NaturalNews.com:

To create better sleep, a home needs to recreate natural twilight. To do this, the indoor lights need to be turned down or off at least a half hour to an hour before sleep. Cover windows so that ambient light from the street will not filter in. The darker your bedroom, the better. Filtering noise is also important. Do not watch television for an hour before bed. Any light will stimulate the pineal gland and upset the sleep rhythms. It is also advised to go to sleep at the same time each night, or within one hour of the same time, year round.

The more that a home is in synch with the natural levels of light outside, the better the conditions for sleep become. Stimulating an indoor twilight will help provide better sleep, preventing insomnia and other sleep disturbances.