El Cajon Vet's Case Focuses On Family Involvement

One of the bigger news stories to hit our San Diego region is the alleged abuse of a 93-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor by his caregiver, a woman who was arrested while wearing five layers of clothing stuffed with thousands of dollars. Police found both the man's El Cajon home and own physical condition in a state of filth.

Since Milagros Angeles' arrest, much has been written about elder abuse, which often includes theft, physical abuse and neglect. Mr. Bauer, who is believed to have dementia, apparently required assistance after his wife died a few years ago. His children, who at the time resided in the Los Angeles area, presumably were the ones who hired Ms. Angeles to provide in-home assistance for their father.

But it's now obvious that the son and daughter failed to do due diligence. In fact, as of this weekend, no one had been able to locate the daughter, who has power of attorney. Perhaps if the man's grown children had been more involved in his care (or even his life), they would have discovered something was amiss much earlier. From neighbors' accounts, the caregiver took measures to prevent outside contact. And yet it wasn't neighbors or family who contacted police about suspected elder abuse -- it was someone at Mr. Bauer's bank.

Let's hope this case prompts more families to pay closer attention to their own situations involving in-home care for frail parents trying to age in place.

Article: Pearl Harbor Veteran's Case Shines Light on Elder Abuse

The New Nantz Alzheimer's Research Center

Yesterday we mentioned the impact a famous family has had on Alzheimer's awareness. Today, we wanted to highlight another media celebrity with a personal connection to the disease whose generosity is winning accolades from even his arch rivals.

Longtime CBS announcer Jim Nantz has opened The Nantz National Alzheimer's Research Center in Houston in honor of his father, who died of Alzheimer's complications in 2008. The new center will develop awareness and resources to not only battle Alzheimer's but other neurological trauma of all kinds. Here's what the folks at competitor NBC said of the broadcaster's contributions to the illness that continues to claim so many:

In the age where ultra, mega bazillionaires are giving away their money hand over fist, philanthropy on this scale can sometimes be lost in the fray. Jim Nantz does not have Zuckerberg-like wealth, but he does have enough to commit to a health cause which not only impacted his life, but is projected to impact millions more in the years to come.

Let us add our appreciation for Jim's efforts to help all who are or will struggle with memory-impairment illnesses.

Changing the Public's Perception

By now most of you know that yesterday R. Sargeant Shriver, 95, died of Alzheimer's Disease. He was best known for launching The Peace Corps, a public service organization founded by his brother-in-law by marriage, President John F. Kennedy.

So often public figures recede from the limelight once illness steps in, but the Shrivers allowed people to see a bit of their family's battle with Alzheimer's after their patriarch was diagnosed in 2003. In doing so, they helped remove the stigma attached to the memory-impairment disease and created greater awareness of its symptoms and prevalence. Maria Shriver in particular, because of her role as a media celebrity and former California First Lady, has been a strong advocate.

In today's Los Angeles Times (originally posted in The Baltimore Sun), University of Maryland Professor William Thomas notes that it was the family's approach to Alzheimer's that impacted our perception of people dying of the disease.

"Instead, he was a person living with Alzheimer's, and that's an absolutely crucial distinction," Thomas said. "What the Shrivers were about were sort of normalizing this disease. It is important for people of stature, like the Shrivers, to step into the light and to be seen and to tell their story, because so many other people feel like they can't do that."

Thomas calls Alzheimer's a "silent epidemic." The number of people with the disease is growing, but they are often an invisible group, living many times in nursing homes, away from society at large.

You can read the full article here.

The Importance of Structure and Routine

We're once again part of a free Town Hall Forum for caregivers of those with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease, later this month. The deadline to enroll a loved one in free day care during the forum in San Marcos is approaching, so we wanted to highlight details of the informative session for both personal and professional caregivers.

"Stimulation, Structure & Routine: How to Create Successful Caregiving Strategies at Home"

Thursday, January 27, 2011
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Breakfast included)

Lake San Marcos Resort Conference Center
1025 La Bonita Drive
San Marcos, CA 92078

Join us as we spend the morning with medical experts from the ActivCare® and The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers medical advisory boards. Learn how to empower and protect yourself and your loved one. Topics for discussion include:

•The importance of structure and routine in the life of your loved one with Alzheimer's Disease
•Changes in behaviors and triggers to avoid
•Meaningful and stimulating activities for the different stages of Alzheimer's Disease
•The Adult Day Care Model -- why it works so well

Panelists include:

•Dr. Alan Berkowitz - Psychiatrist specializing in Geriatric Medicine
•Dr. Neil Levine - Internist
•Norma Brownell, LVN - ActivCare® Executive Director
•Dawn Carnerie-DeStefani - BSW, Glenner Adult Day Care Center Manager/Social Worker

To R.S.V.P., please call Health Care Group at (858) 565-4424.

Free adult day care during the event will be offered at The George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers. Reservations are required at least one week prior to the event. Please call our Encinitas Center at (760) 635-1895.

*This course meets the qualifications for three hours of continuing education credits for MFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (#PCE 646) and three hours of continuing education credits as required by the Board of Registered Nursing (CEP 9035).

Why Losing is So Big

Our George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers staff today launched a new edition of our own "Biggest Loser" competition to promote healthy weight loss within our workforce. This is our sixth round of the program modeled after the popular television show, and it includes our largest number of participants to date.

Organized by our human resources department, this friendly competition provides weekly challenges, nutrition and fitness resources, encouraging emails and Friday morning weigh-ins. The winner is the person who loses the largest percentage of weight, which provides a fair playing field for those who may not need nor wish to lose as many pounds as others. Thus far, a nurse named Tina in our Hillcrest Center is our reigning champ, having lost the most weight in all five previous competitions. She's both formidable and admirable.

Many caregivers also resolve to lose weight in order to maintain their own health so that they can continue to meet their loved ones' needs. The goal can be challenging for a number of reasons, from genetics to finances. No doubt many processed and prepared foods are more readily available (and less expensive) than fresh produce and dairy. Time to exercise at least 30 minutes most days may to tough to find.

Those with very limited means may be encouraged by the number of farmer's markets now accepting EBT ("food stamps") transactions. And more consumers in low- and middle-income areas are demanding better produce from their local grocers. For those at the other spectrum, a growing industry will prepare and often deliver fresh meals for you. When it comes to exercise, it can be fun for you and your loved one to go for walks or work out to exercise DVDs at home -- some of which you can borrow from your public library.

Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and exercise leaves you with more energy to tend to tasks and a new daily structure that has its own rewards. You'll sleep better too. Just remember that what you want is a permanent lifestyle change, not a temporary weight loss solution. Whatever method or strategy you employ to shed pounds and firm up, we hope it works and can be sustained over a lifetime.

Caregiving in the Palm of Your Hand

Smartphones remain the hottest technology today, and one of the fastest group of adopters are baby boomers, who are replacing their cell phones with iPhones, Androids and Blackberries.

These mobile devices allow you to perform many computer functions once done exclusively on a laptop or PC.

The Web site MarketWatch today lists five smartphone applications (or "apps") specifically beneficial to those caring for an aging or ailing relative. Most apps run on specific operating systems, and some carry a fee. We thought we'd summarize the recommended apps for caregivers here.

1. Tell My Geo for the Android ($9.95 monthly per phone)
This app allows you to track a loved one using GPS technology. It also can provide your health history to emergency responders in the event you or your loved one are unable to communicate. It also includes a feature to allow someone with dementia to call home by touching a photo image -- a big bonus to those with Alzheimer's!

2. Personal Caregiver for the iPhone (free)
Helps with medication management by scheduling and tracking medications for up to three people. It also sends FDA alerts on any drugs you may use.

3. Pain Care for iPhone, Android and (soon to) Blackberry (free)
This app allows a patient to tell you how much something hurts using a visual pain scale. The data is shared instantly with health care professionals so that treatment adjustments can be made quickly.

4. iBiomed for the iPhone and iTouch (free)
Described as a mobile treatment logbook, you can record and track medications, dietary supplements, therapies, diets and allergies, refill schedules and a journal of behaviors and side effects. The app also allows you to access advice from other caregivers through an online forum.

5. Public Speech for the iPhone (free)
This one is recommended for a different reason -- to capture a loved one's memories while they are still available. It's a creative use of a public speaking tool to spend quality time recording past and present activities that make up a life.

Article: Five smartphone apps for caregivers