Alzheimer’s is a chronic neurodegenerative disease typically with a long pre-clinical phase which gradually worsens. Initial symptoms are often mistaken for normal aging and include problems with language, mood swings, disorientation, loss of motivation, poor self-care and behavioral issues. There are no treatments to stop or reverse the disease progression. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60 to…
Understanding Advance Directives An advance directive is a legal document that outlines a patient’s medical decisions if they become unable to communicate them. This is particularly crucial in conditions like Alzheimer’s. However, for more severe illnesses like ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig’s disease, a basic advance directive might require additional details. This is…
Your right to vote is a fundamental lynchpin of what it means to be a citizen – yet you could lose your right if you become a ward in a guardianship. Having a strong power of attorney is essential to avoid that drastic, but little-known, consequence. A power of attorney gives a trusted person the…
Sleeping is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and well being. The amount of sleep you get is particularly crucial if you are a woman – new studies indicate the traditional recommendation of eight hours is not enough. If you are a woman aged 50 or older, you…
The findings from a 10 year study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) have reported a link between hearing loss and health risks. The risks include a 50% greater risk of dementia, a 40% greater risk of developing depression and a nearly 30% higher risk of accidental falls. While hearing loss is becoming more prevalent in…
Many Americans have to hang up their car keys for good due to dementia. There is an increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the aging US population and it is forcing the hands of caregivers, family, and physicians to ensure getting those impaired off the roads. Cognitive disability creates peril…
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that not only affects the individual diagnosed but also the individual’s family. Family members can be affected in many ways by Alzheimer’s disease. The most important thing for families to remember during this very difficult season of life is to stick together and to support one another. 1. Shame and…
“Just two weeks ago my mom got a Urinary Tract Infection and started talking like a baby, out of her head with crazy stories and is uncontrollable. How long before this is over?” Stories like this break my heart and I hear them a couple times a week. This is a very common problem I…
A nursing home closure can be traumatic for residents who are forced to move. While there may not be much that can be done to prevent a closure, residents do have some rights. Moving into a nursing home can be a stressful experience on its own. If that nursing home closes, residents can experience symptoms…
If you will soon turn 65 and be applying for Medicare, you should carefully consider which Medigap policy to enroll in because two of the most popular plans will be ending soon. In 2020, Medicare beneficiaries will no longer be able to enroll in Plans F and C.Between copayments, deductibles, and coverage exclusions, Medicare does…