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Alzheimer's Foundation of America

Government Moves Forward to Implement National Alzheimer's Plan 

 

The Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services met on July 23 to discuss the progress on research, clinical services and long-term care services included in the historic "National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease," which was released in May.   

 

The latest developments include the introduction of a three-tiered classification system to help capture  Alzheimer's disease research; meetings with foreign officials  toward establishing public-private-international partnerships; an initiative by government-funded Geriatric Education Centers to revise evidence-based Alzheimer's disease curricula to train healthcare professionals; and  a grant to UCLA's Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Program to test new care models. 

 

In addition, government officials will begin a public awareness campaign this month to promote the government's new Web site, www.alzheimers.gov; and they are developing a Web-based strategic tool - a "dashboard" - to support and monitor progress of the national plan.   

 

Meanwhile, in a "NAPA Now" campaign, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is continuing to encourage the public to meet with political candidates and incumbents to press for funding and further implementation of the national plan. 

House Committee Approves Two Bills to Help Missing Persons 

wandering  The House Committee on the Judiciary this week approved two pieces of legislation that would help communities and law enforcement find persons with Alzheimer's disease who wander away and become lost.   Both bills now await consideration by the full House.

 

The Missing Alzheimer's Disease Patient Alert Program Reauthorization of 2011, HR 2800, authorizes $1 million  per year for five years to fund grants for nonprofit organizations that  work with law enforcement in training and identifying methodologies to help locate people  with Alzheimer's disease who have become lost. 

 

The committee also approved  the Child and Elderly Missing Alert Program, HR 4305, which would award grants to  eligible nonprofit organizations to assist law enforcement agencies in the rapid recovery of missing children and elderly and disabled individuals through the use of a rapid telephone and cellular alert call system. 
 

AFA  recently released a white paper on this behavior entitled "Lost and...FOUND." 

Alzheimer's Foundation Takes 'Quilt to Remember' on Tour, Unveils Virtual Quilt

 

quilt palm beachAFA recently announced that it is expanding efforts to reach a wider audience for its signature AFA Quilt to Remember, a heartfelt project that honors individuals who had or have Alzheimer's disease, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

 

In collaboration with Senior Helpers, one of the nation's largest in-home care agencies, AFA is taking the large-scale Quilt to Remember on tour to at least 10 cities in 2012 and 2013 in conjunction with a co-sponsored educational series about dementia, "Understanding Dementia Care." This month, part of the 150-panel collection will be on display in Napa, CA on August 12; Pleasanton, CA on August 13; and Glendale, AZ on August 16 and 17.

 

In addition, AFA added a new component to the initiative, and unveiled a "virtual" quilt on www.alzquilt.org, which allows people to easily and instantly honor a loved one by designing a personalized virtual quilt, instead of or in addition to crafting a traditional quilt. The virtual quilt has garnered nearly 100 squares since it went live in early July.

 

Read more...

 

Alzheimer's Disease Is Top Claim for Long-Term Care Insurance

 

Nursing Home A new report from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) found that Alzheimer's disease makes up about 25 percent of yearly insurance claims from nursing homes - topping $6.6 billion for more than 200,000 insured residents last year.

 

Long-term care insurance is designed to help cover the cost of long-term care services provided at home, an adult day center, an assisted living facility or a nursing home when a person needs assistance with activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing and bathing.

 

Click here for more information about long-term care insurance.

 

News to Use

  • September is Falls Prevention Month. An educational DVD by AFA on preventing falls helps you understand why dementia and other conditions intensify the incidence and impact of falls, and learn practical ways to overcome the fear of falling and reduce risk factors, including communication techniques, home modifications and lifestyle changes. It is available on AFA's e-Store.
  • "Understanding Dementia Care with Teepa Snow" Tour: An educational series for caregivers sponsored by AFA and Senior Helpers travels to California and Arizona this month. For details, click here. 

News Updates
 

  • Scientists Identify Brain Trauma Link to Alzheimer's Disease... In a series of experiments done on mice and brain samples from people who died of Alzheimer's disease, scientists found that a single moderate to severe brain trauma injury could lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease. At work following the brain trauma is a reduction in GGA3 proteins that causes an uptick of an enzyme called BACE1 in the brain; that increase spurs elevated levels of beta amyloid, a hallmark protein in Alzheimer's disease. Read more...
  • Study Confirms Disruptive Sleep Patterns.... In a study of sleep patterns, scientists found that participants with dementia had less exposure to light, were less active during the day, and had a greater disruption to their natural circadian rhythms when compared to healthy older adults during the winter. The results support the development of customized light exposures to reduce sleep disturbances for people with Alzheimer's disease. Read more...
  • Study Shows New Drug Could Treat Multiple Brain Disorders ... A new class of drugs shown to reduce inflammation in the brain of mice could be a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury and other neurodegenerative disorders, according to a new study. Several studies found that the drugs, represented by MW151, work by stopping the overproduction of proteins called proinflammatory cytokines, which cause a disruption in brain signals and can damage memory and decision-making functions. Read more...
  • Experimental Drug Fails in Phase 3 Clinical Trial... Results from a phase 3 clinical trial testing the effectiveness of an experimental treatment for Alzheimer's disease called bapineuzumab showed that it was ineffective and produced no change in a person's cognitive and functional ability when compared to a placebo, according to the drug's manufacturers, Pfizer Inc. and Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy. The trial was conducted among people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who carried the ApoE4 gene. Results of three other clinical trials testing the drug in carriers of the gene and non-carriers are expected in the next few monthsRead more...

 

    
August 2, 2012
Volume 5 Issue 16
 

 

care connection

August 9, 2012 

 

Free Teleconference for Family and Professional Caregivers

 

"Creating Joy for Individuals with Dementia"  

 

1:00 pm - 2:00 p.m. ET

Click here for call-in details.

 

National Brain Game Challenge Logo   

September 30, 2012

 

Test Your Mental Fitness With a Crossword by a Renowned Puzzle Master! 

 

Contest begins 3 p.m. ET.

Register now.

  

 NCCL w/ no year
November 9-11, 2012 

Weekend of Prayer
 

Sign up to host a ceremony.

 
AFA Memory Screening logo 
November 13, 2012

 

Sign up to host a screening. 

 
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Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Our mission is to provide optimal care and services to individuals confronting dementia, and to their caregivers and families through member organizations dedicated to improving quality of life. 
 Visit us at www.alzfdn.org or call us toll-free at 866-AFA-8484.

If you have a question or concern that you would like to discuss with a social worker, write [email protected] or call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484.