Alzheimer's Foundation of America |
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Latest care ADvantage Magazine Focuses on Behavioral Challenges
 With behavior changes just as common as memory loss and other intellectual changes when someone has Alzheimer's disease, care ADvantage magazine explores behavioral challenges in its new fall issue.
On this topic, the magazine, published quarterly by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA), spotlights a recent AFA survey that polled caregivers' attitudes on managing behavioral symptoms vs. cognitive symptoms, and provides practical approaches to handle various types of situations that might arise. Another article discusses urinary tract infections, which often are the source of sudden erratic behaviors.
The issue also features a one-on-one interview with pop icon David Cassidy, who opens up about his mother's Alzheimer's disease. "This has arguably been the most painful and gut-wrenching personal experience in my life," the entertainer said.
To read the latest issue and sign up for a free subscription, visit www.afacareadvantage.org. |
Advisory Council on National Alzheimer's Plan Meets to Discuss Progress, Offer New Recommendations
 The Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services met on October 15 in Washington, DC to discuss the progress on research, clinical services and long-term care provisions included in the first "National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease," and to shape new recommendations to update the plan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the historic document last May, and is set to release the first annual update of the plan in April.
In discussing progress on the plan, federal members of the council disclosed that federal agencies are preparing training materials for clinical trial recruitment/enrollment, are planning a dementia workshop in May, and have formed a public-private partnership to help lower the use of antipsychotics and establish dementia care guidelines for institutional settings.
In addition, an official from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services presented seven suggested memory screening tools for possible use in a variety of outpatient settings, including by practitioners administering the new Medicare Annual Wellness Visit.
Each of the advisory council's three subcommittees presented recommendations to be considered for the updated national plan; members will vote on them at their next meeting in January. AFA had advanced many of these same recommendations in its "The Time to Act Is Now" report released last March, including Medicare coverage for diagnosis, and care planning and tax relief for family caregivers. |
Court Settlement Paves Way for Medicare Payments Regardless of Improvement Status
In a proposed settlement of a federal class action lawsuit, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in mid-October agreed to end its requirement - the Medicare Improvement Standard - that beneficiaries must show a likelihood of medical or functional improvement before Medicare would pay for skilled nursing care at home or in a facility, and outpatient therapy services.
Under the agreement, Medicare will pay for such rehabilitative services if they are needed to "maintain the patient's current condition or prevent or slow further deterioration," regardless of whether the person's condition is expected to improve.
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Sequestration Could 'Devastate' Americans with Alzheimer's Disease
 AFA President and CEO Eric J. Hall called on President Obama and Congress to forge a federal budget agreement to avoid automatic, across the board cuts, known as sequestration.
In a letter sent this week, Hall emphasized that sequestration would have a devastating impact on Alzheimer's disease research and long-term care support services for family caregivers. Cuts would include loss of personal care services, adult day services and homemaker services for seniors.
If lawmakers fail to come up with a budget deal, sequestration will take effect on January 1, 2013. |
Employees' Caregiving Responsibilities on the Rise
 More and more working adults in the United States are providing care for an elderly loved one, and the increasing amount of responsibilities are impacting their regular paid jobs and their overall well-being, according to a recent report by the AARP Public Policy Institute.
The report, which pulled data from previous studies on family caregiving, found that 50 percent of family caregivers caring for an adult 50 and over work full-time, and 11 percent work part-time. Nearly 68 percent have made adjustments to their work lives due to caregiving, such as shifting or cutting hours, changing jobs, taking a leave of absence, or leaving the workforce entirely.
It also noted that U.S. businesses lose an estimated $33.6 billion per year in lost productivity from full-time working caregivers, and pay about eight percent more in healthcare costs for caregiver employees compared to noncaregivers.
According to the report, the availability of eldercare resources and programs to help working caregivers, including on-site support groups and discounted backup home care for emergency needs, as well as flexible workplace policies can help improve worker retention, productivity, stress levels and health. |
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News to Use
- The U.S. Department of Labor has launched an online Workplace Flexibility Toolkit to provide employees, job seekers, employers, policymakers, and researchers with information, resources and a unique approach to workplace flexibility. With more than 170 resources easily accessible, the toolkit is particularly helpful for workers and job seekers with complex employment situations, such as parents of young children, single parents, family caregivers, and mature workers.
- If you get federal benefit payments by paper check for yourself or on behalf of a loved one, you should know that the U.S. Department of the Treasury is requiring that these payments be switched to an electronic option by March 1, 2013. The department recommends switching to electronic payments through direct deposit or a Direct Express debit Master Card via online or calling the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at (800) 333-1795 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ET).
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News Updates
- Brain Plaques May Be More Important Factor in Determining Alzheimer's Risk... A new study among cognitively-healthy adults with an average age of 76 shows that those with higher amounts of plaques in the brain, known as beta amyloid, at the onset experienced a 20 percent greater decline in memory over 18 months when compared with the participants who had fewer brain plaques initially. Researchers also found that among participants who carried the APOE gene, a risk gene for Alzheimer's disease, the gene did not change the rate of plaque-related memory decline. Read more...
- Exercise Linked to Less Brain Shrinkage... Researchers found that adults in their 70s who exercised regularly - such as walking several times a week or engaging in sports - experienced less brain shrinkage when compared to those who exercised minimally, but that participating in mentally- and socially-stimulating activities had no real benefit over the same three-year period. Read more...
- Continued Treatment of Antipsychotic May Help Some with Alzheimer's... A new study has found that people with Alzheimer's disease who benefitted from the antipsychotic drug risperidone (or Risperdal) for four to eight months are twice as likely to have aggression and agitation recur if they stop treatment. Typically the medication is prescribed for only three to six months because of potential negative side effects. Read more...
- High-Carbohydrate Consumption Increases Risk of Cognitive Impairment... Cognitively-healthy seniors who consume foods loaded with carbohydrates or sugars are 1.9 times and 1.5 times more likely, respectively, to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to people with lower intake, according to a new study. Meanwhile, participants with diets highest in fat and protein were 42 percent and 21 percent less likely, respectively, to develop MCI. Read more...
- Timing of Hormone Use Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Women... A new study has found that women who began hormone therapy - consisting of estrogen, or estrogen in combination with progestin - within five years of menopause decreased their risk for Alzheimer's disease by 30 percent. However, a late start of taking combination therapy when they were at least 65 upped their risk for dementia. Read more...
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October 25, 2012
Volume 5 Issue 22
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Last Chance to Vote for AFA in Deep River Snacks'
"Enjoy Life Naturally"
Photo Contest!
Deep River Snacks' "Enjoy Life Naturally" is running a photo contest with this very theme, and asking people to vote for their favorite photo submitted on behalf of a charity.
Please vote for a photo that supports AFA, one of Deep River's charities. We are featured on its Zesty Jalapeno chips (Yum!).
The winner gets to name one of Deep River's charities as the recipient of a $5,000 donation...plus there's some good stuff (i.e., chips) for you to cash in on.
The contest ends October 31, 2012.
Here's the direct link to the contest: http://bit.ly/Q1J5IA.
To participate, you must "like" Deep River Snacks on Facebook. Then click on photo contest on Deep River's page, scroll down to photos supporting AFA (charities are listed in left column), and vote on one for AFA! ("Like" isn't a vote...you must follow through and click on the contest itself and then vote.) |
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November 9-11, 2012
Weekend of Prayer
Sign up to host a ceremony.
November 13, 2012
Sign up to host a screening. |
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The Legacy Society
AFA's Legacy Society offers special recognition to individuals who have included AFA in their wills or estate plans.
Support AFA Monthly
Donors can now make recurring monthly donations to AFA, which will be automatically deducted from your credit card each month. You may cancel at any time. |
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Join us on Inspire
AFA's Support Community connects individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their families, friends and caregivers to provide support and improve quality of life.
Sign the Stop Alzheimer's Petition!
Speak out now against Alzheimer's disease. Together we can become a chorus of voices echoing through the halls of Washington, DC, speaking for those who are in the shadows.
 
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