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White House Releases State Breakdown on Effects of Looming Budget Cuts
 The White House on Sunday released a breakdown on how automatic federal spending cuts - known as sequestration - would affect federal agencies and services in every state in the country if they take effect on March 1.
Meanwhile, with sequestration looming, last-minute proposals by both parties to avert the across-the-board cuts were in the works, and multiple nonprofit organizations this past week undertook efforts to galvanize grassroots messages to Congress. For one, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) informed its stakeholders in an e-mail alert about the potential effect on the Alzheimer's population.
The White House's 51 fact sheets describe the sequestration's impact on American jobs, middle class families, health care, education and other sectors of the economy over the next seven months. This includes the loss of significant state funds that provide meal assistance to seniors, and delays in federal funding for research at the National Institutes of Health toward cures for chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. |
Alzheimer's Foundation Announces Teens Video Contest Winners
 AFA announced last week the winners of its third annual AFA Teens Video Competition - two high school students who each witnessed Alzheimer's disease with a grandmother. The contest is part of AFA's effort to provide a creative outlet for teenagers coping with Alzheimer's disease and to engage the younger generation in the cause.
Alex Klein, 16, of Dayton, NJ, took the grand prize with a heartfelt video suggesting laughter as a way to help cope with the daily challenges of Alzheimer's disease after witnessing how the brain disorder has transformed his grandmother. And Selah Burnett, 17, of Bonham, TX, was named the runner-up for her compelling video made in memory of her grandmother; it challenges people to "get out of their comfort zone" and "walk with their loved one" through the brain disorder.
For information about AFA Teens and to watch the videos, click here. |
U.S. News & World Report Rates Best Nursing Homes in Nation
 How can you compare nursing homes? U.S. News & World Report this week published a detailed list of the country's best nursing homes as reflected by quality of medical care, staffing and state-conducted health inspections. Data about the 16,000 nursing homes is based on Nursing Home Compare, a Web site by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that rates on a one-to-five star scale federally-regulated nursing homes that accept Medicare or Medicaid.
The U.S. News report also identified the top 20 states with the most five-star rated nursing homes: California topped the list with 312 facilities, followed by Pennsylvania (160), Illinois (156) and Florida (141). |
Alzheimer's Foundation Awards Grants to Local Groups Nationwide
 AFA today awarded grants totaling $80,000 to 16 grassroots organizations and law enforcement agencies across the country for a wide range of programs aimed at improving quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers, including education, respite care, and search and rescue services. AFA awards these grants twice a year to its nonprofit member organizations based on a competitive application process. In this cycle, each organization has received $5,000.
In an effort to address wandering, one of the most common, challenging and costly symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, AFA provided grants to five agencies to implement Project Lifesaver, which works in collaboration with public safety departments to track people who dementia who become lost. The other recipients will use the awards to fund education and training, respite care, recreational and creative arts programs, a teens program, and scholarships for people to attend adult day programs. |
Caregiving for Dementia Population Impacts U.S. Workforce
 One in seven U.S. employees is or has been a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and only 47 percent were able to remain on the job while providing that care, according to the results of new national survey of more than 500 caregivers.
Caregiving responsibilities greatly affected on-the-job performance: 69 percent of respondents said they had to adjust their schedules and 32 percent had to take a leave of absence while providing care. In addition, 69 percent said caring for someone with dementia deeply strained family finances, while 90 percent considered caregiving emotionally stressful, according to the survey conducted by Workplace Options in conjunction with the Alzheimer's Association.
Learn more about ways to successfully manage caregiving. |
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News to Use
- Early-Onset Spousal Support Group: AFA will be starting a free, weekly support group for spouses of individuals with early-onset dementia. Starting April 15, the weekly support group will be held on 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (ET) via teleconference and moderated by an AFA licensed social worker. Registration required. For more information and to register, click here.
- The National Council on Aging will host a Webinar on medication safety among older adults on February 28 at 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (ET).
- The "Understanding Dementia Care Tour," co-sponsored by AFA and Senior Helpers and featuring dementia care expert Teepa Snow, continues on the road in March. Seminars for healthcare professionals and/or family caregivers will be held in Carmel, IN; Park Ridge, IL; and Maumee, OH.
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News Updates
- Antioxidants May Not Reduce Risk of Dementia, Stroke... A large European study found that people 55 years and older without dementia at the study's onset who consumed a total high level of antioxidants were equally likely to develop dementia or have a stroke when compared with those who had low levels of antioxidants. About 90 percent of the antioxidant variation came from coffee and tea consumption. Read more...
- Smoking Linked to Greater Risk of Dementia... Using mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease, researchers found that the mice exposed to second-hand smoke and those subjected to a cloud of smoke equivalent to one or two cigarettes per day displayed earlier and more severe signs of Alzheimer's disease in their brains than the rodents not exposed to cigarette smoke. Read more...
- Hormone Therapy Linked to Slower Cell Aging in Women With Alzheimer's Gene...In a small study of post-menopausal women, researchers found that hormone therapy may protect carriers of ApoE4, a gene variant linked to Alzheimer's disease. The women who stopped hormone replacement therapy for two years had faster rates of aging in body cells, while those who continued on hormone therapy for that time had no signs of accelerated aging.The hormone therapy did not have a protective effect on the subjects who did not carry the gene. Read more...
- Low-Protein Diet Improves Cognition in Mice... A new study shows that cognitive abilities improved in mice with advanced Alzheimer's disease that were on a low-protein diet supplemented with specific amino acids for four months when compared with those not put on the diet. The regulated diet reduced levels of a growth hormone associated with aging, IGF-1, raising the possibility that low-protein intake and low IGF-1 levels may offer protection from age-related neurodegeneration in humans. Read more...
- Study Links New Gene to Alzheimer's Disease... The first genome-wide association study using PET scans with a specialized brain imaging agent, florbetapir, that sticks to plaque deposits has helped researchers identify another gene associated with the formation of plaques found in Alzheimer's disease. They discovered the BCHE gene in 555 study participants living with or at-risk for Alzheimer's disease. BCHE is responsible for an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps with decision-making. Read more...
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February 28, 2013
Volume 6 Issue 5
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Winemaker Fills Piggy Bank
for Charity
Guy Anderson Wines, a United Kingdom-based winemaker, has unveiled Piggy Bank Wines, a line of six wines that raises money for charity - and AFA is one of three U.S. charities featured in the current initiative.
For every bottle of wine sold, the company donates 25 cents to charity. When enough bottles are sold to fill the Piggy Bank with $5,000, it will distribute the money proportionally between the charities based on public voting via social media.
Vote for AFA on Facebook and help decide where the piggy bank cash goes!
March 14
Teleconference for Family & Professional Caregivers
"Navigating Financial and Legal Systems Related to Aging, Transitions"
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Guest Speaker: Amy Lieberman, president of Estate Matters LLC of the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area, MN
For more information, click here.
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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The Legacy SocietyAFA'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.
 
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