Early signs of Alzheimer’s disease
Loss of memory and increasing difficulty with daily tasks are normal in the aging process.
But certain symptoms are signs of the more serious Alzheimer’s disease. The following signs are the ten major symptoms provided by the Alzheimer's Association.
Ten Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What's typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What's typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.
4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock"). What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control.
8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a while.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.
10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.
For more information, go to www.alz.org/10signs or call 877-IS IT ALZ (877.474.8259).
This is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association but may be distributed by unaffiliated organizations or individuals. Such distribution does not constitute an endorsement of these parties or their activities by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Copyright 2009 Alzheimer’s Association. All rights reserved.
New Research in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Scientists continually look for new insights to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, research is being done regarding cellular treatment for Alzheimer’s patients. Common in the patients is the build-up of the protein beta-amyloid in the nerve cells and in the brain; this excess protein is thought to be a cause of many Alzheimer's Symptoms.
Research is being done at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research under the direction of Dr. Raul Greenard. The researchers think that the most difference will be made by simultaneously stimulating the break-down of the beta-amyloid protein and preventing future accumulation. This prevention of accumulation naturally occurs in the body by a process called autophagy, which the cell uses to eliminate waste from its interior. The Alzheimer patient's body does not effectively clean its cells and therefore the protein accumulation occurs.
The researchers’ goal is to create an anti-amyloid drug without harsh side effects of previous treatments. Scientists think that this is possible through small molecule therapy, either naturally or through medications.
For more information on current Alzheimer's research please visit:
http://www.alzinfo.org/treatment-care
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Should Your Elderly Mom Or Dad Drive a Car?
Should Your Elderly Mom Or Dad Drive a Car?
We all know the pain of being stuck behind a dangerous driver. My vehicle was recently hit by a young lady who had only been driving a year. Young drivers certainly lack the experience of road warriors like ourselves, yet there will come a time for all of us, when we will come full circle. The following article explicates the challenges of that difficult transition from the driver's seat, to riding shotgun.
How to Talk to Parents about Giving up the Keys
By Carolyn Rosenblatt
from: www.agingcare.com
In the 29 years I handled personal injury cases, most of them were car accidents. I represented injured people hundreds of times. When the victim was hit by an elder or older driver who should never have been driving, I always wondered why no one had taken the car keys away. Where were the adult children as elderly aging parents began to lose the ability to safely operate a car?
If we're talking about your Mom or Dad, and you've notice that he or she just isn't safe behind the wheel anymore, this is to encourage you to get involved. Most older drivers who are losing their ability to drive safely don't recognize it or are in denial and can't face the terrible thought of giving up their independence and control. Sometimes, loss of the ability to drive a car is a life changing event, as the elder can no longer maintain himself at home without transportation. Denial is a very common reaction to the early warning signs of becoming a dangerous older driver. Denial can occur both among the elderly, who really, really don't want to have this privilege taken from them, and in their adult children, who then have to deal with the consequences of Mom or Dad becoming a burden around transportation.
If this is happening in your aging parents, try these tips to handle this emotionally charged and difficult issue.
Tips for Dealing with a Dangerous Elderly Driver:
1. Approach the subject respectfully and at the best time of day for your parent. Ask if it's ok to talk about this now.
2. Bring up the issue of driving while you express caring and concern for how difficult it must be to even talk about it, but gently insist if your parent resists the subject.
3. Encourage your elderly parent to see a doctor to find out what physical problems could be going on. Some people need a change in medication or other health care treatment to correct alertness, vision, or ability to attend to detail in driving. Go with him or her to the doctor if you can.
4. If the doctor concurs that your aging parent should give up the keys, use the doctor as the reason for bringing up the subject and the reason for suggesting limiting or giving up driving.
5. Research alternative kinds of transportation where your parent lives. If you are in a rural area, there may be none, but family, neighbors, or church or synagogue members may be willing to help. Public transportation may be a good alternative in urban areas, even if your elderly parent has not used it before.
The subject of driving is always a "charged" one.
________________________________________
Carolyn Rosenblatt is a registered nurse and attorney who has 40 years of experience. She is the author of "The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents."
We all know the pain of being stuck behind a dangerous driver. My vehicle was recently hit by a young lady who had only been driving a year. Young drivers certainly lack the experience of road warriors like ourselves, yet there will come a time for all of us, when we will come full circle. The following article explicates the challenges of that difficult transition from the driver's seat, to riding shotgun.
How to Talk to Parents about Giving up the Keys
By Carolyn Rosenblatt
from: www.agingcare.com
In the 29 years I handled personal injury cases, most of them were car accidents. I represented injured people hundreds of times. When the victim was hit by an elder or older driver who should never have been driving, I always wondered why no one had taken the car keys away. Where were the adult children as elderly aging parents began to lose the ability to safely operate a car?
If we're talking about your Mom or Dad, and you've notice that he or she just isn't safe behind the wheel anymore, this is to encourage you to get involved. Most older drivers who are losing their ability to drive safely don't recognize it or are in denial and can't face the terrible thought of giving up their independence and control. Sometimes, loss of the ability to drive a car is a life changing event, as the elder can no longer maintain himself at home without transportation. Denial is a very common reaction to the early warning signs of becoming a dangerous older driver. Denial can occur both among the elderly, who really, really don't want to have this privilege taken from them, and in their adult children, who then have to deal with the consequences of Mom or Dad becoming a burden around transportation.
If this is happening in your aging parents, try these tips to handle this emotionally charged and difficult issue.
Tips for Dealing with a Dangerous Elderly Driver:
1. Approach the subject respectfully and at the best time of day for your parent. Ask if it's ok to talk about this now.
2. Bring up the issue of driving while you express caring and concern for how difficult it must be to even talk about it, but gently insist if your parent resists the subject.
3. Encourage your elderly parent to see a doctor to find out what physical problems could be going on. Some people need a change in medication or other health care treatment to correct alertness, vision, or ability to attend to detail in driving. Go with him or her to the doctor if you can.
4. If the doctor concurs that your aging parent should give up the keys, use the doctor as the reason for bringing up the subject and the reason for suggesting limiting or giving up driving.
5. Research alternative kinds of transportation where your parent lives. If you are in a rural area, there may be none, but family, neighbors, or church or synagogue members may be willing to help. Public transportation may be a good alternative in urban areas, even if your elderly parent has not used it before.
The subject of driving is always a "charged" one.
________________________________________
Carolyn Rosenblatt is a registered nurse and attorney who has 40 years of experience. She is the author of "The Boomer's Guide to Aging Parents."
Monday, May 9, 2011
Is a Beneficiary Deed a Good Option in Missouri?
The short answer is "Maybe." The following is an excerpt from Reg Turnbull, a well-known elder law attorney in Missouri.
"Those of us who do estate planning counsel our clients that beneficiary
deeds are not panaceas. Often the following issues arise:
1. The grantor-decedent's Creditors still must be paid. Under section
461.300, RSMO, creditors can go after transfer on death (including
beneficiary deed) transferees (beneficiaries) to get bills paid. Creditors must
force open a probate within one year of the date of death to get paid and
bring in the transferees to the extent of the bill. Thus, such transfers do
not avoid estate recovery.
2. No one is in charge. An involuntary partnership arises if the
transfer is to more than one transferee. In probate, someone takes charge to
make sure that the maintenance of the real estate continues, e.g., the
utilities get paid so the "pipes don't freeze," that the real estate is
maintained, and that the RE taxes are paid. Also if some want the property to be liquidated, then it takes all of the transferees to sell it. If
disagreement, then may have to partition.
3. Any grantor-decedent's special intent is legally disregarded.
Intents for one or some but not all of the transferee-beneficiaries to farm
the farm or to live in the dwelling requires agreement (or at least
acquiescence) of the other family members. This can result in resentment from those who want the real estate liquidated for fair market value so that each can
get his or her fair share. If disagreement, then those wanting the money
must be bought out.
4. Any issues with real estate before the TOD are not resolved and
usually get passed on to the beneficiaries.
In Missouri, many people use Beneficiary Deeds because they are obsessing
about how to avoid probate. Some people should have used trusts to avoid
probate and still have central administration of their assets with clear
responsibility to carry out intent rather than just kicking the real estate
with problems down to the beneficiaries to deal with.
In the zeal to avoid probate, many issues are not worked out in a planned
manner with the TOD-beneficiary deeds when more is needed as they arguably
would be with more directions/instructions in a will (through probate) or
trust (without probate).
When our clients ask what we think about beneficiary deeds, we tell them
that we see beneficiary deeds as options that may or may not be appropriate
depending upon the situation."
"Those of us who do estate planning counsel our clients that beneficiary
deeds are not panaceas. Often the following issues arise:
1. The grantor-decedent's Creditors still must be paid. Under section
461.300, RSMO, creditors can go after transfer on death (including
beneficiary deed) transferees (beneficiaries) to get bills paid. Creditors must
force open a probate within one year of the date of death to get paid and
bring in the transferees to the extent of the bill. Thus, such transfers do
not avoid estate recovery.
2. No one is in charge. An involuntary partnership arises if the
transfer is to more than one transferee. In probate, someone takes charge to
make sure that the maintenance of the real estate continues, e.g., the
utilities get paid so the "pipes don't freeze," that the real estate is
maintained, and that the RE taxes are paid. Also if some want the property to be liquidated, then it takes all of the transferees to sell it. If
disagreement, then may have to partition.
3. Any grantor-decedent's special intent is legally disregarded.
Intents for one or some but not all of the transferee-beneficiaries to farm
the farm or to live in the dwelling requires agreement (or at least
acquiescence) of the other family members. This can result in resentment from those who want the real estate liquidated for fair market value so that each can
get his or her fair share. If disagreement, then those wanting the money
must be bought out.
4. Any issues with real estate before the TOD are not resolved and
usually get passed on to the beneficiaries.
In Missouri, many people use Beneficiary Deeds because they are obsessing
about how to avoid probate. Some people should have used trusts to avoid
probate and still have central administration of their assets with clear
responsibility to carry out intent rather than just kicking the real estate
with problems down to the beneficiaries to deal with.
In the zeal to avoid probate, many issues are not worked out in a planned
manner with the TOD-beneficiary deeds when more is needed as they arguably
would be with more directions/instructions in a will (through probate) or
trust (without probate).
When our clients ask what we think about beneficiary deeds, we tell them
that we see beneficiary deeds as options that may or may not be appropriate
depending upon the situation."
Monday, May 2, 2011
Federal budget negotiations propose radical changes in Medicare and Medicaid
This article posted by Naela summarizes the proposed changes to Medicare and Medicaid in the current budget debate. It is a great resource for understanding how the proposals could impact the way older and disabled Americans have access to affordable health care.
Federal budget negotiations propose radical changes in Medicare and Medicaid
Briefly, Medicare and Medicaid have provided health insurance coverage to older people, the disabled, women, and families with children for more than 45 years. These programs ensure that vulnerable populations who could not get health care coverage from private health insurance have access to basic health coverage.
The futures of Medicare and Medicaid are uncertain as a result of proposed reform and deficit reduction proposals under discussion in Congress.
One such proposal which promotes radial change is that of Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) who chairs the House of Representatives Budget Committee. Ryan’s proposal, “The Path to Prosperity: Restoring America’s Promise” would reduce the deficit primarily by cutting government spending by $6.2 trillion over a ten year period.
As part of this reduction in government spending, the Ryan proposal would end the Medicare and Medicaid system as they currently operate. Instead, Medicare benefits would shift to a premium support or voucher model and federal funding for Medicaid would be converted to a block grant system.
Federal budget negotiations propose radical changes in Medicare and Medicaid
Briefly, Medicare and Medicaid have provided health insurance coverage to older people, the disabled, women, and families with children for more than 45 years. These programs ensure that vulnerable populations who could not get health care coverage from private health insurance have access to basic health coverage.
The futures of Medicare and Medicaid are uncertain as a result of proposed reform and deficit reduction proposals under discussion in Congress.
One such proposal which promotes radial change is that of Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) who chairs the House of Representatives Budget Committee. Ryan’s proposal, “The Path to Prosperity: Restoring America’s Promise” would reduce the deficit primarily by cutting government spending by $6.2 trillion over a ten year period.
As part of this reduction in government spending, the Ryan proposal would end the Medicare and Medicaid system as they currently operate. Instead, Medicare benefits would shift to a premium support or voucher model and federal funding for Medicaid would be converted to a block grant system.
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