Learning, memory improvement, problem solving, vision, balance and depression can all be improved if we understand neuroplasticity and how to have fun while "teaching an old dog new tricks.” Read More »
The number of people in the United States with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to almost triple by 2050, straining the healthcare system and burdening caregivers, according to a new study. Read More »
LTC providers are poised to play a big part in turning around the trend of high hospital readmissions with the ever-increasing tools and support continuing to be generated by the innovative within their own industry. Three providers share their effective strategies. Read More »
Shelley Silverman King, RN, explains how a Massachusetts facility uses specially trained caregivers and a room full of sensory experiences—music, lighting, hand massage, aromatherapy and other stimuli—to reach its most isolated and lonely population: its residents with advanced dementia. Read More »
A new program designed for young adults with intellectual disabilities can help seniors overcome their challenges in positive, supportive long-term care environments. Read More »
Counting sheep from loss of sleep? Poor sleep can have a direct effect on more than just physical energy in elders, according to a new neurology study. Read More »
Most nursing home providers understand the importance of auditing the MDS against the medical record to ensure that the chart supports the coding decisions represented on the MDS. But analyzing MDS responses in the context of quality seems to be a missed opportunity for many providers. Read More »
The first criteria for the appropriate use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technology to aid in the diagnosis of people with suspected Alzheimer's disease were released Monday by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the Alzheimer's Association. Read More »
Whether at work computer or at home, lost data can be a game-changer. Kathleen Mears shares the lesson she learned through a recent experience with file backup. Read More »
Whether residents are in short-stay rehab or LTC units, providing the right physical environment backed by staff commitment, can improve mobility and, ultimately, reduce falls. Here’s how one LTC community did just that. Read More »
If deep brain stimulation can help patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, might it not be effective in treating those with Alzheimer’s disease? Read More »
At times, health conditions, such as quadriplegia, can have some unusual manifestations on other parts of the body. Are they the result of an existing condition or a symptom of another health issue? Don't ignore spots, rashes, discoloration and other changes as Kathy Mears can verify. Read More »
Eating diets high in sugar and fat may not affect the health outcomes of older adults ages 75 and up, suggesting that placing people of such advanced age on overly restrictive diets to treat their excess weight or other conditions may have little benefit, according to a new study. Read More »
Studies and plans are worthless if they end up gathering dust on a shelf. Eric Hall, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, is determined to shape the federal government's national Alzheimer's plan to include concrete, practical steps that address the insidious disease. Read More »
When it comes to longevity, a healthy attitude about aging matters. Colorado researchers are working on a way to measure self-perceived age. Read More »
An especially aggressive influenza strain and a nationwide outbreak of norovirus are joining forces to form one of the worst flu seasons in decades. Read More »
Noting that “more needs to be done” to tackle the escalating incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) has released a report that offers more than three dozen recommendations to build upon the current goals of the federal government’s national Alzheimer’s plan. Read More »
Some memory lapses are a normal part of aging. However, when quality of life and daily functioning are disturbed, accurately diagnosing the type of dementia is necessary for treatment. Read More »
In many LTC facilities, nurse aides and practical nurses don't always have the benefit of regular contact with physicians and registered nurses. Do your NAs and PNs have the training they need to recognize skin conditions and administer the best wound care? Read More »
While the music of the legends of ’60s and ’70s rock is still popular, relevant and enduring, the performers themselves have adapted to aging—or not. Read More »
Placing brain health among the current national health priorities--like diabetes and heart disease--can give cognitive health the attention and respect it needs to foster awareness and better prevention habits, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Brain Initiative. Read More »
The key to having a happy holiday season is to think of others and give of yourself. Small gestures can have a great an effect on residents, friends and families. Read More »
Physicians now have a detailed guide for testing cognition and detecting impairment, blostering early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Read More »
