dementia

By Judith Graham

Sociologist Elena Portacolone was taken aback. Many of the older adults in San Francisco she visited at home for a research project were confused when she came to the door. They’d forgotten the appointment or couldn’t remember speaking to her.
It seemed clear they had some type of cognitive impairment. Yet, they were living alone.

NEW YORK—The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) announced its AFA Helpline will remain open and available to provide assistance, answers and support to families in hurricane-affected areas who are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses. 

OKLAHOMA CITY—Lee Jennings, a geriatrician and associate professor at the University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Medicine, received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to analyze the end-of-life experiences of about 550 people with dementia and their caregivers. The study aims to discover whether the care they receive aligns with their preferences.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina—Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and that number is expected to rise—a statistic that has gerontologist Macie Smith concerned about the ability of the medical community to provide comprehensive support for patients and their caregivers.

CHICAGO, Illinois—The Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI) announced that it is awarding more than $4 million in grants to 21 community-based service providers to increase the availability of quality dementia-specific respite care. The CDRI is administered through a partnership of the Alzheimer’s Association, University of Minnesota School of Public Health and USAging.

ST. LOUIS, Missouri—EmpowerMe Wellness announced it has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in a new Medicare alternative payment model designed to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.

LOS ANGELES, California—The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in a new Medicare alternative payment model designed to support people living with dementia and their caregivers.

TROY, Michigan—ComForCare, a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, announced the launch of DementiaWise 2.0. This expanded program builds upon the foundation of its original proprietary program, DementiaWise, an occupation-based, team-centered training program designed to help elevate the standard of dementia care.

NEW YORK—Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12. As women account for two-thirds of all Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) has five tips so families and loved ones can honor their special women who live with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.  

SECAUCUS, New Jersey—For the first time, people worried about their risk of Alzheimer’s disease can go online, order a blood test, and receive results in the privacy of their homes.

This might seem appealing on the surface, but the development has Alzheimer’s researchers and clinicians up in arms.

OMAHA, Nebraska—As the number of Americans living with Alzheimer's continues to rise—now exceeding 6 million—the caregivers supporting these older adults find themselves confronted with challenges such as managing high-stress levels, dealing with sleep deprivation and struggling to find time for self-care. Unfortunately for caregivers, these factors are known to contribute to the development of the disease, putting them at greater risk.

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas—AGE-u-cate Training Institute (AGEucate.com), a provider of aging and dementia training solutions, announced that Laura Ellen Christian has been named as president.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. and DANBURY, Conn. (November 1, 2022)—Nuvance Health is one of the first health systems in the United States to pilot a new remote monitoring technology for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Neuroglee Connect is a virtual neurological specialty care program for clinical care teams to provide ongoing, personalized support for patients with MCI and caregivers from the comfort of their homes.