Alzheimer’s/Dementia

Skilled care in the south of France

Every country in the world--from Argentina to Zimbabwe--is confronted with the problem of caring for its elderly and paying for that care. Here's a firsthand look at how senior care is provided at a facility in France. Read More »

ALFA 2013: ALFA honors six Senior Living Hero Award winners

Fmr. First Lady Laura Bush presents the Hero Awards at the ALFA 2013 conference. Read More »

The brave, new LTC world: Are you on board?

As Americans continue to aging in growing numbers, long-term care faces challenges on several fronts in providing the relevant care, services and accommodations that this new senior demographic will demand. Read More »

Leaders of Tomorrow: G. Allen Power, MD

Congratulations to Long-Term Living's  final 2013 Leaders of Tomorrow award winners: G. Allen Power, MD, Eden Mentor at St. John's Home in Rochester, New York and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Rochester. Read about Dr. Power's mission to bring culture change to seniors, with a special focus on dementia. Read More »

Research uncovers three issues responsible for ageism

Grandpa is too old to drive. Grandma keeps forgetting where her eyeglasses are. Many younger people foster these ageist attitudes, often unwarranted. As older Americans quickly outnumber the young, these discriminations need to be addressed. Read More »

Breaking news: Texas factory explosion damages nursing home

Updated: April 22, 2013, 10:00 a.m.  A massive explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco, Texas, seriously damages a local nursing home, trapping residents Wednesday night. All 133 residents had to be evacuated and/or transported to the hospital. Read More »

Cost of dementia care exceeds U.S. cancer costs

The costliest disease in the United States isn't cancer, and soon it may not be heart disease, either. Read More »

Dementia care cost is projected to double by 2040

A new study reports the cost of treating Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia at $109 billion, making it more expensive to society than either cancer or heart disease. Read More »

New research looks at effects of traumatic brain injury in older adults

Considerable opportunity exists to improve interventions and outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults, according to three studies published in the recent online issue of NeuroRehabilitation.    Read More »

CMS dashboard to simplify best practices for chronic disease

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a new analytics tool to help providers understand multiple chronic conditions in seniors. Read More »

‘Super cane’ melds mobility and monitoring

This is definitely not your grandfather’s cane—yet. Read More »

Study: Texting better than paging for speedy stroke treatment

Those who suffer a stroke may want the emergency medical staff to be busy texting instead of using an overhead paging system, a new study finds. Read More »

Researchers discover signalling pathway to control Alzheimer’s

Researchers have discovered a key protein function that appears to “turn off” Alzheimer’s disease. Read More »

Report: 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia

A new report from the Alzheimer's Association shows that while deaths from other major diseases, such as heart disease, HIV/AIDS and stroke continue to experience significant declines, Alzheimer's deaths continue to rise—increasing 68 percent from 2000-2010. Read More »

Drugs targeting blood vessels may help fight Alzheimer’s

Researchers claim to have successfully normalized the production of blood vessels in the brain of mice with Alzheimer’s disease by immunizing them with amyloid beta, a protein widely associated with the disease. Read More »

3 steps to conquering the fear of falling

Trepidation about tripping? Most seniors who have taken a tumble once, will develop a fear of falling again. Helping seniors to overcome the fear of falling starts with a deep understanding of what scares them--and then empowering them to change it. Read More »

Study: Red wine protects against hearing loss and cognitive decline

Enjoying a glass of red wine not only lifts one’s spirits and reduces the risk of heart disease, but it can also help a person maintain hearing and mental acuity. Read More »

California shines in ‘Best Nursing Homes’ annual report

Where does your city rank in U.S. News & World Report's new "Best Nursing Homes" list? Read More »

JAMA: Delayed hospice transitions undermine palliative care services

In a new JAMA study, researchers question aggressive medical treatments that may keep terminally ill patients in acute care or skilled nursing instead of referring them to hospice care. Read More »

Hormone therapy blocks accelerated biological aging in women with Alzheimer’s risk factor

A new study finds that healthy menopausal women carrying a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease showed measurable signs of accelerated biological aging. However, in carriers who started hormone therapy at menopause and remained on that therapy, this acceleration was absent. Read More »

Number of people with Alzheimer’s may triple by 2050

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 »

Namaste: Honoring the spirit within

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 »

No downside to upside risk

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 »

Study: Poor quality sleep leads to memory loss in seniors

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 »

Guidelines provided for brain amyloid imaging in people with Alzheimer’s

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 »

Fall management program reduces falls by 53 percent

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 »

Brain pacemakers offer promise to treat Alzheimer’s

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 »

Study suggests hearing loss may link to cognitive deficits

A new study suggests that hearing loss in the elderly can have serious consequences for brain functioning. Read More »

A dogged advocate for the national Alzheimer’s plan

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 »

How gray is your attitude?

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 »