Five New Genes Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease

Categories: Aging Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Caring For Elderly, Dementia, Helping Seniors, Medical, Resources

Bloomberg.com recently reported that five new genes have been definitively linked to Alzheimer’s disease, which doubles the total number confirmed by scientists.  This found information creates new areas for research into an illness that affects 35 million people globally.

“Hope grows with every small step taken toward identifying how to immunize against, treat or stop altogether this difficult disease called Alzheimer’s,” said Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging. “Here’s a little more hope and inspiration to add to what we know.”

Read the story.

The Meeting of the Minds: Dementia Conference 2011

Categories: Caring For Elderly, Dementia, Podcasts, Resources

 The Meeting of Minds 2011 Dementia Conference [10:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (57)

Staying up to date on news and research regarding aging and the elderly should be a number one priority for caregivers. Deborah Dolan, the Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show discuss The Meeting of the Minds: Dementia Conference. The Alzheimers Association partnering with the Mayor Clinic puts on a one-day conference, held at the RiverCentre in St. Paul Minnsota, that is designed to inform, equip and support persons with dementia, family caregivers and professionals.

Links:

“Jan’s Story” – book written by Barry Peterson about redefining our family and romantic directives.

Intimacy, Sexuality and Alzheimers Disease” – breakout sessions with Glenn Smith Ph.D., L.P., Professor of Psychology for the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic.

Deborah Dolan’s Top 5 Reasons for Seniors to Become Comfortable with a Computer

Categories: Active Senior Living, Caring For Elderly, Elderly Drivers, Grandparents, Helping Seniors, Resources, Uncategorized

Just because you didn’t grow up learning how to use a computer, that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to try it now! Need a few reasons why? How about for communication purposes, to read research and reviews on doctors/medications, to find updated news, to order products/items online instead of having to drive or get a ride to the store – and there are many more reasons! Here are Advocate on Aging Debora Dolan’s top 5 reasons to become comfortable with a computer:

1. The rest of the world depends on the computer for information and communication – time to join in!
2. Your grandkids will say that they know more than you if you don’t become computer literate! Why not become computer savvy to be able to communicate with your family in a different way?
3. It helps you connect with those places you no longer are able to travel to – from the grocery store to the Turkish flea market!
4. The internet gives you the tools to care for yourself. For example, you can keep your medication list on file and current, research the reasons why you have been prescribed a certain medication, or view your medical records.
5. Using a computer gives you reason to think, which means it allows your brain to organize information and solve problems. All of these activities promote mental acuity to help you stay mentally young.

How “Senior-Friendly” is Your Favorite Restaurant?

Categories: Active Senior Living, Caring For Elderly, Helping Seniors

Some restaurant experiences can be all about the ambiance – the soft lighting, beautiful music and creatively designed menus. As you take your seat and begin to enjoy yourself with others at your table, you notice that it can be difficult to hold a conversation with loudness of the mood-setting music. Once you take a glance at the menu you notice that between the low-lighting small type, it can be hard to read the list of options.

As the baby boomer population ages, will more restaurants need to cater to the needs of seniors?

“Fast forward 20 years, and we baby boomers will have yet another perspective to offer on many aspects of life!” said Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan.  “Seriously, our citizens over 70 are frequent customers to various restaurants around town.  It would be an excellent business practice to increase the size of the menu font to 14 instead of 12 or smaller, and be sure the font type is simple – straight lines and no curly-ques.”

As for using “cheaters,” or reading glasses, Deborah agrees that they can be very helpful. “Readers in a basket is a good idea. How about those flashlight with magnifying glass in a basket as well to help so the ambiance created by the low-lighting remains intact? Don’t forget the comfort foods on the menu!  I rather like the idea of ‘prune brulee’!  A little creative thinking increases the pleasure for everyone!”

Interventions

Categories: Aging Advocacy, Caring For Elderly, Grandparents, Podcasts, Resources

 Standard Podcast [16:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (50)

In this podcast, Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan talks with Kevyn Burger about interventions. When enough is enough with the poor choices or behaviors of a loved one, interventions are often the only answer to save that person. Deborah and Kevyn discuss techniques that can help families and loved ones address severe problems, such as addictions and destructive behaviors.  Deborah shares her advice on how to initiate an intervention, who should be involved, and how to find additional resources.

Long-Term Care for Seniors: Dr. Robert Kane Shares Insights

Categories: Active Senior Living, Aging Advocacy, Caring For Elderly, Grandparents, Hospitalization, In-Home Care, Medical, Uncategorized

In a recent article from the Star Tribune, reporter Warren Wolfe dug deep into the issues that can arise while caring for elderly loved ones. The article features Dr. Robert Kane, a physician who heads the U of M Center on Aging. Kane was so frustrated with the problems he and his sister faced after caring for their aging mom that he wrote a book about the long-term care system.

Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan shared her thoughts on the article and Kane’s work. “Dr. Kane expresses beautifully from personal experience the essence of a geriatric care manager (GCM),” said Deborah.  “He speaks well of the advocacy a strong, knowledgeable GCM can provide to elders and their family.  Even in the best of circumstances when you are an adult child of an aging parent providing the daily love and support they need can be ‘grueling,’ and a geriatric care manager can help.”

Deborah had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Kane several years ago as she was growing her geriatric care management business, and he spoke of his experience with his mother.  He had formed the on-line support group and found that he had many colleagues in a similar position of caregiving as he and his sister.  Deborah was not sure if he was promoting his number one lesson just yet, but she is glad to know the importance of a GCM has found a prominent position on his list of lessons learned.

For Kane’s work, Deborah is appreciative. “Thank you, Dr. Kane, for your support both as a care manager and as a volunteer with the Senior Linkage Line.  An additional resource of the Minnesota Board on Aging is www.minnesotahelp.info, an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help’ (taken from the website).  It is a wonderful point of beginning when families are ready to take the first step in finding help for their aging loved ones.”

What’s in a food label?

Categories: Uncategorized

Today guest blogger Jolene Bell Makowesky (sister of Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan) weighs in on what you should know about changes in nutrition labels that are on every-day food items.

On January 24^th the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) released their Nutrition Keys program in response to Michelle Obama’s request to develop a front-of-pack labeling system that could be widely adopted on food packages in a way that consumers can quickly select more nutritional items when shopping. This replaces another initiative from two years ago named Smart Choices that the FDA labeled as misleading. Let’s face it, the job of food companies are the same as politicians and the media—they need to spin what they are doing or saying to make it “appear” beneficial, safe or in this case healthy.

I have been reading food labels for more than 10 years in an effort to consume a whole foods diet. In essence, focus on cooking fresh or frozen meat, vegetables, and grains; not eating processed foods that have preservatives, colorings, any kind of hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, enriched or bleached flours, and monosodium glutamate as ingredients. Accomplishing this requires a lot of label reading. As I began reading food labels, I discovered two things: 1) there is always a trade-off for purity, and 2) natural does not equate to healthy.

A trade-off for purity directly correlates to “fat free” or “reduced-fat” products. An example is the difference between regular and reduced fat cheddar cheese. Yes, reduced fat cheddar is lower in total fat by three grams and 20 calories per serving. However, it is only one gram lower in saturated fat—that is the bad fat for our body, as well as it is higher in carbohydrates and sugar per serving. Our bodies turn carbohydrates into sugar. So, is saving only one gram of saturated fat worth increasing carbohydrate and sugar intake, when saturated fat and too many carbohydrates are significant contributors to chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes?

If fat free or reduced-fat foods are not healthy choices, then logic says products labeled “natural” should be. Not necessarily. Once again reading the label is of utmost importance. Another example, companies will add various cane juices, honey, and maple syrup in order to enhance the flavor of natural grains. Yes, these products are natural and healthier than processed sugars, but too much of a good thing can make these foods items just as unhealthy as processed products.

The moral of the story is that when a senior, or any one, chooses “fat free”, “reduced-fat”, or “all natural” products, compare labels. Just choose products that do not include hydrogenated oils, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and enriched or bleached flours as one of the first five ingredients.

Thanks, Jolene!

Support Groups: The Common Bond

Categories: Active Senior Living, Caring For Elderly, Podcasts, Resources

 Support Groups: The Common Bond [9:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (32)

In this podcast, Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan talks with Kevyn Burger about support groups. Support groups are made of people who are going through or have gone through similar experiences. The purpose is to address what each person is dealing with in his or her own life, provide support, and often discuss techniques that can help one another cope with their problems. Sometimes the group is needed by someone who is dealing with issues, and sometimes it is needed by the loved one of a person that has issues. Deborah shares her advice on what to look for in a support group, as well as what they can do for you.

Imposters Trick Seniors out of $84K+

Categories: Active Senior Living, Caring For Elderly, scams

Seniors, beware of fraudulent coin dealers. The Star Tribune recently reported that a coin and bullion dealer in MN allegedly defrauded clients, including many elderly persons. The accusations state “the coin company took money and property from senior citizens and failed to deliver the product.”

Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson believes that Tony Hughes of Reputable Rare Coins and others associated with the company are “misrepresenting the value of the rare metals they sell.” The lawsuit against the company involves four separate clients who vary in age from 71 to 91. The combined loses between all four clients exceeds $84,300.

Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan has had experience with the issue of tricking seniors – she has seen a client deal with it first-hand. “One of my clients who was affected with dementia spent $10 to $500 monthly on ‘rare coins,’ ‘recently minted coins,’ or some other descriptor designed to draw her attention,” said Deborah. “Before I met her, she had given her name to a telephone solicitor of these coins, and he called frequently to inquire as to her health and to tell her of the next great deal.  He played to her disease perfectly speaking to her by name in a tone of caring and compassion.  I had the opportunity to hear a portion of a conversation.  Fortunately, my client moved from her home and her phone was disconnected, but I’m sure her caller simply turned his charm toward another unassuming elderly client.”

Deborah also knows that this type of situation happens more often than many people realize. “From my perspective, these sales people are predators preying on the elderly. They have no idea – therefore I assume they do not care – if the elder person has plenty of money or if he is taking their last dime.  There is nothing more deplorable than building a relationship built on false promises in an effort to deceive a vulnerable person.  Needless to say, I feel very strongly about this situation.”