Alzheimer’s disease is an unlikely topic for Oscar buzz, but it nevertheless dominated red-carpet chatter this year, as Julianne Moore was an early favorite to win the Best Actress award for Still Alice. Alice is a devastatingly affecting film about a woman diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Moore was universally praised for her unshakeable performance[...]
With or without dementia, old age is accompanied by a decline in memory and cognitive function. That’s been an unassailable fact since the dawn of time. But it might not be fact anymore. A growing body of research demonstrates that while mental decline may not be entirely preventable, it is increasingly possible to substantially stave[...]
Life as a caregiver is tough — especially if you aren’t being paid for it. View image | gettyimages.com Studies show that the majority of America’s healthcare providers are gratuitous. That means they are uncompensated volunteers, usually family members, who assume the tremendous burden of elder care on their own. Caring for any senior is[...]
Stroke and dementia are fears we all face, especially in older age. The thought of encountering both in a lifetime is unsettling to say the least. And yet a new report finds that the combo is more common than we ever realized. There are nearly 8 million new cases of dementia every year, but despite[...]
When A.I. was released, the movie was met with generally favorable reviews. I liked it, but the movie seemed to be two different films in one. The middle part was an adventure story about a robot seeking to be a human and all the struggles that a future Pinocchio might face. The beginning and the end[...]
I have many meetings with families that are caring for a family member with some form of dementia. While I normally collect this information ahead of time, I can spot those families without any warning from the moment I walk into the room. These are the families that look completely exhausted. That probably sounds a[...]
When considering estate planning, many people understandably zero in on what should happen after death. However, an equally important part of estate planning considers what should happen towards the end of a person’s life. This is important, as one in eight Americans will deal with Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime. Even more will deal with[...]
By the year 2050, experts estimate that 277 million older Americans will be dependent on another person. This dependence will largely be due to increasing instances of dementia in varying forms. A recent article discusses several things a person can do to protect him or herself from the possibility that he or she will suffer[...]
Assisting a family member after he or she has been diagnosed with dementia is often a difficult and daunting task. Luckily, there are scores of online resources available to help. A recent article discusses several of these web sites. One helpful web site is The Hartford. This site provides information on the interaction of dementia[...]
When people are young and healthy, they don’t often take the time to plan for their possible incapacity by executing legal documents including a power of attorney and living will. As a recent article explains, however, these documents should be completed sooner rather than later. These documents are especially important given the fact that a[...]