Minding Our Elders®

Brain “Pacemaker” Device Moves Forward in Alzheimer’s Studies

...In this first surgery, Anderson implanted the pacemaker-like device into the area of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease, providing deep brain stimulation. The stimulator has already been used in thousands of people with Parkinson’s disease with good effect, though for Parkinson’s disease it is implanted into the specific area of the brain affected by that disease. What’s new is the realization that any number of diseases originating from the brain can be helped with deep brain stimulation by placing the stimulator in a specific area.  Other researchers are testing deep brain stimulation to control seizures, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder resistant to other therapies.

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Internet Series “Ruth and Erica” Focuses on Family Dynamics and Alzheimer’s

 “Ruth & Erica” launched this week on the YouTube Internet channel WIGS, which, according to the press release, is now the most popular channel for scripted drama on YouTube. The show portrays the dynamics of a family facing the challenges that often accompany aging and ill health.

When I asked author and director Amy Lippman (Party of Five) what prompted her to write a drama about aging, she told me, “Over the past few years, I've become increasingly aware that my conversations with my friends were veering away from our usual talk about our kids to talk of our parents, how they were aging, and how their aging was affecting us. We were constantly seeking advice from each other: what were our responsibilities toward our parents?

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FDA approves use of dye to improve diagnostic scans for Alzheimer’s

One of the most frustrating medical realities of Alzheimer’s disease is that a definitive diagnosis can only be made after death. Even though science has progressed to a point where many doctors  feel quite sure of their diagnosis, there is still a fair chance that the diagnosis is wrong. A recent article in the Detroit Free Press about the findings of Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D., head of Wayne State University's Institute of Gerontology, states that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is too freely given by the medical profession. Many cases of supposed Alzheimer’s disease studied turned out to be infections, drug interactions or another type of dementia.  

Now a fluorescent dye that binds to amyloid plaques typical of Alzheimer’s disease, will soon be used as a diagnostic tool. The enhanced scans can serve as a method for estimating plaque content in the brains of people exhibiting cognitive decline. 

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Information essential to make decision about tube feeding of dementia patients

One of the most agonizing decisions families might face can be whether or not to request or approve of a feeding tube for a loved one who is near death. Are we "playing God" by denying tube feeding to our dying loved one as long as he or she can be kept comfortable, or are we "playing God" by requesting tube feeding, with or without medical agreement? 

If the dying person left plain instructions about end-of-life medical care, made during a time of good cognition, the decision can be easier, though still fraught with emotional pain. Few of us want to be put in this situation, but many of us find ourselves facing medical people who need to know what we want done.

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In-home agencies need cell phone regulations for staff

Cell phones have become as much a part of our culture as cars. While cell phones are a wonderful convenience and occasionally a life saver, they can also be a toy and a distraction. Excessive cell phone usage has become a frequent complaint by families who hire in-home agencies to care for their elders. Every in-home agency should have a strictly enforced policy for cell phone use by their employees.

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Technology and elder care: the good, the bad and the robots?

The wide world of technology has dug many inroads into elder care. Signals to alert caregivers of a wondering elder, personal alarm systems that allow many elders to stay at home longer, even cameras to track whether or not elders have fallen, eaten or taken medications, are available. I'm all for most of it. However, there are ethical considerations in all of this. When are we, in the name of good care, being more invasive than we need to be? And when are we, out of selfishness, replacing loving hands with cold technology?

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How do your elders view new technology that monitors their home life?

During my busiest elder care years, I convinced several of my elders to wear personal medial alarms. With personal medical alarms, the person wearing the alarm is in control. If there’s a fall or other emergency, the person pushes a button on the bracelet or necklace style alarm, and help is summoned. Once they agreed to wear the devices, my elders did feel more peace of mind.

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Gold Alert for missing seniors making headway

According to an article on the Wall Street Journal website titled Lawmakers pass bill to help missing elderly, New York has joined other states including Illinois, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas in this effort that gives searching for missing seniors with disabilities the same urgency as searching for missing children.

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Take part in a university study about Alzheimer's monitoring and get gift card

An Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis student needs people to participate in a study. If you care for someone with Alzheimer's, you may want to check this out. The flyer states that you will get a $10 gift certificate for taking the survey. The survey is titled, "The Perception of Alzheimer’s Caregivers about Monitoring Alert Interventions."

In part, the survey states: You as Alzheimer’s caregivers facing overwhelming challenges as you provide daily monitoring for your loved ones. We understand that these challenges have a negative impact on you as caregivers in terms of stress, depression and anxiety and sometimes even physical distress. By recognizing the unique needs of you as Alzheimer’s caregivers, past research has attempted to assist you with this obstacles by providing varies of technology-based monitoring alert intervention such as video, audio and GPS, and monitoring systems etc.  This study aims to explore your perceptions of and experiences associated with these monitoring alert technologies.

If you are interested, here's the survey: Download Survey  Paste the links into your browser, fill it out and get your gift certificate. 

Find care agencies to help your loved one - and you - thrive:

Support a caregiver or jump start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders e-mail Carol:

How do your elders view new technology that monitors their home life?

During my busiest elder care years, I convinced several of my elders to wear person medial alarms. With personal medical alarms, the person wearing the alarm is in control. If there’s a fall or other emergency, the person pushes a button on the bracelet or necklace style alarm, and help is summoned. Once they agreed to wear the devices, my elders did feel more peace of mind.

Read more about technology for monitoring elders:

Find care agencies to help you help your loved ones:

 Support a caregiver or jump start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders e-mail Carol: