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Conditions & Treatments

How can you Live a Brain-Healthy Lifestyle and Why is it Important?

by Silverado
written by Silverado

In recent years a major recurring theme has taken center stage in scientific research on the human brain:

The lifestyle a person leads plays a major factor in how the brain ages and can directly affect the arc of memory-impairing diseases.

From diet and exercise to stress management and social interaction, there are very few parts of a person’s lifestyle that don’t affect how their brain will age. Though the level of detail provided by these studies can vary greatly, there has never been a better understanding of how the lifestyle choices a person can make to increase their chances of keeping their brain healthy later in life!

Here is a simple list of things a person can do to put the brain-health odds in their favor:

  • Follow an established diet that has been shown to help with healthy aging. The MIND Diet and other diets that are lower in fat and higher in veggies and fruit can keep both your heart and mind healthy! Stick to foods that are low in fat and cholesterol, such as fish, poultry, nuts and whole grains.
  • Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, though the longer and more active the better. Physical activity and aerobic exercise have been found to have significant brain benefits and can actually cause important parts of the brain to increase in size. Even simple tasks like gardening and cleaning can help keep your circulatory system delivering oxygen more efficiently throughout the body.
  • Control stress with meditation, Yoga, Tai Chi or other proven techniques. Taking a few minutes to calm the mind can reduce blood pressure and even increase activity in the hippocampus.
  • Keep social and be purposeful. A strong social network involving purpose-oriented activities like volunteering has been found to protect against cognitive decline.

 

While scientists are still studying many of the more specific aspects of these lifestyle choices, they are already being used to help individuals living with dementia in programs like Nexus® at Silverado. This internationally recognized, evidence-based brain health program, is a non-drug approach that has improved cognition and function for many persons in the earlier stages of living with dementia.

Find more useful tips and information here: https://www.silverado.com/resource-center/dementia-resources/

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What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia?
Conditions & Treatments

What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia?

by Silverado
written by Silverado

 

Though many primary care physicians are able to make an initial diagnosis of dementia and provide basic care for memory-impairing diseases, working with a specialist in brain disorders and taking advantage of the physician’s more extensive experience is a necessity for more thorough treatment. According to Dr. Piero G. Antuono, Silverado Brookfield Medical Director, those seeking the most thorough treatment and care of dementia are best served by consulting doctors with formal training and experience in geriatrics, neurology or psychiatry. What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia?
Geriatrician
A geriatric physician is a doctor that specializes in working with older adults, from diagnosis and treatment to disease and disability prevention. Geriatricians are specially trained in the aging process. Some common health care concerns that affect older adults include pain, falls, memory loss and side effects from medication. Any cognitive illness or disability that may lead to dependence on others for assistance is a good indicator of when to see a geriatric physician.
Neurologist
A neurology specialist is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders, which include diseases affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. Neurologists are also able to take brain scans for diagnostic testing. Examinations include tests in muscle strength, movement, balance, sensation, memory, speech and cognitive abilities. What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia?
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist specializes in treating mental and emotional disorders, including anxiety, depression, psychosis and developmental disabilities. They’re trained in the social medical, and psychological components of behavioral disorders, and therefore can practice psychotherapy, prescribe medications and help families cope with the stress of having a loved with behavioral diseases.
For more videos of physicians answering common dementia-related questions, please click here.

What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia?

What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia? What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia? What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia? What Kind of Doctor Treats Dementia?

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Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving
Caregiving

Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving

by Silverado
written by Silverado

Caring for a loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be an incredibly tiresome job. From the long hours, to psychological exhaustion, to the physically demanding environment, there are very few ways to actively prepare for and predict the responsibilities that caregiving entails. Silverado’s Director of Clinical Education Sue Kruse shares key tactics for managing the day-to-day challenges of dementia caregivers.

Communication Through Understanding

According to Kruse, one of the most frustrating problem areas for individuals with dementia and their caregivers is communication. Many times, the person living with dementia may be unable to express their needs, leading them to become increasingly frustrated.
Kruse says that it can be easier to identify the need by attempting to understand what the person with dementia is trying to express. For example, if an individual protests taking a shower, Kruse suggests thinking of alternative ways of presenting a solution.
“Postpone the shower until later in the day, or give the person a reason to take the shower, ‘Your son Bob is coming for lunch today, so we need to take a shower.’” Kruse says.

Acknowledgement is Key

Typically, when a person with dementia says something that may not be true, it’s best not to rationalize and correct their thoughts. “If the person says they need to go to school today, make a simple statement such as, ‘Today is Saturday, isn’t it wonderful that we have no school today?’” Kruse says. Because dementia patients can have a false sense of reality, trying to explain something may confuse or frustrate them even more.

Know your Own Limits

With the physical and psychological demands that come with dementia caregiving, studies show that caregivers are at risk for increased health problems, such as chronic fatigue, loss of appetite or even depression. “Caring for someone with dementia is a 24 hour a day job and is overwhelming for anyone.” says Kruse. Therefore, knowing your limits and practicing self-care is critical in order to fully be present and care for your loved one. Kruse advises to take help offered by friends, family, or day care programs.

Minimize Disrupted Sleep

Kruse explains that as dementia progresses, sleep disturbances can often occur for both the person with dementia and their caregiver. “The person with dementia can be up during the night attempting to leave the house or rummaging throughout the home, causing the caregiver to be sleep deprived,” Kruse says as an example. Though uninterrupted sleep throughout the night may not always be easy to achieve, taking a few extra steps can minimize distractions so both parties can have restful nights. For example, you can switch off care during graveyard or night shifts. You can also make the sleeping environment extra comfortable by playing restful music.

Never Take Rejection or Frustration Personally

It’s important to remember that changes in mood and personality are caused by chemical changes in the brain, not by daily tasks. “Realize that the person living with dementia is often afraid and confused and this is a defense mechanism,” says Kruse. Learn to compartmentalize their behaviors with performance as a caregiver.

Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving

Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving Ask an Expert: Five Tactics for Dementia Caregiving

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His Love was Stronger than Alzheimer's
Aging

His Love was Stronger than Alzheimer's

by Silverado
written by Silverado

Alzheimer’s is a real problem facing real people every day. If you or someone you know has faced it, you understand the emotional toll it takes. When we came across one couple’s journey, it touched us so deeply that we spent two full days capturing their love story to be shared with the world. His Love was Stronger than Alzheimer’s

John and Kerry McNeely learned of Kerry’s Alzheimer’s in 2014, shortly after a trip to Europe. Soon after, John sought help for her at Silverado. At the memory care community, he was able join a family support group to openly discuss his experience. During one of those meetings, he put his thoughts on paper — words he didn’t realize at the time would touch more than 100,000 lives.
 
 

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Caregiving

What Hospice Can Do For Your Loved One and You

by Silverado
written by Silverado

November is National Hospice & Palliative Care Month. Although the concept of hospice care has been around for centuries, it is still an area of medical practice that many people today aren’t aware of. Hospice provides comfort and support during the final stages of one’s life. It does more than just meet the physical needs of patients. In many cases, patients require more than just physical comfort. It may be that the patient has spiritual or psychosocial needs that could be fulfilled before their passing. Hospice offers many resources and programs to meet these needs and ensure the patient has dignity and is at peace at the end of their journey.

A Painless Departure

Medication is often used during hospice to relieve any pain that the patient may be going through. Controlling pain is a significant part of allowing a patient to pass away with dignity and gives the patient and their family a chance to share their final moments. Morphine is a common medication used during this process, however, for some individuals, the side effects outweigh the benefits. In these cases, alternative methods of pain relief would be considered.

At Peace with the Mind and Soul

Hospice is accompanied by various programs to meet the needs of not only the patient’s but also their families and friends’ mind and soul. Hospices might provide families opportunities to collect the experiences and memories of their loved one into tangible objects, such as a DVD or a book so that they will always have a piece of them after they move on. At Silverado Hospice, these are known as Memory Catchers. Patients can come from various cultural or religious backgrounds, and they may want that reflected in the way they are cared for and pass away. Hospice can accommodate for any cultural traditions or religious practices they would like incorporated. Grief counseling and bereavement support is also provided to the patient’s family and friends to help deal with their loss.

We Honor Veterans

Those who serve our country in the armed forces are deserving of special honor for their bravery and dedication. Nowhere is this truer than at the end of a veteran’s life, so many hospices, including Silverado Hospice, are proud to partner with We Honor Veterans to help provide care that honors the individual and their service. We Honor Veterans is a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, run in collaboration with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Through this program, hospices are able to accommodate for the specific needs that veterans often have. These include providing care and support specific to traumas and wars they served in and care focused on population, such as homelessness, substance abuse, and PTSD.

Perhaps one of the best things hospice can do is provide these benefits without adding additional financial burden to the family. Hospice is funded by Medicare, Medicaid and also by most individual insurers for individuals who have a six-month or less terminal prognosis. When needing hospice, it’s important to learn about the hospice benefits, available coverage and hospice care providers near you.

 

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Caregiving

Answers to 5 most Frequently Asked Hospice Questions

by Silverado
written by Silverado

While most people have heard of hospice, a surprising number don’t have a complete understanding of the actual details of the method and purpose of it. November has been declared National Hospice and Palliative Care Month by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), a time to help build awareness of comfort-based care among those it may benefit.

Here are just a few common hospice questions and answers to them:

What is the purpose of hospice?
Hospice is a change of focus from curative treatments to a different set of goals – comfort and quality of life. Comfort care includes physical therapy, spiritual & emotional support, companionship and even the granting of life-long wishes. Hospice gives the patient and their family the opportunity to enjoy life and celebrate the bonds and memories they share.

How does hospice care start?
When a physician makes a prognosis that a patient has six months or less to live they may place an order for hospice care. At this point, a hospice provider can be contacted to start the hospice admission process (please note that “admission” refers to the start of service and does not necessarily reflect the patient being physically admitted to a facility or new location).

Will hospice make my loved one die sooner?
The goal of hospice is to provide comfort as the natural process of dying takes its course. In no way is there any effort or intention to hasten a patient’s death while on hospice, just to provide comfort while the patient’s journey comes to an end.

Does insurance cover hospice costs?
Hospice is funded by Medicare, Medicaid and also by most individual insurers. Hospice coverage is available to anyone that has a six-month or less terminal prognosis. The costs associated with most medications and therapies that relieve pain and provide comfort are covered as a part of hospice. Hospice services can actually remove some financial burden families or responsible parties, who may otherwise need to pay out-of-pocket for medications or equipment like beds or wheelchairs.

Does a patient have to go to a hospice facility in order to receive care?
Hospice services can be provided at any number of locations, including most retirement and assisted living facilities. Because comfort and tranquility are the goals, great effort is taken to keep patients in place and prevent stresses involved with hospital readmissions or relocations to a dedicated hospice facility. Silverado does not operate hospice facilities. Our hospice teams work on-site at patients’ residences, be they a private home, assisted living or other facility.

For more answers to common hospice questions, please visit Silverado.com/hospiceFAQs

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20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know
Conditions & TreatmentsHealth

20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know

by Silverado
written by Silverado

When accompanying a loved one on the journey of dementia, new and unfamiliar words are encountered almost daily. Understanding these words and phrases is essential to navigating the road ahead and ensuring that the best care possible is provided. 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know
The following list of 20 common dementia-related terms that caregivers and loved ones may find useful.

  1. Activities of daily living (often called ADLs):Personal care activities necessary for everyday living, such as eating, bathing, grooming, dressing and using the toilet.
  2. Alleles:One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a single locus (spot on a chromosome) or site.
  3. Amyloid:A waxy translucent substance consisting of protein in combination with polysaccharides that is deposited in some animal organs and tissues under abnormal conditions (such as Alzheimer’s disease).
  4. Amyloid plaque:Buildup of amyloid protein and a primary hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
  5. Aphasia:An acquired inability to use certain aspects of language. It can be either an expressive or a receptive language disorder. “Aphasia” is a very broad term that is made more useful by descriptive qualifiers indicating the type of language impairment involved.
  6. Ataxia:Loss or failure of muscular coordination. Movement, especially gait, is clumsy and appears to be uncertain. Ataxic patients often sway while walking. Ataxia usually results from an inaccurate sense of position in the lower limbs. Difficulty with gait increases greatly when the patient is asked to walk with eyes closed.
  7. Autonomic nervous system:The part of the nervous system concerned with visceral and involuntary functions.
  8. Beta amyloid:An amyloid derived from a larger precursor protein; it is a component of the senile or neuritic plaques characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.
  9. Bradykinesia:A motor disorder, frequently seen in Parkinson’s disease, which results from rigidity of muscles and which is manifested by slow finger movements and loss offine motor skills such as writing.
  10. Dopamine:A neurotransmitter that is important in reward-motivated behavior. It is the neurotransmitter deficient in those with Parkinson’s disease.
  11. Dysphagia:Difficulty in swallowing.
  12. Gamma secretase: An enzyme partly responsible for plaque buildup in the brain characteristic of Alzheimer’s.
  13. Hippocampus:An area buried deep in the forebrain that helps regulate emotion and memory.
  14. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): A syndrome of memory impairment that does not significantly affect daily activities and is not accompanied by declines in overall cognitive function.
  15. Neuropsychiatrist:A specialist in the medicine concerned with both neurology and psychiatry.
  16. Neuropsychologist:A psychologist who has completed special training in the neurobiological causes of brain disorders, and who specializes in diagnosing and treating these illnesses using a predominantly medical (as opposed to psychoanalytical) approach.
  17. Positron Emission Tomography (PET):A highly specialized imaging technique using short-lived radioactive substances. This technique produces three-dimensional colored images.
  18. Synapse:The space between the terminal end of an axon and another cell body. Neurotransmitters are released in the synapse and carry signals from one nerve cell to another.
  19. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs):Brief episodes of insufficient blood supply to selected portions of the brain.
  20. Ventricles:The spaces within the brain through which cerebrospinal fluid circulates.

For a comprehensive dementia care glossary, please visit Silverado.

20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know

20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know 20 Dementia-Related Words You Should Know

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Healthy Living

Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay

by Silverado
written by Silverado

For years science has been building and ever-expanding body of evidence that staying social has benefits to those with Alzheimer’s and other memory impairing diseases. Along with exercise (and sometimes incorporated directly with it), social interactions may be one of the best and easiest ways to help individuals facing the challenges with dementia. Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay
Released by The Lancet Neurology in 2006, a study titled “The effect of social networks on the relation between Alzheimer’s disease pathology and level of cognitive function” showed a relation between social network size and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease. Similarly, a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Public Health titled ”Social network, cognitive function, and dementia incidence among elderly women” showed evidence that larger social networks have a protective influence on cognitive function in elderly women.
So what does this mean in a practical sense?
Individuals in the early stages of dementia should be encouraged to engage with others in a social setting as much as possible. As a part of the Nexus at Silverado® program, this is put into practice through resident engagements like social clubs (cooking, crafts, etc.) and volunteer events to help people (and animals!) in need.
Often times these engaging activities are combined with physical activities such as walking groups or Tai Chi, layering on the benefits of exercise and stress reduction (also science-based Nexus activities). The underlying benefit to all of these activities is staving off the isolation and depression that often come with dementia, as they can exacerbate symptoms.
Community centers, churches and civic organizations are all great places to find activities for your loved one and yourself, offering meet-ups, day trips, crafts and other great ways to stay social. There aren’t many better ways to have fun and do something beneficial!
For information on brain-health studies, click here.

Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay

Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at Bay Staying Social to keep Dementia at BayStaying Social to keep Dementia at Bay

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Is Alzheimer's Disease Hereditary?
Conditions & Treatments

Is Alzheimer's Disease Hereditary?

by Silverado
written by Silverado

A common concern about Alzheimer’s disease raised by family members is to understand whether Alzheimer’s is hereditary. Dr. Sarah E. Ross, Silverado medical associate, explains that the disease can be hereditary, depending on the circumstance patient’s age being one of the biggest risk factors. Is Alzheimer’s Disease Hereditary?

 
Ross explains that if someone develops Alzheimer’s disease in the later years of their lives, between ages 75-­85, the risk of developing it within the family is no greater than the general population. However when a patient develops the disease during their 50s or ­60s, “the family link is much stronger for early ­onset Alzheimer’s disease,” says Ross. Additionally, the disease presents itself differently in younger versus older patients. The progression of Alzheimer’s is more rapid in younger patients, whereas the the disease can be a slower and gradual progression in older patients.

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