Helping caregivers of Alzheimer's patients

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Helping caregivers of Alzheimer's patients

Thursday, 25 June 2009 09:06

People who provide Alzheimer's care for either loved ones or in a retirement home setting are well aware of how their patients can suffer from the debilitating disease.

At times, those with Alzheimer's become very disoriented and even wander off, sometimes out of the home without their caregiver's knowledge.

Now, a new device in development aims to reassure nurses and families in that while their patient may start to meander outside, this individual will easily be found again.

According to McKnights.com, researchers are looking into adding a GPS chip to the shoes of some with Alzheimer's.

An invisible boundary will alert caretakers and families when the senior passes a certain area, such that he or she will not get too far away.

This tracking system would work for Alzheimer's patients because, the article explains, those with this disease are not very likely to remove their shoes when disoriented and wandering.

In addition, Japanese scientists recently released the results of a study that aims to indicate early on whether or not a person will develop Alzheimer's.

The scientists found that a peptide in spinal fluid may indicate the disease and while this is only in clinical trials, the test appears to uncover the condition before the brain is seriously damaged. Helping caregivers of Alzheimer's patients

Helping caregivers of Alzheimer's patients

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Mobile and online services could make caring for older persons more efficient Wednesday, October 14, 2009

A report recently published in the UK claims wireless healthcare services could relieve some of the responsibility placed upon the healthcare and social care providers that look after older persons.

Peter Kruger is an analyst at Wireless Healthcare, a company that enables care providers to deliver their services to patients using wireless technology, according to its website. In his report entitled Alpha Moms, Alpha Daughters and Mobile Health he says that equipping the relatives of elderly people with mobile phone based healthcare services could be an important development in eldercare.

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Gerontology students learn about retirement living conditions by 'becoming' seniors Monday, August 24, 2009

The next generation of healthcare professionals that provide medical services to seniors in retirement living conditions will have been able to see life through the eyes of their patients thanks to a recent seminar on disabilities in the elderly.

At the University of South Carolina, gerontology students were able to mimic the conditions experienced by aging Americans, using bulky gloves that simulated arthritis to try and open pill bottles and complete other tasks, as well as ear plugs and partial blindfolds to approximate loss of some senses.

"It was illuminating to experience firsthand the vision loss that comes with age," said Zachary Gassoumis, a doctoral student.

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Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A book review by Sunrise Senior Living

Don’t Toss My Memories in the Trash - By Vickie Dellaquila

Even in the most loving and well adjusted of families, there are conversations that almost certainly lead to bruised emotions and frayed tempers. The first is when adult children inquire about their parents' finances. The second is when they ask parents to give up their car keys. And the third is when they suggest that they move from a long-time home to a senior living community.

Helping caregivers of Alzheimer's patients

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