RetirementHomes.com - alzheimer's disease.

Music brings back Memories for Alzheimer's Patients

aadmin — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:08:20 +0000

Music has permeated business settings for many years, especially the hospitality industry.

Designed music streams through restaurants and hotels to help clients relax, identify with brands, and reach for their pocket books.

Leanne Flask, from Austin, TX, has been in the vanguard of branded background music for over a decade. Now, her aural role has expanded into Co-founder, Chief Content Officer of Coro Health, where she develops streaming music for healthcare environments.

Under Flask's guidance, Coro Health's programs help stimulate cognition and alleviate depression in Alzheimer's patients. The programs are set up on streaming platforms through computers or recently launched apps for iPhone and iPad.

According to Flask, the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) is the center for music, memories, and emotions. The MPFC is one of the last sections of the brain to degenerate in Alzheimer's and remains accessible to music's therapeutic effect.

Alzheimer's patients can lose familiarity with their families, but a song can facilitate the return of memory. Long-term patients with Alzheimer's will talk during familiar songs and recognize family members.

"Alzheimer's brings on stress and sadness for patient and family members," Flask said. "Interaction with family members becomes meaningful by playing a variety of designed music."

Flask’s initiation into music's healing effects began with studies in classical piano, oboe, and opera. She volunteered for a high school program for children with special needs, practicing her musical theater songs during supervision.

While sitting on the floor and singing, a non-communicative autistic boy approached her and crawled up on her lap, put his hands on her throat, and began humming with her. She realized that music was much more powerful than she’d thought.

"It plays in space, and makes us react on many levels."

As a business woman, she branched into branding and music and gained success in music design. But she returned home to Kansas to visit her mother who'd suffered an aneurysm.

“She used to play for me when I sang opera, so I sang for her,” said Flask. "She didn’t recognize anyone else but she recognized me and sang with me.”

Flask predicts that Coro Health's concept will gain wider acceptance in the aging community. “The technology of therapeutic music will evolve,” she said. “All that’s needed is a cell phone or a computer or a tablet.”

Creation of meaningfully designed music gives hope to people with Alzheimer's and their families.

Tags:

alzheimer's

alzheimer's care

alzheimer's disease.

Categories:

Alzheimer's Care

Brain Health

Caregiving

Family and Personal Care

Senior Living

11th Mild Cognitive Impairment Symposium

aadmin — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:04:36 +0000

The 11th Mild Cognitive Impairment Symposium will be held at The Wien Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Miami Florida, from January 19 to 20, 2013.

The 2nd Early Alzheimer's Diagnostic and Treatment Workshop and the 1st Early Alzheimer’s Public Educational Forum will be held during the Symposium.

The schedule is as follows:

11th Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Symposium (Saturday, January 19)
2nd Early Alzheimer’s Diagnostic and Treatment Workshop (Sunday morning, January 20)
1st Mount Sinai of Florida's Early Alzheimer's Public Educational Forum (Sunday afternoon, January 20)

The symposium's theme will be centered on the progression rates from normal to mild cognitive impairment and then to dementia.

SPEAKERS

1. David A. Bennett, MD is the Robert C. Borwell Professor of Neurological Sciences and director of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center.

2. Tammie Benzinger, MD, PhD focuses her research on translating advanced neuromagnetic resonance imaging techniques from small animal research in the Department of Radiology, to translational research in the Center for Clinical Imaging Research (CCIR), and into clinical practice.

3. Maria Carrillo, PhD, the Vice President, Medical and Scientific Affairs, at the Alzheimer's Association.

Many more clinical experts from across the USA will present at the conference.

There will be an ongoing poster session reviewed by the Program Committee.

As in 2012, this event will be held back to back with the 7th Human Amyloid Imaging (HAI) Conference, presented at the same venue between January 16-18, 2013.

Tags:

alzheimer's

alzheimer's care

alzheimer's disease.

Categories:

Senior Living Professionals

Upcoming Events

Is Safety for Seniors a Top Priority?

aadmin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:07:09 +0000

On January 1, California will enact the the Silver Alert program., according to The Sacramento Bee. If a person age 65 or older with dementia or Alzheimer's disease is reported missing, local police can request the California Highway Patrol to issue a bulletin asking for public, news media and law enforcement departments to search for the person. An estimated 30 states already have Silver Alert programs in place.

In the next 20 years, the giant Baby Boomer generation will increase California's 65-plus population from 4.5 million to 9 million. Silver Alerts will sound when older people wander or drive away from their homes or nursing facilities – a common event among people with moderate to severe dementia.

Wandering elders can walk or drive for hours, even if they are feeble. They may not eat, may not be dressed for difficult weather conditions, and often fail to ask for help. Add on a need for medications and the situation could be dangerous. to the point of serious injury or death, according to the state legislative assembly.

Safety for Seniors

Ruth Gay of the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California was quoted: "When we think of the number of baby boomers out there, it is a train wreck in the making if we don't figure out ways to protect our seniors."

Sacramento city police officials stated that calls about missing adults are routinely solved in a timely manner, and are frequently based on miscommunication. City Police Detective Chris Bernacchi told the Bee: "Anything that will get more information to the public to assist us in locating a missing person is great."

Tags:

alzheimer's

alzheimer's care

alzheimer's disease.

Categories:

Family and Personal Care

Retirement living senior singing group dazzles crowds

aadmin — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:04:10 +0000

A group of active living seniors have been brushing off their vocal chords to woo audiences across Boston's South Shore, reports WickedLocal.com.

The singing group, known as the Opals (Older People's Active Lifestyles), features musically-inclined members between the ages of 60 to 96 years old.

"We have so much fun," Ann Kelsey, a 15-year veteran of the Opals, told the news source.

"I think we have more fun than the audience."

The club's repertoire includes classic tunes, such as "When You're Smiling," "Blue Skies" and "God Bless America." Members belt out numbers as a group and in solos and duets, and perform in front of dozens of audiences every year.

Public interest in retirement living singers is nothing new. In fact, the documentary Young at Heart, which chronicled the journey of a choir of 22 talented senior citizens, was met with critical and audience acclaim when it was released in 2008.

Retirement living seniors who want to lend their singing skills to a local chorus should do some research on the internet to see what their community offers.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories:

Scientists may develop Alzheimer's eye test for retirement living seniors

aadmin — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:04:10 +0000

While the effects of Alzheimer's Disease are startling, diagnosing the mental illness is often difficult. Retirement living seniors who believe they have the disease often endure a series of evaluations, rather than being given one single test.

Now, a group of Boston University scientists may have made a breakthrough in creating a clear-cut Alzheimer's diagnosis.

The researchers discovered that a toxic protein is found in the brains of patients with the disease - as well as people with Down syndrome.

"People with Down syndrome develop symptoms of Alzheimer's-type dementia often by the age of 30," said Lee E. Goldstein, senior corresponding author.

The findings may lead to the development of an eye exam that can prove if a retirement living senior has developed the debilitating mental illness.

The Alzheimer's Association reports that 5.3 billion people are suffering from the disease worldwide. And while a cure for the illness is certainly important, people should rest assured that progress is happening.

"The lens provides a window to the brain," said co-lead author Juliet A. Moncaster.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories:

Active living senior celebrates eightieth birthday by going skydiving

aadmin — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:04:10 +0000

Ann Hall Norris is 80 years old and 90 pounds, but the active living senior doesn't have a cowardly bone in her body.

The woman, who earned her piloting license when she was 40 years old, just celebrated her septuagenarian status by going skydiving, according to KnoxNews.com.

"This will probably end up being one of her new stories," Grayson Smith, president of the Memphis Storytellers League.

For the past 20 years Norris has been part of the league, which visits hospitals and children's homes to share tales of their life adventures.

Norris took to the skies three days after she turned 80, and was cheered on by family, friends, and fellow churchgoers as she parachuted above them.

"Life is short, so you've got to keep busy," she said. "There's so much to do and see. You can't be a sit-at-home. If you do, you'll be sorry."

Experts believe that there are about 35 fatal skydiving accidents per year, which is less than the number of those who are killed by lightening.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories:

Arthritis Awareness month can help retirement living seniors with their struggles

aadmin — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:04:10 +0000

Many retirement living seniors are struggling with arthritis, but they should know they aren't alone. May is Arthritis Awareness month, which means vital information about the joint disease will be available.

Tammy Roberts, a nutrition and health specialist at the University of Missouri Extension, notes that the word arthritis may refer to more than one type of ailment.

"There are more than 100 individual diseases that the term arthritis refers to, with three of the most common being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia," she said.

And while people who suffer from the disease may wonder if certain foods can alleviate symptoms, Roberts maintains that the best course of action is to follow a well-balanced diet.

"This means choosing a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low fat dairy products," said Roberts.

According to ArthritisToday.com, symptoms of arthritis include pain or inflammation at different body parts, as well as fatigue.

Retirement living seniors who think they may be at risk for the disease should speak with their primary care physician about their concerns.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories:

Valerie Bertinelli chats about getting older, second marriage

aadmin — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:04:09 +0000

Valerie Bertinelli just entered her sixth decade, but she certainly doesn't feel it. The actress - who just became engaged to boyfriend Tom Vitale, sat down with AARP Magazine to chat about getting older, as well as planning a wedding later in life.

"Marriage at this age is so much different than when I was first married at 20. I feel incredibly lucky because here I am [at] 50 and I feel like I really am in the prime of my life," she told the news outlet.

Bertinelli shot to fame on the hit sitcom One Day at a Time, and later married and divorced rocker Eddie Van Halen.

The ex-spouses are parents to son Wolfgang, who is 19 years old.

Bertinelli also recently made headlines as the new Jenny Craig spokeswoman, which helped her shed 50 pounds. Still, the woman credits her seniority as the root of her happiness.

"You know what's so great about being this age?" Bertinelli says. "We're smarter. And we're not too old to grow.

Bertinelli has been cast in the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland, which will also star active living senior Betty White.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories:

Retirement living women bare all for charity

aadmin — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:04:09 +0000

Moviegoers may remember the film Calendar Girls, which made waves among audiences years ago. The hilarious comedy told the story of a group of retirement living women who strip down to raise money for leukemia research.

The charitable trend may have just experienced a rebirth, as a bunch of sexy seniors just went nude for a good cause, according to The Sun.

Christiane Luckardt, who is 89 years old, will be Miss September for the calendar, which will raise money for different children organizations.

"I'm at that very happy stage of life - just coming out of late adolescence and sliding into early onset dementia so I thought I should do something crazy while I can still enjoy it," she kiddingly told the news outlet.

It looks like the septuagenarian's sense of humor extends to her own physical attributes as well.

"I felt a bit strange stripping off in front of strangers, but at my age there isn't much mystery left to the naked body," she told the news outlet.

According to BoxOfficeMojo, Calendar Girls grossed over $96 million in ticket sales worldwide.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories:

Group of retirement living women celebrate their bat mitzvah

aadmin — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:04:09 +0000

While a bar and bat mitzvah is usually celebrated when a child turns thirteen, the Jewish milestone can be experienced at any age. All one needs to do is to study hard, read from the torah, and be prepared for a celebration afterwards.

A group of retirement living women finally experienced their bat mitzvah ceremony, according to Newsday.

The ladies, who range in age from 60 to 95 years old, all live at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Commack, New York.

"When they grew up, there was no such thing as a bat mitzvah," Rabbi Zev Schostak, director of pastoral care at the center, told the news source.

The classes were taught by Judy Kahn, a retirement living senior herself. The 77 year old studied Jewish history at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan.

"Some had had a little bit of Jewish education. Many have not had anything," she said.

According to MyJewishLearning.com, reasons for adults choosing to have a bar or bat mitzvah may include regret over not experiencing one during their youth, or converting from another religion.

© Copyright

Tags:

Categories: