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) Livng with Alzheimer's
A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease has drastically changed the lives of the Cofer family of Dickinson. While Rocky Cofer keeps a busy schedule as principal at Trinity High School, his wife, Sheila, receives care at St. Benedict's Health Center. “She was diagnosed about 8 years ago with early onset Alzheimer's," he said. Cofer shares their experiences to raise awareness for the upcoming Alzheimer's Memory Walk and 5K Race Word count: 756
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) New memory monitoring program at Greenwood Senior Center
Screen's home office in Seattle via the Internet where it is analyzed for any memory problems, including early predictors of Alzheimer's disease (AD).After testing, a physician report is sent to the patient's doctor, outlining potential problems in three cognitive areas. The report also includes the patient's past test results (longitudinal information) which allows doctors to easily compare current and past results to detect the earliest warnings of memory decline.
With an Onsite Memory Testing System at the Greenwood Senior Center, local doctors now have a convenient place to send their senior patients for memory monitoring.
Since early detection of memory problems is important, many physicians recommend that their patients who are over age 65 undergo regular cognitive testing at least once a year. More>>
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) Spotlight Iowa City: Helping hand for seniors
Often spending time helping those with Alzheimer's and dementia, she said, her job inspires her every day. “I have become very attached to each one of our residents — they mean the absolute world to me," she said. As marketing director for Legacy Active Retirement Community, her duties include more than salesmanship — she has penciled in advocate, listener, and companion into the job description as well. “Part of my job is making people feel secure and knowing they are making the right choices," Davis said. She also consults with people whose elderly parents want to live in active retirement communities. After spending 10 years as the owner of Iowa City Signs & Graphics, she said, she decided to try something new. Since then, she refuses to let go of what she has found. More>> - (
) Dementia carers face early death: expert
Dementia carers may face a premature death if they aren't supported properly, a leading US Alzheimer's expert has warned.Professor Constantine Lyketsos, vice chairman of psychiatry at America's John Hopkins University, used Dementia Awareness Week to draw attention to the plight of carers.
While dementia was estimated to be the fourth largest cause of death in older Australians, Prof Lyketsos said it also affected the health of carers.
"Dementia care is more physically and emotionally overwhelming and as a consequence, it is more damaging to the carer's health - in some cases lethal for carers as well," he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
"We must never forget that any serious effort to care for people with dementia must include care for the carers as a central component."
While people with dementia need comfort and emotional support, Prof Lyketsos said their carers - who face isolation, fatigue and stress - did too. More>>
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) Ongoing Events in Berkshire and Bennington Counties
EPOCH Assisted Living, ongoing, Alzheimer's Support Group meets 7-8:30 p.m. on third Wednesday of the month. 140 Melbourne Road, Pittsfield. Info: 413-499-1992.North Adams Public Library, ongoing, Knitting and Crochet Circle, 6 p.m. Mondays. Church Street, North Adams. Info: 413-662-3133.
North Adams Regional Hospital, ongoing, confidential and anonymous HIV testing, 1 p.m. on first and third Thursdays of the month. Free; donations accepted. Also, health promotion clinic, 10-11 a.m. first Wednesday of the month. Hospital Avenue, North Adams. Info: 413-447-2654.
Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Northern Berkshire, ongoing, public health clinics with blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, medication reviews and health teaching, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., 535 Curran Highway, North Adams; Tuesdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Stop & Shop, Route 2, North Adams. More>>