ProAging Information Network

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE56T6EB20090730

By Anne Harding NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Alzheimer’s patients who have a close relationship with their caregivers show a slower decline in their mental and physical function over time, new research hints.

In fact, the effect of having a close relationship with one’s caregiver approached the impact of taking medications that can slow the progression of the disease, Dr. Maria Norton of Utah State University in Salt Lake City and her colleagues found.

The researchers have been following more than 5,000 people since 1994 to investigate risk factors for dementia in the Cache County Memory Study. All study participants were 65 or older at the study’s outset.

They zeroed in on a subset of 167 people who had developed dementia and followed them for about 20 months, on average. All were being cared for by a spouse or an adult child.

The researchers determined caregiver-patient closeness by presenting the caregivers with a series of statements about their relationship with the patient.

Overall, Norton and her colleagues found, the patients with spouse caregivers showed slower physical and mental decline than those being cared for by adult children. And the closer the relationship was, the slower the decline.

People may be more willing to care for a husband or wife than for a parent, Norton noted, given that they’ve already agreed to stick by them in sickness and in health. "They’ve already kind of made that lifelong commitment."

Caregivers who feel closer to their charge may also be more likely to spend time engaging with them and making them feel "important and loved," rather than parking the person in front of the TV, Norton pointed out.

Evidence is mounting that people’s brains stay healthier if they are more socially and cognitively active, she noted. The more loving caregivers "might possibly be engaging the person with Alzheimer’s disease in socially and cognitively stimulating activities that may in turn keep the brain active and slow the rate of cognitive decline," she said.

The current findings also suggest, she added, that taking steps to strengthen the relationships between Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers could be helpful.

SOURCE: The Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, September 2009.

I have an interesting angle that I am pursuing at the www.everyoneisaging.com blog. I would like to connect with some professionals with perspective in these areas of transition.

I you have experience, or know of someone with experience, please email me at steve@proaging.com

Thanks!

Steve Gurney, Publisher, Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook

Anne Arundel/Kent Island Office of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE

Welcomes new Care Coordinator, Maresa Wachter

May  2009 – Severna Park, Maryland. 

Maresa Wachter is a native of Frederick, Maryland and has resided in Annapolis for the last year.  She is a graduate of Hood College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management.  Maresa has 10 plus years combined experience in Management and Marketing.  Specifically she has worked with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services as Program Manager and Medical Volunteer Coordinator.  She has worked closely with mature adults in the past and it remains her passion to sustain quality in an organization such as GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE, as well as, provide the highest level of excellence in serving our clients.

WASHINGTON – The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS) recently received a grant from The SCAN Foundation to investigate  if the combination of health education and service coordination in affordable senior housing can help residents maintain their independence.                                                       

The study’s centerpiece is Northern California Presbyterian Homes & Services’ WellElder program.  The program, which operates in four affordable senior housing communities in northern California, pairs a health educator and service coordinator in each community. These professionals provide wellness and health education, health monitoring services and assistance in identifying and accessing health services and resources.

Over the next year, IFAS researchers will survey the property residents about themselves and their use of the WellElder program.  The team will also conduct interviews and focus groups with residents, their family members and staff to determine the perceived benefits of participating in the program. Among other factors, the researchers will assess what differentiates participants and non-participants based on ethnic and cultural demographics.

“WellElder’s integration of health and supportive services into affordable senior housing is innovative. The real question is, is it making a difference and can it be replicated efficiently and effectively?” Robyn Stone, Dr.PH, IFAS Executive Director said.  “This study gives us the unique opportunity to offer senior housing providers and policy makers new insights into the potential benefits of integrating health and supportive services into affordable housing settings for low-income older adults.”

“The SCAN Foundation is pleased to provide support to this important study from IFAS which will help shape the future of a care delivery system for seniors,” said Dr. Bruce Chernof, President and CEO of The SCAN Foundation. “This puts us closer to our goal of ensuring that people aged 65 and older will have the best opportunity to live independently and receive care in the setting most appropriate to their needs.”

Shenandoah County native Jan Bane will be leading Homewood’s newest retirement community located on 60 acres on the north edge of Strasburg along Cedar Creek.

“I’m excited to be back with Homewood and to be able to offer the residents of Shenandoah County the kind of quality retirement living Homewood is known for,” she said. “Homewood at the Shenandoah Valley will provide a new choice with moderately-priced units rich in service and tradition.

Bane brings 18 years of experience in the retirement industry to her new position. She served Homewood’s former Woodstock community, the Susan B. Miller Nursing Home, for 4 years in social services and most recently as marketing director for another area retirement community.

She is a graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College with a degree in therapeutic recreation and she is a licensed nursing home administrator.

Homewood will break ground on the Shenandoah Valley project this spring with independent living cottages available as early as this fall. Plans call for a three-phase project with the first phase to include 39 cottages. The second phase will add a full-service community center, 60 independent living apartments, 40 assisted living units and a small health care center. The final phase will add 75 cottages on the lower section of the property, along Cedar Creek.

The marketing office is located at 33859 Old Valley Pike in Strasburg. The phone number is 540-465-5500 or toll free 866-781-7333. Reservations for cottages are currently being accepted.

Homewood Retirement Centers is a leader in the retirement industry with 77 years of quality, resident-driven service. Homewood owns and operates six communities in Maryland and Pennsylvania with Homewood at the Shenandoah Valley bringing the total to seven.

 

Kathie Lee Gifford’s Mom is a Cover Girl too.

Joan Epstein Graces the Cover of the Award-Winning Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook.

View clip

On July 28, 2009, Joan Epstein was front and center as her daughter Kathie Lee Gifford recognized her recent appearance in Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook on NBC’s The Today Show.

“Guess what my mother is at the ripe old age of almost 80 and she’s still a beautiful woman…she’s a cover girl,” Gifford announced alongside her co-host Hoda Kotb while holding up the magazine where Joan is pictured holding her daughter’s latest book.

The SourceBook cover story, titled “Her Biggest Fan,” offers a glimpse into Epstein’s life from raising three successful children with her husband Aaron to enjoying the amenities of her current home, BayWoods of Annapolis, a Continuing Care Retirement Community. 

As a singer and homemaker, she encouraged her family to be active and seek creativity while she spoke for Christian Women Clubs and churches.  When her husband passed away a few months before their planned move to BayWoods, Epstein chose to move to the community where she found healing from its supportive residents and staff.  With a stunning view of the Chesapeake, Epstein enjoys having her youngest daughter Michie nearby and visiting Kathie Lee and her son David in New York.

Lauren Searson, editor of the SourceBook said, “It was a remarkable experience hearing Joan’s story firsthand.  As someone who is very caring and down-to-earth, she fits the mold of the vibrant individuals we enjoy featuring in the magazine.”

And as Gifford shared her excitement on The Today Show, she could not be happier for the recent “cover girl.”

“It’s a very sweet article and I’m very proud of her,” said Gifford.  “She represents her retirement community just beautifully.”

Joan Epstein’s story can be read in the SourceBook’s State of Maryland Fall 2009 edition.  To order a copy, call 800-394-9990, ext. 1126 or visit www.retirement-living.com.

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About Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook

Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook is a comprehensive resource to help individuals, families and professionals identify every option in the mid-Atlantic (VA, DC, MD, DE, PA, and NJ). Each issue and the robust website at www.guidetoretirementliving.com detail the costs, services and amenities of all retirement communities, assisted living communities, nursing homes and services helping individuals age in place. Free copies or more information can be obtained by visiting www.guidetoretirementliving.com or calling 1-800-394-9990.

About BayWoods of Annapolis

BayWoods of Annapolis is a full-service continuing care retirement community (CCRC), which is structured as a for-profit housing cooperative for seniors. The community also includes The Arbor, a state-of-the-art healthcare center. Residents of BayWoods have access to The Arbor and have a choice of the level of care which meets their individual needs.The residential (independent living) units and the surrounding land are owned by BayWoods Cooperative Housing Corporation (BCHC).

 

Eldercare advocate continues his series of immersion projects to inspire a creative viewpoint on “aging” related topics.

In February, 43-year-old Steve Gurney experienced firsthand what it is like to move into a senior living option by taking up temporary residence at an independent and assisted living community. Building on the perspective he gained from his first immersion experience, Gurney is now preparing to make another move to a different community. This time, however, his 6-year-old son, Asa, will be joining him. On August 19th, the duo will take up temporary residence at The Residences of Thomas Circle, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) located in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.

While Gurney has been regarded as an expert in the field of senior housing and eldercare, he came to the realization that he had not experienced the transition that he has advised thousands of people to take in his 20-year career. He states, “This has been the most enlightening and thought-provoking experience that I have been engaged in throughout my career. I am at amazed at the perspective I have gained, and how much it has reinvigorated my passion for innovative solutions.”

A 6-year-old in a retirement community?

Gurney shares the inspiration for the unique idea of his young son joining him, “In my first immersion experience, I was immediately struck with the benefits of having a younger person living in an environment that is largely segmented by age. When I shared the idea of having my family join me on one of my next moves, many of the residents of the community thought it was a wonderful idea.”

Gurney sees a huge potential benefit to single parents living in an environment like this. “Because this is a short-term move, I realized the logistics of having both of my kids and my wife with me might compromise the focus of my immersion project. Having been raised in a single-parent household, I can see tremendous opportunities for parent, child and elders.”

Exploring an urban retirement

In his first immersion, Gurney also learned just how dependent he is on the automobile living in a suburban neighborhood. “I came to the realization that without a car, I would be completely disconnected from my purposes in life, no matter my age.” This revelation prompted Gurney to see the benefits of an urban or walk-able location at any age which he will gain with the move to the retirement community located in downtown Washington, DC.

“By inserting myself into this age-segmented environment, I hope that I am getting people to realize that everyone is aging, not just those with AARP cards,” says Gurney.

Gurney has been documenting his experiences through a blog at www.everyoneisaging.com that has served as a vehicle for discussion and creative thoughts on aging and eldercare.

###

About Steve Gurney

Steve Gurney is the founder and publisher of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, a comprehensive resource he founded 20 years ago. He speaks regularly on a variety of topics and has assisted hundreds of senior-serving organizations in reaching solutions to their challenges. Steve is a graduate of the innovative Masters of Management in Aging Services Program at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).  Learn more by visiting retirement-living.com or calling 1-800-394-9990.



 

Date: Friday September 25, 2009

Time: 8:30 a.m - 10ish

Location: Atrium Village

4730 Atrium Court

Owings Mills, MD 21117

 

Description: Join us for the best networking and education opportunity for senior-serving professionals in the central Maryland region! Innovative Architecture Firm Creates the “Sleepover Project” to Better Understand Senior Living Design . CSD Architects launched its “Sleepover Project” in an earnest move to gain insight into the daily lives of aging seniors who reside in assisted living and skilled nursing communities. With the long-term goal of providing better design and building more responsive communities, CSD is sending each member of its senior living architectural design team to stay overnight in a senior living community. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about this innovative project and engage in a thought provoking discussion with CSD team members! 

 

Please RSVP

Call: 800-394-9990 ext. 1126

rsvp@proaging.com 

 

ProAging @ Vinson Hall Retirement Community

Date: Wednesday September 09, 2009

Time: Noon - 2

Location: Vinson Hall Retirement Community

6251 Old Dominion Drive

McLean, VA 22101

 

Description: Are you prepared to deliver the lifestyle that aging baby boomers REALLY want? Learn about the innovative “Life Enrichment” approach from a nationally recognized leader! Discuss solutions to creating, managing and marketing your program and giving your participants “purpose”! If you work with seniors and their families you don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn and network with the most influential professionals in the region. Enjoy a free lunch and hear the latest trends in life enrichment programs from one of the leaders in new generational programs on a senior living campus that has created countless innovative programs. Bring plenty of business cards and brochures. Featured Speaker Nancy Ewald is the founder and CEO of Activity Connection.com, an online resource for activity professionals which is used by more than 6,000 senior care communities nationwide. She’s authored six manuals for national companies in the senior care industry and Nancy’s novel ideas and creative approaches to program development have made her a much sought out resource. FREE event, seating and parking is limited, RSVP required: rsvp@proaging.com For additional information call 703-992-1118 

 

RSVP required

Call: 703-992-1126

rsvp@proaging.com 

 

Exercise programs focusing on muscle density could reduce disability and hospitalization

Older adults who have less strength, poor physical function and low muscle density are at higher risk of being hospitalized compared to adults with more strength and better function. That’s the finding of a new study in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

The study also found that muscle density, a measure of how much fat compared to lean tissue there is in the muscle, is a more accurate gauge of a person’s risk of hospitalization than muscle mass or size. The relative risk for hospitizations was 50% higher for those with poor walking or less dense muscle mass

"Our research suggests that we need to re-think the way we define sarcopenia or age-related muscle loss," says Peggy Cawthon, PhD, MPH, a scientist with the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute and the lead author of the study. "Many definitions of sarcopenia today tend to focus on lean mass or muscle size, our study shows that is looking at the wrong factors. We found that muscle strength or performance were much better ways of measuring function."

The researchers followed 3,011 healthy, non-disabled adults between the ages of 70 and 80, for an average of almost five years. They measured their physical function in a number of ways including walking speed, their ability to stand up from a chair repeatedly, the strength of their grip and their leg strength. By the end of the study more than 55 percent of the participants had experienced one or more hospitalizations. Those most likely to end up in the hospital were the adults who scored lowest on the measures of physical function; this held true after allowing age, medical conditions, lean mass or muscle size. They also found that adults with the least dense thigh muscles, namely those with a higher proportion of fat in their thighs, were also at a higher risk of hospitalization compared to adults with more dense thighs.

"The findings are particularly important because they suggest that interventions, such as physical exercise, that improve physical function could help keep more vulnerable seniors out of the hospital," says Cawthon. "That would not only reduce disability but it would also reduce the huge economic burden associated with hospitalization of the elderly."

One in five Americans over the age of 65 suffers from sarcopenia. In 2000 the direct health care cost of treating it were estimated to be more than $18.5 billion. With the number of Americans older than 65 estimated to double by the middle of the century those costs are expected to increase dramatically.

Preventing older Americans from being hospitalized is more than just a matter of saving health care dollars, it may also save lives. Numerous studies show that even short stays in the hospital are associated with a greater future risk of functional decline and disability.

"Most methods of measuring muscle mass or density rely on complex imaging procedures, such as using quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Those are time consuming and expensive," says Cawthon. "However, we found that much simpler methods – such as measuring walking speed – are much easier and cheaper to do, and are even more accurate in determining a person’s risk of future hospitalization. This gives us the ability to screen larger groups of people and help those at risk with some simple interventions, such as physical exercise."