Pacific In-Home Care

05/21/2013

*** g90 4/22 p. 5 The Search for Long Life ***
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
Whether you realize it or not, you are much older than you may think. Biological science tells us that at birth, a woman’s ovaries already contain all the ova, or eggs, that she will ever produce. This means that if your mother was 30 years of age at the time of your conception, the egg that eventually became you was already 30 years old.
That probably does not make you feel older, but day by day, you are getting older. Young or old, all of us are aging, and most of us are interested in slowing down that process—if not actually stopping it.

05/19/2013

Many seniors suffer mental decline in silence - By Steven Reinberg

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- About 13 percent of Americans 60 and older say they have increasing problems with thinking and memory and that they suffer growing confusion, a new report released Thursday shows.

One-third of these people add that the confusion or memory loss caused problems at work or with social activities and household chores, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings underscore the need to be alert for early signs of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, experts said.

"This is the first data of this kind," said report co-author Angela Deokar, a CDC public health advisor. In 2011, older adults from 21 states answered survey items on whether they'd suffered increased confusion or memory loss in the past year.

According to Deokar, signs to look out for include the following:

-Asking the same questions over and over again,
-Getting lost in familiar places,
-Not being able to follow directions,
-Becoming more confused about time, people and places.

These problems go beyond normal forgetfulness, Deokar said.

Since this is the first such report, it is not possible to see if there is an increasing trend or if these data are similar throughout the nation, she said. The survey is ongoing, however, so in a couple of years more information should be available.

The report was published in the May 10 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

People experiencing cognitive decline -- the gradual loss of the ability to think, reason and remember -- can face considerable challenges. Even so, only 35 percent of them have discussed the problem with their doctor, the researchers found.

Such conversations are important, because they make planning for the future easier as a person's mental health continues to decline, according to the report.

A dementia expert noted that these kinds of symptoms should be taken seriously.

People experiencing them "should have thorough medical exams to exclude treatable metabolic or cardiac diseases," said Dr. Sam Gandy, associate director of the Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, in New York City.

Report co-author Deokar noted that people with these symptoms can reach out to the aging services network, including agencies on aging and the Alzheimer's Association.

When causes of mental decline are identified early there is the opportunity to treat reversible causes, the report authors said. If the cause isn't reversible, as with Alzheimer's disease, there is more time to develop advance directives, to enroll in clinical trials and to plan for care needs.

05/19/2013

Death & dying
Death and dying can be stressful for dying people, their loved ones and care-givers. Psychologists can help. They can assess mood, mental functioning and pain; treat depression, anxiety and other mental health problems; provide end-of-life counseling to the dying and their families; and advocate for good medical care.

End of Life Issues and Care

Research on Death and Dying
Coping with the death of a co-worker
Our co-workers are very much like extended family, so a co-worker's death can be particularly difficult to deal with. Know what to expect from the grieving process, what you can do to work through your feelings and how to get help.
End-of-Life Issues and Care
Report on how people approach the end of their lives, and how they and their families commonly face tasks and decisions that include a broad array of choices.
Private loss visible
Getting Help
Find a PsychologistThe Role of Psychology in End-of-Life Decisions and Quality of Care
Psychologists can contribute to end-of-life care before illness strikes, after illness is diagnosed and treatments begin, during advanced illness and the dying process, and after the death of the patient, with bereaved survivors.
Religious support tied to intensive end-of-life care:http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/feel-good/

Is there a Creator? Does God care about you? How can knowing God help me to feel better? Find out the difference it can make to know the answers!

05/19/2013

Alzheimer's Disease - not a normal part of aging.

What is Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is a disease that attacks the brain. It is the most common form of dementia. What is Dementia?

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Diagnosis

If you or a loved one have concerns about memory loss or other symptoms of Alzheimer's or a related dementia, it is important to be evaluated by a physician.

Stages show how the disease unfolds, but progression will vary greatly from person to person.
Treatments