Podcasts about dementia friendly communities

Dr. Bashir Easter joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernial to talk about guidance on alternative care options, accessing available resources, and developing comprehensive support plans on this edition of Caregiver SOS. About Dr. Easter Dr. Bashir Easter Founder & CEO, Melanin Minded LLC & Melanin Minded Foundation Dr. Bashir Easter is an esteemed scholar, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to improving the quality of life for people of color. As the founder of Melanin Minded LLC and the Melanin Minded Foundation, Dr. Easter has established a vital resource that serves to bridge the gap in information, services, and support for marginalized communities. His overarching mission is to empower and equip people of color with the tools and knowledge necessary to achieve optimal quality of life, particularly in the face of societal challenges and disparities. Dr. Easter earned his PhD in Multidisciplinary Human Services from Capella University, where he published significant research on the experiences of African American adolescents caring for relatives with dementia. His groundbreaking qualitative study titled, “African American adolescents’ experiences caring for a relative with Dementia, underscores the unique challenges faced by young caregivers in communities of color and highlights the urgent need for tailored support systems. In addition to his doctoral studies, Dr. Easter holds an MBA from Concordia University and a BS from Cardinal Stritch University. His academic journey began with an Associate of Science degree in business management from the Milwaukee Area Technical College, providing him with a solid foundation in both practical and theoretical frameworks essential for his work in social services and community development. In his commitment to enhancing community health and wellness, Dr. Easter has pioneered an innovative initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, aimed at creating Dementia-Friendly Communities specifically designed for communities of color. This initiative, known as Dementia Villages, seeks to address the specialized needs of individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. By fostering environments that are not only supportive but also inclusive, Dr. Easter’s project is a transformative step toward recognizing and validating the experiences of families affected by dementia in historically underserved areas. Through Melanin Minded, Dr. Easter continues to advocate for systemic change, fostering partnerships and collaborations that emphasize culturally relevant resources and interventions. His vision is clear: to create a society where every individual, regardless of their background, has access to the information and support needed to navigate life's challenges with dignity and strength. With a passion for service and a dedication to advancing social equity, Dr. Bashir Easter is a trailblazer in his field, leading by example and inspiring others to join the movement toward inclusive and comprehensive community care. His work not only addresses immediate needs but also lays the groundwork for sustainable change within communities of color, ensuring that all voices are heard and that all lives are valued Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Norman McNamara the founder of the Purple Angel Foundation as our guest to the show.     About Norman McNamara & the Purple Angel Foundation:   The Purple Angel was born on 12th January 2012. It was formed as a steering group to try and make Torbay the first dementia-fNorrm began by asking his local shop staff to read 2 pieces of information so that they could better support people with dementia and their carers. He wrote the “Guide to Understanding Dementia” and put that together with “What is Dementia” written by our Alzheimer's Society. Two weeks later he returned and, if staff had read, awarded a Purple Angel Logo for their window.   Through Facebook, Norrm met many who wanted to join in. The purple angel was named because Norrm fondly refers to his wife Elaine as “his angel”!   On the 16th of November, 2013, the first 50 worldwide ambassadors were inaugurated in Paignton, Devon, UK. There are now well over 1000 ambassadors, all with their own teams of volunteer-friendly resorts in the country.   Norman McNamara a resident of Torbay, Devon, UK was diagnosed with dementia at only 50 years of age. Whilst out shopping one day he was rudely spoken to by a shopkeeper and decided to change the way people see dementia and treat others.   Many towns in the UK began raising awareness with The Purple Angel, taking the information to their local shops and businesses. On a Facebook “Dementia Aware” page many others began to form dementia-friendly communities and were inspired by the success of the project.   Many Purple Angel Dementia Action Alliances now have their own steering groups and the word is spreading to other areas. It became apparent that many other organizations needed to be included such as hospitals, first responders, rescue services, schools, scouts, etc. and resources were developed to address different situations. A book was written for young school children by Max Wallack in the USA and is being translated into other languages by Purple Angel ambassadors and talks held in schools so that our young can grow up understanding dementia.   In places new memory cafes were organised and events took place across the world for the new Dementia Awareness Day fundraising for dementia charities all year.   Many countries across the globe joined in the campaign and Dementia Friendly Communities started up together with Memory Cafes and other initiatives.   Connect with Norman McNamara and the Purple Angel Foundation:   Official Website for the Purple Angel Foundation: https://purpleangel-global.com/   Visit the Official Website for Lance A. Slatton: https://www.lanceaslatton.com   Visit the Official Website for All Home Care Matters: https://www.allhomecarematters.com    

What would it take to transform dementia care?  While a lot of hope and money is being put into new monoclonal amyloid antibodies like lecanemab, the evidence is that while they are great in reducing amyloid in the brain for those with early Alzheimer's disease, the effects are at best modest in slowing down the decline in cognition and function (more to be said on that in an upcoming podcast). In order to truly transform dementia care we need to think much broader than the amyloid hypothesis.  So on today's podcast we invite four brilliant individuals to talk about their perspective on how to change how we as a society and health care system partner with individuals with dementia. These amazing guests include: Susan McFadden, PhD, retired professor emerita (psychology and gerontology) at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, an experienced researcher and practitioner in the field of dementia, and creator of the Fox Valley Memory Project. Her most recent book is Dementia Friendly Communities: why we need them and how we can create them  Anne Basting, PhD, a MacArthur Genius Grant awardee and professor (English/Theatre), University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.  She created TimeSlips which we talk about in our podcast.  Her most recent book is Creative Care: a revolutionary approach to dementia and elder care  Abhilash Desai, MD, geriatric psychiatrist, adjunct associate professor in the department of psychiatry at University of Washington School of Medicine, and poet!  He wrote a book titled “Psychiatric consultation in long term care” that has a strengths based approach to staging dementia (how cool is that) Judy Long, MDiv, BCC, palliative care chaplain and educator at UCSF and caregiver.  She directs UCSF MERI's patient, family, and clinician support with classes and consultation on resiliency, well-being, and grief. We discuss the importance of viewing individuals with dementia from a lens of resilience, the importance of creative engagement (as noted in Anne and Susan's wonderful article on this subject), the role of collaborative care, and what we can do to improve inclusivity for individuals with dementia in our community and health care systems.    

This episode features Megan Zimmerman, a leader within the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging's project to establish Dementia Friendly Communities - she has done work across the state of Iowa and is also currently working towards her master's degree in gerontology. In this episode Megan and Sophie talk about combating ageism, what the future of care may look like, and the role of the care continuum in improving quality of life for older adults. Resources: Trellis is a large resource for gerontology in Minnesota, they house the MN state dementia friendly initiatives Dementia-Friendly Community Initiatives: trellisconnects.org Dementia Friendly Iowa is the organization that Megan Zimmerman works for: https://dementiafriendlyiowa.org/ Family Resources through LeadingAge Minnesota can help identify needs and options for older adults and caregivers: leadingagemn.org

In 2022, it is estimated that 6.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.   The number of people per 100,000 newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease per year (incident rate) appears to be declining, the number of people with Alzheimer's disease (prevalence) is expected to continue to grow (2022 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures Report, p. 19).     If you are or someone you love have been newly  diagnosed with Alzheimer's, this episode will give you 6 things to do because many people do not know where to start.  Many people feel that everything has changed after learning that a loved one has Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. There are many myths and misperceptions about Alzheimer's disease (stigma) – this episode will give you resources to learn more about the reality of disease progression and steps to take.  First of all, remember that you're not alone. There is help available, and there are resources to connect you to people who understand what you've been through and what you're going to go through.  These six things presented in this podcast will help you after getting a diagnosis like Alzheimer's disease; tips on what to get organized, permission to make healthy living a priority, and ensuring important things are taken care of.  Key points covered in this episode:   ✔️ #1. Educate Yourself (And Others) About The Disease.  Being stigmatized by others is often a primary concern of people living with Alzheimer's and their care partners. Stigma is a negative label identifying a person with an illness or disability. Stigma around Alzheimer's disease typically happens because people don't understand it or know what to expect.   Learn as much as possible about this disease and encourage care partners to do the same. You can learn about the condition from the Alzheimer's Association website.  ✔️ #2. Coming To Terms With Your Diagnosis And Sharing The Diagnosis     With Others  You may or may not be able to come to terms with your diagnosis before you tell others. You may not want to wait until you've had time to come to terms with it, or you may want to wait; but either way,  as the disease progresses, you will need help and support from others who know and understand you. You can decide who to tell and when to tell and when you do, this is an excellent time to educate them, too.   ✔️ #3. Be An Active Participant In Your Financial, Legal, And Long-Term Care Planning.  This will likely be the best gift you can give your loved ones. If you don't provide information about your wishes and your legal documents accessible, the burden of making these decisions will fall on your loved ones. I recommend getting a copy of Cameron Huddleston's book “Mom & Dad, We Need to Talk” and filling out the “In Case of Emergency Organizer” available on her website for free.   ✔️ #4. Reevaluate Your Priorities.  Set goals for the things you still want to accomplish. Life is not over yet – so dust off that bucket list and start planning to do as much of it as possible while you're still able. This is the same thing that many people do after receiving a terminal diagnosis.   You know yourself best and what's most important to you in the time you have left – which by the way, could be 20 more years. While you are able, make decisions about how you want the rest of your life to look and share that vision with those who love you.  ✔️ #5. Take An Active Role In Managing Your Disease And Build Your Care Team.  Start now and begin to build your care team. This includes you, your family and friends, neighbors, and healthcare professionals with expertise in Alzheimer's care.   Learn more about Dementia Friendly Communities. These are communities that provide supportive options that foster quality of life. If you don't have one yet, you may want to look into starting one.   Additionally, find out if there is a Village in your area, join it and start volunteering. The Village Model is “neighbors caring for neighbors” – a nonprofit, grassroots, community-based organization of volunteers that reflects the needs of its members and communities.   ✔️ #6. Discuss Alternative Treatments, Supplements, And Medications With Your Healthcare Team.  Although current medications cannot cure Alzheimer's, some drugs may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time. Other medicines change disease progression, with benefits to cognition and function.  Look into FDA-approved drugs, alternative treatments and supplements, and consider participating in clinical trials.   If you have questions, comments, or need help, please feel free to drop a one-minute audio or video clip and email it to me at melissabphd@gmail.com, and I will get back to you by recording an answer to your question.   About Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FGSA, FAAN:   I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing ('96) and Master of Science in Nursing ('00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I genuinely enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home, and office visits), then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my PhD in Nursing and a post-master's Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing ('11). I then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 which led to me joining the George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing faculty in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor. I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health, and Humanities. Please find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/. 

Today's episode has been handpicked by our listeners. We have gotten quite a few comments on our videos wanting to know the difference between Alzheimer's and Dementia and we are going to be talking about the differences between the two and clearing up any confusion you may have. First, we are going to discuss what Alzheimer's is and how it differs from Dementia before moving on to what dementia is and what it can look like. Now let's move on to the rest of the show.   According to the CDC, Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss and possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. Alzheimer's disease involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language and can seriously affect a person's ability to carry out daily activities. Age is the best-known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.   Alzheimer's disease accounts for somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of all dementia cases. As the aging population rises, more and more people are being diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The CDC says that in 2020, as many as 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease and this number is projected to nearly triple to 14 million people in the next forty years.   Individuals with Alzheimer's can live for many years with the disease, but it does ultimately end with death, often due to the loss of the ability to swallow. On average, after a diagnosis is made, a person with Alzheimer's usually lives for 4-8 years. However, someone with Alzheimer's can live longer than that. Some have lived nearly 20 years after receiving a diagnosis.   Early diagnosis is key for this disease. The sooner a treatment plan can be started, the better. According to the CDC, researchers believe that genetics may play a role in developing Alzheimer's disease. However, genes do not equal destiny. A healthy lifestyle may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. If you have a family history of Alzheimer's, make sure you inform your doctor. There are a few tests they can perform that may result in early detection.   According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by complex brain changes following cell damage. It leads to dementia symptoms that gradually worsen over time. The most common early symptom of Alzheimer's is trouble remembering new information because the disease typically impacts the part of the brain associated with learning first.   As Alzheimer's advances, symptoms get more severe and include disorientation, confusion, and behavioral changes. Eventually, speaking, swallowing, and walking become difficult. Currently, there is no cure for this disease, but there are a few ways to treat it. If you suspect that a loved one or yourself may have Alzheimer's, speak with a doctor. They will be able to determine if you have the disease, what stage you are in, and the best course of action for you to take.   This episode is closely related to our recent mini-series on the Seven Stages of Alzheimer's disease. We won't be talking about Alzheimer's nearly as in-depth as we have in our mini-series, so if you would like to learn more about Alzheimer's, listen to the series on our website, our YouTube channel, or wherever you get your podcasts.   Now that we've covered Alzheimer's disease, let's move on to dementia.   According to Forbes, dementia is the umbrella term used to describe several diseases that cause changes in the brain that lead to memory loss and language and reasoning difficulties, ultimately disrupting everyday functioning.   The National Institute on Aging says that Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person's functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.   Dementia is more common as people grow older (about one-third of all people aged 85 or older may have some form of dementia) but it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia.   There are several different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and a person's symptoms can vary depending on the type. Let's take a closer look at the 5 most common forms of dementia. As you already know, the most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's.   According to Mayo Clinic, Lewy body dementia, also known as dementia with Lewy bodies, is the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease. Protein deposits, called Lewy bodies, develop in nerve cells in the brain regions involved in thinking, memory, and movement (motor control).   Lewy body dementia causes a progressive decline in mental abilities. People with Lewy body dementia might have visual hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention. Other effects include Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms such as rigid muscles, slow movement, walking difficulty, and tremors.   The third most common type is Frontotemporal dementia. According to Mayo Clinic, frontotemporal dementia is an umbrella term for a group of brain disorders that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain are generally associated with personality, behavior, and language.   In frontotemporal dementia, portions of these lobes shrink, or atrophy. Signs and symptoms vary, depending on which part of the brain is affected. Some people with frontotemporal dementia have dramatic changes in their personalities and become socially inappropriate, impulsive, or emotionally indifferent, while others lose the ability to use language properly.   Frontotemporal dementia can be misdiagnosed as a psychiatric problem or as Alzheimer's disease. But frontotemporal dementia tends to occur at a younger age than does Alzheimer's disease. Frontotemporal dementia often begins between the ages of 40 and 65 but occurs later in life as well. FTD is the cause of approximately 10% to 20% of dementia cases.   The next form of dementia is vascular dementia. According to Mayo Clinic, Vascular dementia is a general term describing problems with reasoning, planning, judgment, memory, and other thought processes caused by brain damage from impaired blood flow to your brain.   You can develop vascular dementia after a stroke blocks an artery in your brain, but strokes don't always cause vascular dementia. Whether a stroke affects your thinking and reasoning depends on your stroke's severity and location. Vascular dementia can also result from other conditions that damage blood vessels and reduce circulation, depriving your brain of vital oxygen and nutrients.   Factors that increase your risk of heart disease and stroke — including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking — also raise your vascular dementia risk. Controlling these factors may help lower your chances of developing vascular dementia.   The final common form of dementia is Mixed dementia, a combination of two or more types of dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, In the most common form of mixed dementia, the abnormal protein deposits associated with Alzheimer's disease coexist with blood vessel problems linked to vascular dementia. Alzheimer's brain changes also often coexist with Lewy bodies. In some cases, a person may have brain changes linked to all three conditions — Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia.   Researchers don't know exactly how many older adults currently diagnosed with a specific type of dementia actually have mixed dementia, but autopsies indicate that the condition may be significantly more common than previously realized.   Autopsy studies play a key role in shedding light on mixed dementia because scientists can't yet measure most dementia-related brain changes in living individuals. In the most informative studies, researchers correlate each participant's cognitive health and any diagnosed problems during life with analysis of the brain after death.   According to the National Institute on Aging, researchers have also identified many other conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms. These conditions include Argyrophilic grain disease, a common, late-onset degenerative disease. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain disorder. Huntington's disease, an inherited, progressive brain disease. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, caused by repeated traumatic brain injury. And HIV-associated dementia, a rare disease that occurs when the HIV virus spreads to the brain.   The overlap in symptoms of various dementias can make it difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. But a proper diagnosis is important to get the best treatment.   Now that you know the difference between Alzheimer's and Dementia, let's move on to some of the causes, risk factors, and prevention methods of dementia.   According to Forbes, one common myth many people tend to believe is that you can't reduce your risk of getting Alzheimer's disease or other kinds of dementia—you either get it or you don't. In reality, adopting healthy habits can lower your risk of developing dementia, or at least delay the onset. “Healthy body, healthy mind,” says Dr. Richard Caselli, associate director and clinical core director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. “What we can control, we should control.” Though he adds that even a lifetime of healthy habits is no guarantee of protection.   Among the 12 factors that increase a person's risk of dementia outlined in the 2020 report from the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, most are within one's control. These include hypertension, smoking, obesity, diabetes, low social contact, excessive alcohol consumption, and being physically inactive. Risk factors that we cannot control include lack of education, traumatic brain injury, depression, hearing impairment, and exposure to air pollution.   According to the Alzheimer's Association, dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior, and feelings can be affected.   The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for different functions (for example, memory, judgment, and movement). When cells in a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions normally.   Different types of dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage in particular regions of the brain. For example, in Alzheimer's disease, high levels of certain proteins inside and outside brain cells make it hard for brain cells to stay healthy and to communicate with each other. The brain region called the hippocampus is the center of learning and memory in the brain, and the brain cells in this region are often the first to be damaged. That's why memory loss is often one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's.   While most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time, thinking and memory problems caused by the following conditions may improve when the condition is treated or addressed: depression, medication side effects, excess use of alcohol, thyroid problems, and vitamin deficiencies.   In most people, the cause of dementia is unknown, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways you can lower your risk of developing dementia. Knowing what risk factors, you have can aid in lowering your chances of developing dementia, as well.   According to the NHS, some dementia risk factors are difficult or impossible to change, like your age, genes, and level of education. The older you are, the more likely you are to develop dementia. However, dementia is not a natural part of aging and isn't something that you should be expecting to develop. In general, genes alone are not thought to cause dementia. However, certain genetic factors are involved with some of the less common types. Dementia usually develops because of a combination of genetic and "environmental" factors, such as smoking and a lack of regular exercise. Other risk factors such as hearing loss, untreated depression, loneliness, or social isolation, and sitting for most of the day may also contribute to your likelihood of developing dementia.   Currently, there are no proven ways to prevent dementia, but doctors have a few suggestions for prevention methods. Even though you may not be able to alter your chances of developing dementia, following these suggestions can lead to an overall healthy lifestyle and can prevent many other illnesses and health issues. According to the NHS, you may reduce your risk of dementia by eating a healthy, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, keeping alcohol within recommended limits, stopping smoking, and keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level.   Keeping your body healthy may help reduce your risk of dementia, but you also need to keep your brain active and engaged. According to Danone Nutricia Research, the brain communicates through a vast network of billions of nerve cells. These nerve cells or neurons connect with each other via junctions called ‘synapses. Synapses allow communication between neurons and make it possible to create and recall memories.   Throughout our lives, we continually lose and re-grow these important brain connections. In a healthy brain, the number of new synapses balances the loss of old ones, allowing for a sustained net number of synapses. In a brain affected by injury or illness, such as dementia, synapses die off faster than they are created. When this happens, it becomes difficult to create and recall memories. Regularly engaging your mind may help your brain create more synapses longer. Activities like crosswords, word searches, and reading are all great ways to engage your mind. Learning new skills can also help your brain create more synapses and the repetitive information you use while learning can double as a recall exercise.   Regular physical exercise can also help you keep your mind active. Going for a few 10-minute walks a day can help increase the blood flow in your brain and in the rest of your body. Participating in social activities and maintaining regular social interaction can lower stress and depression, which can affect one's memory. Getting enough sleep and drinking enough water can both help your ability to focus and your memory.   Mayo Clinic says that doing things like playing bridge, taking alternate routes when driving, learning to play a musical instrument, and volunteering at a local school or community organization are all great ways to help keep your brain in shape and keep memory loss at bay.   Now that we have covered the causes, risk factors, and prevention methods for dementia, last move on to the last part of today's episode, the importance of early detection and diagnosis.   Early diagnosis of dementia is key because it allows a person with dementia to begin treatment right away and preserve their memory and overall function longer than they would be able to without early detection of the disease. Not only does early detection allows someone to start a treatment plan right away, but it also allows them the opportunity to plan for the future.   According to Queensland Health, being familiar with the signs of dementia can help people receive a diagnosis as early as possible. Early signs that a person might have dementia can include: being vague in everyday conversations, memory loss that affects day-to-day function, short term memory loss, difficulty performing everyday tasks and taking longer to do routine tasks, losing enthusiasm or interest in regular activities, difficulties in thinking or saying the right words, changes in personality or behavior, finding it difficult to follow instructions, finding it difficult to follow stories, and increased emotional unpredictability.   If you have noticed any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Since many of these signs are also signs of normal aging, it's important to talk to your doctor if you think you may be experiencing the early stages of dementia. As we've already mentioned today, it's better to rule out dementia now than wait for a diagnosis later in life.   If you or your loved one are having memory troubles, consider keeping a journal. Your doctor may not be able to see any issues occurring during a short visit and it can be hard to remember everything you have experienced. Keeping a journal can help you remember what you need to talk to the doctor. It can also measure the progression of any potential memory loss.   While dementia can be scary, getting a diagnosis doesn't mean your life stops. People with dementia are still able to take care of themselves, do their jobs, and most importantly, spend time with the people they love doing things they enjoy.   Having a support group can make all the difference when living with dementia. Reach out to friends and family when you need help and accept help when offered. Keeping connected can be difficult after a diagnosis. Many people turn away from their friends and family because they are embarrassed but isolating yourself will only make things worse.    Currently, there is no cure for dementia, but there are a few treatment options that can help preserve someone's memory and ability to function. More research is always being done on the subject. In the next few years, there very well could be a better way to treat or even stop the progression of memory loss.   The population of people living with dementia is rising and as more and more people are diagnosed, communities are coming together to support those with dementia. Communities all over the world are coming up with ways to include those with dementia and make sure they are not left out after a diagnosis. A dementia-friendly community offers residents with dementia a safe place to engage in social activities and more even into the late stages of the disease. To learn more about dementia-friendly communities and to learn how you can help make your community dementia-friendly, listen to our episode on Dementia-Friendly Communities.   Before we end the episode, let's have a quick recap of what we've covered today. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, and they both result in changes in the brain that lead to memory loss and language and reasoning difficulties, ultimately disrupting everyday functioning. In both Alzheimer's and dementia, early detection is key. Knowing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's and dementia can help you get an early diagnosis and in turn, an early start at treating the disease and planning for the future.    We want to say thank you for joining us here at All Home Care Matters, All Home Care Matters is here for you and to help families as they navigate these long-term care issues. Please visit us at allhomecarematters.com there is a private secure fillable form where you can give us feedback, show ideas, or if you have questions. Every form is read and responded to. If you know someone who could benefit from this episode, please share it with them.   Remember, you can listen to the show on any of your favorite podcast streaming platforms and watch the show on our YouTube channel and make sure to hit that subscribe button, so you'll never miss an episode. We look forward to seeing you next time on All Home Care Matters, thank you.   Sources: https://www.forbes.com/health/healthy-aging/dementia-vs-alzheimers/   https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimer-s   https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm   https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers   https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-is-dementia   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frontotemporal-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354737   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lewy-body-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352025   https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/mixed-dementia   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vascular-dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378793   https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia   https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/dementia-prevention/   https://www.nutriciaresearch.com/alzheimers-disease/synapses-the-building-blocks-of-memory/   https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518   https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/dementia-signs-symptoms-recognise-what-to-do    

Call in and join the conversation at:  323-870-4602 Today Lori La Bey talks with our friend and past guest Susan H. McFadden, who is known around the world for her cutting-edge work in dementia care.  Today we will discuss her new book; Dementia-Friendly Communities: Why We Need Them and How We Can Create Them.  This will be a live sho, so feel free to call in with your questions or comments. Call in and join the conversation at:  323-870-4602   Contact Susan H. McFadden Email:  susan.h.mcfadden@gmail.com Purchase Her Book: https://tinyurl.com/2rukrxy6   Contact Lori La Bey with questions or branding needs at Alzheimer’s Speaks    Alzheimer's Speaks Radio - Shifting dementia care from crisis to comfort around the world one episode at a time by raising all voices and delivering sounds news, not just sound bites since 2011.

Health research must be informative, accessible and relevant to the public, patients, clinicians, health professionals, researchers, policy makers and health service managers. NIHR Evidence presents high quality summaries of findings so that health and care research can be used by all members of society. In this podcast we discuss the new NIHR Evidence Dementia Collection. A collection of NIHR funded research summaries created in close collaboration with those who might use them, including clinicians, commissioners, patients and the public. In the host chair is Dr Emily Oliver, Lead Dementia Nurse for Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and former NIHR Clinical Academic Fellow. Emily talks with one of the researchers whose work is included in the collection, Christina Victor, Professor of Gerontology and Public Health from Brunel University. They are joined by Ann Pascoe a dementia carer and founder / chair of Dementia Friendly Communities. The final guest comes from NIHR Evidence. Nick Spirit is Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the NIHR Centre for Engagement and Dissemination, his work involved ensuring that the thoughts and views of health and care professionals, patients, carers and the public are incorporated in to every aspect of NIHR funded research dissemination, knowledge mobilisation and public involvement. _____________________________________________________________________ You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-nihr-evidence-dementia-collection Access the NIHR Evidence Dementia Collection here https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/collection/dementia/ The National Institute for Health Research is the UKs largest funder of health and care research and it provides the people, facilities and technology that enables research to thrive. NIHR Evidence is managed by NIHR with a funding contribution from Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government. _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.

    This is the first in a multi-part series on Dementia Friendly Communities. In it, Phyllis Fehr, a member of our Editorial Board and also a member of the Dementia Friendly Communities project of the Hamilton Council on Aging hosts a discussion with Debbie Keay a fellow member of the Hamilton Ontario Project and Roger Marple who is active in a Dementia Friendly project in  Calgary, Alberta.     These projects are different from each other but the motivations behind these 3 people, all of whom have dementia, share many similarities. Each person is actively living a life that they thought was lost to them when they were first diagnosed with dementia. Through their own research and reaching out to groups like the Alzheimer Society, each has learned how to adjust to having dementia and to live a full and meaningful life. They want to help other people living with dementia to avoid often self-limiting behavior and to reduce the stigma associated with having dementia. Dementia Friendly Communities is one way.    The Dementia Friendly Community movement is worldwide and is growing in Canada. Many Alzheimer Societies and other community organizations are involved. You can find out more about Roger and Phyllis by searching their names on the internet. Media articles about Phyllis and Debbie’s project include:   https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2020/11/03/survey-will-help-build-dementia-friendly-cities.html#:~:text=Currently%2C%20the%20Alzheimer%20Society%20estimates%20that%20there%20are,and%20executive%20and%20physical%20functioning%2C%20among%20other%20symptoms.   Roger's videos  can be found at: https://www.dementianetworkcalgary.ca This webpage links to each of the partner province’s DFC sites, which contain some great resources:  https://alzheimer.ca/en/take-action/become-dementia-friendly/dementia-friendly-canada B.C.: https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en/take-action/dementia-friendly-communities Saskatchewan: https://dementiafriendlysaskatchewan.ca/ Manitoba: https://alzheimer.mb.ca/we-can-help/programs-and-services/dfc/ Ontario: https://alzheimer.ca/on/en/take-action/become-dementia-friendly/dementia-friendly-communities-ontario Dementia-Friendly Canada webinar, March 2020: https://vimeo.com/402941879  

Maggie and Thomas interview Kelly Takasu, the Public Policy Manager for Alzheimer's Los Angeles. She discusses the implementation of Dementia Friendly Communities particularly in the Los Angeles area, as well as Age Friendly initiatives in the region.

How are community-level organizations helping our health system to improve its capabilities to care for those with dementia in diverse communities? What resources are available to support them in this goal? This informational webinar highlights regional efforts to promote dementia-capable communities with a focus on under-represented and under-resourced populations. Our panelists discuss projects supported by the federal Administration for Community Living (ACL), to promote dementia capability through innovative models like community health workers. Our guest speakers include Erin Long of ACL; Petra Niles, who leads African American services, education and dementia care networks for Alzheimer's Los Angeles; and Constantina Mizis, president and CEO of the Latino Alzheimer's & Memory Disorders Alliance. Jason Resendez, executive director of our LatinosAgainstAlzheimer's network, moderates the discussion.Support the show (https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/ways-donate)

Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio – Shifting dementia care from crisis to comfort around the world one episode at a time by raising all voices and delivering sounds news, not just sound bites. Lori La Bey, host and founder of Alzheimer's Speaks talks with Cyndy Luzinski founder of Dementia Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado and Dr Jeni Cross who is the principle researcher on the B Sharp Engagement program, We have an exicitng conversation as amazing study results are shared. 2019 Summary Reseach Contact Information: Cyndy Hunt Luzinski - Dementia Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado DementiaFriendsNoCO.org          DementiaFriendsNoCO@gmail.com         970-213-4548 Jeni Cross, Professor - Department of Sociology, Colorado State University  Phone 970.491.0483      https://www.drjenicross.com           jeni.cross@colostate.edu Additional Resources at Alzheimer's Speaks                   Keynotes/Training

Lori La Bey talks with one of her favorite Dementia Professionals in the world today. Cyndy Luzinski is a strong advocate for change who truly walks her talk.  She is an advanced practice nurse, certified dementia practitioner, and the founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization to build and sustain "Dementia-Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado."     Cyndy is personable, creative and a wealth of information but best yet, Cyndy is right here in the United States.  She is the only accredited SPECAL Coach in North America, credentialed through the Contented Dementia! Contact Info Website: www.DementiaFriendsNoCO.org Email:   DementiaFriendsNoCO@gmail.com Additional Resources through Alzheimer’s Speaks Dementia Chats Videos Memory Café’s Building Dementia Friendly Businesses Keynotes, Training and Consulting

Featuring David Martins of Care UK talking about Dementia Friendly Communities. If you'd like a copy of our Rock & Roll Reminescence Kit for September 1962 you can find it on our blog page at https://radiotdw.home.blog/ or e-mail us at tdwradio@gmail.com and we'll be happy to send you one.

Join Lori La Bey, the host of Alzheimer's Speaks and their many platforms on Tuesday February 19th.  Alzheimer's Speaks was built on raising all voices concerning dementia and caregiving.  Are you working on a project, book or research project?  We want to hear your thoughts on everything dementia.  Call in and join a wide range of people expressing their thoughts on how we care and find out what is still needed to assist families and professionals to allow them to do a great job when caring of others.  Find out what those with dementia have to say as their insights are brilliant! Call in and join us:   (323) 870-4602 Additional Resources Alzheimer's Speaks Dementia Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado Cyndy Luzinski with Dementia Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado        cluzin63@gmail.com Dementia Spotlight Foundation Alzheimer's Music Fest  Vince Zangaro    770-547-3244          Vince@AlzheimersMusicFest.Org Gary LeBlanc      352-345-6270          Gary@DementiaSpotLightFoundation.Org

Dr. K talks with ChangingAging s Kavan Peterson about working with Dr. Bill Thomas to create dementia-friendly communities, disrupting ageism, why housing and multigenerational interactions matter, and much more. The post 083 Interview: Disrupting Dementia and Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities appeared first on Better Health While Aging.

After a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, patients and caregivers can turn to local agencies and associations for education and support. Dementia friendly communities represent an international movement to help businesses, the general public, and government agencies better recognize and support people living with dementia. Guest: Joy Schmidt, dementia care specialist, Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dane County

This week, Radio COTA Podcast Episode # 90 continues with Part 2 of our Feature on “INTERGENERATIONAL CARE ~ A WIN / WIN SITUATION” We look at the benefits of increased social inclusion, providing mechanisms for strengthening the connections for people who may have become, for whatever reason, isolated from their communities to some degree. Our special guest this week is Dr Lyn Phillipson from the University of Wollongong who has a strong background in researching Dementia and the implementation of Dementia Friendly Communities. Dr Phillipson shares her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with connecting older people with youngsters through intergenerational playgroup programs, and explains why it’s really a WIN WIN WIN WIN situation for everyone with an involvement in these programs ! So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you .. Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ... Email us at ... radiocota@cotaqld.org.au Your host, Andy Neil

Today we will talk to Penny Garner founder of SPECAL also known as Contented Dementia and Cyndy Luzinski founder of the “Dementia-Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado”, who uses Penny's techniques to improve dementia care. Contact Information: Penny Garner •Contented Dementia Trust website: www.contenteddementiatrust.org •Address: the Old Hospital, Sheep Street, Burford, Oxfordshire, England OX18 4lS •Email: info@contenteddementiatrust.org •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specalmethod/?ref=hl •Twitter: @specalmethod Cyndy Luzinski •970-213-4548 cluzin63@gmail.com •dementiafriendlycommunitiesnoco.org •https://www.facebook.com/dementiafriendlycommunitiesnoco/ Alzheimer's Speaks Resource Website: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/ Keynote Speaker: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/event-planners Join The Purple Angel Project: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/purple-angel-project Check out Audible www.audibletrial.com/SOCIAL Check out Fresh Books www.gofreshbooks.com/aliveSupport this Show: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we will talk to Penny Garner founder of SPECAL also known as Contented Dementia and Cyndy Luzinski founder of the “Dementia-Friendly Communities of Northern Colorado”, who uses Penny's techniques to improve dementia care. Contact Information: Penny Garner •Contented Dementia Trust website: www.contenteddementiatrust.org •Address: the Old Hospital, Sheep Street, Burford, Oxfordshire, England OX18 4lS •Email: info@contenteddementiatrust.org •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specalmethod/?ref=hl •Twitter: @specalmethod Cyndy Luzinski  •970-213-4548 cluzin63@gmail.com •dementiafriendlycommunitiesnoco.org •https://www.facebook.com/dementiafriendlycommunitiesnoco/ Alzheimer's Speaks Resource Website: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/ Keynote Speaker: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/event-planners Join The Purple Angel Project: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/purple-angel-project Check out Audible www.audibletrial.com/SOCIAL Check out Fresh Books www.gofreshbooks.com/aliveSupport this Show: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olivia Mastry is the founding partner of The Collective Action Lab, a unique collaborative forum that fosters cross-sector, systems and social change in the health, older adult service and disability arenas. As part of her work, Olivia is guiding Dementia national collaboration involving public and private Friendly America (DFA), a national collaboration organizations seeking to foster dementia friendly involving over 50 public and private organizations communities across the U.S.

Olivia Mastry is the founding partner of The Collective Action Lab, a unique collaborative forum that fosters cross-sector, systems and social change in the health, older adult service and disability arenas. As part of her work, Olivia is guiding Dementia national collaboration involving public and private Friendly America (DFA), a national collaboration organizations seeking to foster dementia friendly involving over 50 public and private organizations communities across the U.S.

Today we are at the Minnesota State Fair with HealthStar Home Health in the Kare11 Health Building to check out how the FREE Memory Screenings are going and to discuss resources and information regarding Alzheimer's and other dementias. We did have some technical difficulties with our connection and so the first portion of the show was edited out where we discussed the new film about a family dealing with dementia called His Neighbor Phil. Contact Information: HealthStar Home Health http://www.healthstarhomehealth.net/our-services/home-health-care-services/alzheimers-and-dementia-care/ Alzheimer's Speaks Resource Website https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/ Alzheimer's Team (Clinical Trials) http://alzheimersstudy.com/60.htm Join The Purple Angel Project: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/purple-angel-projectSupport this Show: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Come and join us for a fabulous conversation on creating Dementia Communities.  Kathy Broggy will be our guest and has been the lead on developing the Purple Cities Alliance in Texas.  Check out all they are doing!  www.purplecities.org                  Contact kathy by Email                Phone: 865 219-6968   Alzheimer's Speaks Radio is proud to raise all voices regarding dementia.  If you have an opinion we would love to hear it.  Call in and join the conversation or use your chat box to communicate with us.  If you think you should be a guest contact Lori La Bey. Check out Alzheimer's Speaks for Dementia and Caregiving Join an Alzheimer's disease clinical trial today.Support this Show: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alzheimer's Speaks loves hearing everyone's opinions and insights to living with dementia.  Today we all have the great honor to speak with Rev, Mary Kay Baum who is not only diagnosed with dementia, but who is doing amazing work to improve lives.  In fact, I personally got the chance to meet her and interview her the other week at the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association 1/2 intensive preconference on building Dementia Friendly Communities and Businesses. I promise this will be a wonderful conversation and you will walk away some brilliant new insights on how to live with the disease gracefully. Check out Mary Kay Baum's website Call her at (608)935-5834  or send her an email. For more information on Dementia and Caregiving go Alzheimer's Speaks Resource Website.Support this Show: https://alzheimersspeaks.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota joined us at the top of the call to discuss her work in the Senate to stop Alzheimer’s. We then spoke with Olivia Mastry, executive director of ACT on Alzheimer’s, which has helped 32 communities around Minnesota take steps to become “dementia-friendly.” ACT on Alzheimer’s is a collaborative of 60 public and private organizations and hundreds of individuals. They have developed resources that any community can use to raise awareness and support both patients and caregivers.Support the show (https://www.usagainstalzheimers.org/ways-donate)

In conversation with Toby Williamson regarding his role in the Mental Health Foundation focused on Later Life. Services for older people are traditionally looked on negatively, particularly dementia. In this episode Toby reflects on the positives of how we are living longer, and the majority of people, even those 'living with dementia', are experiencing a good quality of life. Mental health problems are not a necessary companion of growing older, and even the comparative cognitive decline can be adapted to. We can develop more of our own protective factors by planning more for an active retirement. Two-thirds of people living with dementia do so in their own homes, and the Dementia Friendly Communities and Age Friendly Cities initiatives are two of the many positive developments contributing to the better well-being of older people. The challenges for service providers is to attract more excellent practitioners to see the exciting challenges and opportunities offered by working in these services. The lack of cure or effective medical treatments opens the door to a range of other exciting therapeutic opportunities for supporting people and their informal carers. Finally, we should also do more to tap into the 'care capital' potential of baby boomers retiring with experience and a commitment to contribute back to society.