After Visits, Family Wonder About Alzheimer’s Disease

The holidays are over and everything is getting back to normal – except, in the back of your mind, linger some nagging worries concerning one of the elderly relatives you visited. You wonder if this loved one could be in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Maybe you’ve shared your concerns with other family members, but no one’s quite sure what to do. They don’t want to offend the relative – and memory changes are normal as we age, aren’t they?

The Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) offered this list of signs that might be of concern, and how to tell them from memory changes that are considered normal:

Memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. A person begins to forget more often and is unable to recall the information later. What’s normal: Forgetting names or appointments occasionally.

Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. They may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game. What’s normal: Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.

Problems with language. People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. For example, they may be unable to find the toothbrush and instead ask for “that thing for my mouth.” What’s normal: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

Disorientation to time and place. People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. What’s normal: Forgetting the day of the week, or walking into another room and forgetting why you went there.

Poor or decreased judgment. Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money. What’s normal: Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.

Problems with abstract thinking. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks; for example, they might forget what numbers are for or how they should be used. What’s normal: Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.

Misplacing things. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places, such as an iron in the freezer or wristwatch in the sugar bowl. What’s normal: Misplacing keys or a wallet temporarily.

Changes in mood or behavior. Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings—from calm to tears to anger—for no apparent reason. What’s normal: Occasionally feeling sad or moody.

Changes in personality. The personalities of people with dementia can change dramatically. They may become extremely confused, suspicious, fearful or dependent on a family member. What’s normal: People’s personalities do change somewhat with age. They may become less flexible or reluctant to try new things; however, normal changes are not generally dramatic.

Loss of initiative. A person with Alzheimer’s may become very passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not wanting to do usual activities. What’s normal: Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.

If your loved one exhibited any of the above warning signs, it may be time to step in. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other disorders causing dementia is an important step to getting appropriate treatment, care and support services.

The “Snake Oil Salesman” Is Alive and Well

You’re probably familiar with the old “snake oil salesmen”—charlatans who traveled from town to town, peddling fancy bottles of “miracle potions” guaranteed to cure a wide variety of ailments. We now know that most of those “secret formulas” were no more than colored water mixed with other useless—or even dangerous—ingredients. Or perhaps the bottle was mostly full of alcohol, making it more attractive during the Prohibition era, and giving rise to jests such as “Grandma is a teetotaler but she sure gets a lot of good out of Dr. McGillicuddy’s Good Mood Elixir!”

The snake oil industry is alive and well today, but these disreputable companies no longer hawk their wares from the back of a wagon. Today, they tout their “miracle cures” on late-night TV infomercials, in magazine ads, on Facebook and in spam emails. They often target older adults. And while their sales pitches may be glitzier than in yesteryear, many of the fraudulent health claims they make have changed very little. They lead consumers to believe their products are scientifically tested and endorsed by reputable medical science.

Just as in the past, these scam artists keep moving to avoid persecution. Even though their claims may be illegal, it’s hard for officials to keep up with the proliferation. Said Gary Coody of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “Health fraud is a pervasive problem, especially when scammers sell online. It’s difficult to track down the responsible parties. When we do find them and tell them their products are illegal, some will shut down their website. Unfortunately, however, these same products may reappear later on a different website, sometimes with a different name.”

This means that it’s up to consumers to educate themselves about fraudulent health products. Learn the facts, and share the information with senior loved ones. The FDA provides the following list of six “red flag” claims that should raise your suspicion:

1. One product does it all. Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. For example, a New York firm claimed its products marketed as dietary supplements could treat or cure dementia, brain atrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, gangrene, depression, osteoarthritis, as well as lung, cervical and prostate cancer.
2. Personal testimonials. Success stories such as, “It cured my diabetes” or “My tumors are gone,” are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence.
3. Quick fixes. Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, even with legitimate products. Beware of language such as “Lose 30 pounds in 30 days” or “eliminates skin cancer in days.”
4. “All natural.” Some plants found in nature (such as poisonous mushrooms) can kill when consumed. Moreover, the FDA has found numerous products promoted as “all natural” that actually contain hidden and dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients or even untested active artificial ingredients.
5. “Miracle cure.” Alarms should go off when you see this claim or others like it such as, “new discovery,” “scientific breakthrough” or “secret ingredient.” If a real cure for a serious disease were discovered, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by health professionals—not buried in print ads, TV infomercials or on Internet sites.
6. Conspiracy theories. Claims like “The pharmaceutical industry and the government are working together to hide information about a miracle cure” are always untrue and unfounded. These statements are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.

Bottom line, says the FDA, if you are unsure about the safety and effectiveness of a health product, ask your doctor or another reputable healthcare professional first.

Give Your New Year’s Resolutions a Jump Start

So here we are, almost two weeks into 2017. Did you make a list of healthy New Year’s resolutions? Are you still feeling enthusiastic about your goals of exercising more, eating right, quitting smoking, lowering your stress level – whatever good intentions made it onto your list?

To make it more likely that you’ll stick to it, check out these five ways to raise the chances of success:

1. Re-evaluate your goals. In the excitement of the new year, we sometimes make resolutions that seem unattainable when day-to-day life sets back in. Take another look. Without completely abandoning a particular resolution, you can refine it to be less daunting. For example, if your goal was “Lose 20 pounds,” cross that out and replace with “Lose one pound a week until swimsuit weather.” If you resolved to bring a healthy salad for lunch to work instead of ducking into the pizza place for lunch, allow yourself a slice of pepperoni once a week.
2. Translate ideals into specifics. If you resolved to “get more exercise,” it’s great to visualize yourself as being more fit, with more energy. Now, move your focus to the specific actions that will get you there, such as “Walk for 30 minutes five days a week after work.” Think about the process as much as the goals. Make list of things you want to do, and when you will do them. Make a checklist and put it on the fridge. One day at a time!
3. Prioritize.  If we try to tackle too many big changes in our life at once, we can become discouraged and give up on all of them. Ask yourself which healthy living goals would benefit you the most. Eliminating truly dangerous habits like smoking or eating junk food would no doubt be near the top of the list. Yet studies show that stress reduction and getting more sleep can help those other changes fall into place. Talk to your doctor about the lifestyle changes that would be of greatest benefit to you.
4. Don’t give up if you goof up. Few of us can make big life transformations without an occasional setback. Bad health habits that took years to be entrenched probably won’t be completely conquered by February. We all have days when it’s just a little harder to put on our running shoes or steam those veggies for dinner! And studies show that unrealistic expectations can actually boomerang—we might have a second cigarette because we’re angry at ourselves that we gave in and had the first one, or we might try to pick up our spirits with a hot fudge sundae if we gained a pound at our weekly weigh-in. Some experts even say that perfectionism raises the risk of alcohol abuse. Instead of losing hope, turn a momentary lapse into a learning experience. What circumstance caused the temporary derail, and how can you avoid that obstacle next time?
5. Get help from an expert. When we resolve to quit smoking, give up junk food or cut back on alcohol consumption, we often find that it’s hard to go it alone. The buddy system, where we enlist family and friends to quit with us or help us stick to our goal, can be helpful. But sometimes, cohorts and cheerleaders aren’t enough. Brain chemistry, biology, genes and personality traits mesh to make certain habits notoriously hard to change. A smoking cessation, alcohol reduction or weight loss program may be the best way to turn your resolutions into real change. Talk to your doctor about a program that’s right for you. Some are free or almost free; your insurance may cover others.

There’s an old saying that nothing succeeds like success. Each small increment you achieve in keeping your resolutions for a healthier life will provide motivation for the next step forward.

Resolve to Save Energy—and Money—in 2017

Was “save money” on your list of New Year’s resolutions this year? There are all sorts of ways to spend less that can that add up to big savings—and one of those things can benefit not only our wallet, but also the environment.

The U.S. Department of Energy offers 10 tips for saving money by conserving energy. Click on the links for details about these great ideas.

1. Prevent heat from escaping or cold from entering your home – lowering your heating bills – by insulating and air sealing your home.
2. Reduce your waste heat by using a programmable thermostat that can reduce the heat at a specific time when you’re away from the home and increase the heat before you get back home.
3. Doors and windows are places where cold/warm air can easily come through, so by installing ENERGY STAR doors and windows, you can save energy and money with their better quality insulation.
4. Heading out to the after-holiday sales to stock up on décor for next year? Look for light emitting diode (LED) holiday lights, which are at least 75% more efficient and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lights. By using LED holiday lights, you can be at ease knowing that you won’t be spending a bundle to keep those lights on.
5. If you’re taking a winter vacation this year, you can save energy by making sure the lights are turned off.  Read more about when to turn off the lights.
6. Save additional money on your electricity bill by using motion sensor and timer controls.
7. One significant way to reduce energy consumption if you’re away on vacation is to simply lower the water heater temperature. If you’ll be gone three or more consecutive days, set the water heater to the lowest or “vacation” setting if there is one.
8. When you are away, it’s also good to unplug those kitchen appliances, DVDs, TVs, and computers to save energy and money. These electronics, when plugged in, use up energy even when they are turned off.
9. Use a power strip. If the idea of running around the home to unplug everything is a bit too much, use power strips to plug in multiple appliances, and then turn them all off with the flip of the power strip switch.
10. Adjust the blinds and curtains. Close your curtains and shades at night to protect against cold drafts; open them during the day to let in warming sunlight.

For Seniors and Family Caregivers: Three Great Wellness Resolutions for 2017

This is the time of year when we take stock of the previous year, and make note of changes we’d like to make in our lives. Maybe your list of resolutions includes ways to improve your financial health, such as saving more and spending less. Maybe you’d like to improve yourself in other ways—volunteering more, learning a new skill or taking a yoga class.

Need a few more great ideas? If you’re an older adult or a family caregiver—or, more likely these days, both—here are three research-based resolutions that can improve your health and well-being.

Resolution #1: Make time for exercise.

Each year, research confirms that physical activity is the top factor for healthy aging. 2016 was no exception! Of particular note is that even people who are active can be harmed if they spend most of the day sitting. Spending most of the day sitting harms the heart and brain—even for people who exercise regularly. Resolve to be more active, even in small ways. Exercise doesn’t have to be in one solid block; fifteen minutes here and there can be just as beneficial.

For seniors: Geriatrics researchers tell us that even frail seniors can benefit from increased activity. Talk to your healthcare provider about an exercise program that is appropriate for your health condition. Look into senior fitness classes, or perhaps a set of home exercises that includes aerobic, flexibility and strengthening activities.

For family caregivers:  Busy family caregivers find that exercise drops to the bottom of their to-do list—or off the list entirely. But these people who do so much for their loved ones should remember that inactivity raises the risk of heart disease, cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise is a top way to overcome stress and improve overall health. If you are having trouble scheduling a workout, it might be time to ask other family members and friends to help.

Resolution #2: Expand your social circle.

We used to think of socializing as just a way to pass the time, but research over the past few years has overwhelmingly demonstrated that spending time with others protects the brain, heart, our emotional well-being, even our immune system.

For seniors: Older adults can be at greater risk of isolation and loneliness. Leading expert Dr. John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago even says, “Chronic loneliness belongs among other health risks, such as smoking, obesity or lack of exercise.” Sensory and mobility impairment, giving up the car keys and losing friends who have passed away or moved all make socializing more of a challenge—but it’s worth the effort to find opportunities to be around other people. Several studies also show that while spending time with family is good, seniors also need to spend time with people they consider to be peers. Even social networking sites, such as Facebook, can offer solid socialization benefits. These sites are not as good as “in real life” friends, but for many, they offer company and stimulation.

For caregivers:  Many caregivers, too, experience loneliness. Even as they are spending a lot of time in the company of their loved one, they miss socializing with friends. Their busy schedule, fatigue, and in some cases, fair-weather friends who stop calling, can leave them feeling isolated and depressed. This year, resolve to make a lunch date with old friends … and in addition, make some new friends. Have you tried a support group? Sharing your thoughts and suggestions with others is a great stress-buster and many long-lasting friendships have begun in this context.

Resolution #3:  Take a good, hard look at your alcohol use.

Do you sometimes have a bit too much champagne on New Year’s Eve and wake up on January 1 with headache and other symptoms of a hangover? If so, you are not alone. If this was a one-time indulgence, remember to cut back on those toasts next year. But if you drink more than you should on a regular basis, consider that the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has named alcohol abuse by people over 65 as one of the fastest-growing health problems in the U.S.!

For seniors: While there may be some health benefits from consuming a small or moderate amount of alcohol, drinking too much negates those benefits and worsens many health conditions. It damages the liver and can lead to malnutrition and fall injuries. It damages the brain, and affects our sleep quality. And when seniors mix alcohol with prescription drugs, the combination can be deadly. If you are worried about a loved one’s drinking, encourage him or her to talk to their healthcare provider about counseling or a support group that is geared toward the needs of older adults.

For caregivers: If you’re worried about your own drinking, all the above suggestions are for you, too. But remember that caring for a person with a substance abuse problem also can quickly become your problem. You can’t force another person to deal with a drinking problem. Your loved one may be defensive or in denial and may try to conceal the problem. If the conversation isn’t going well, talk to a counselor or specialist. Join a support group for families of people with alcohol dependency. And take care of yourself.

Kaiser Health News Reports on Plight of Family Caregivers

Elderly Americans’ well-being is at risk unless the U.S. does much more to help millions of family caregivers who sacrifice their own health, finances and personal lives to look out for loved ones, reported a study released in September.

Nearly 18 million people care for a relative older than 65 who needs help, yet “the need to recognize and support caregivers is among the most significant challenges” facing the nation’s swelling elderly population, their families and society, according to the report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Describing family caregiving as “a critical issue of public policy,” a committee of experts in health care and aging said the next presidential administration in 2017 should direct a national strategy to develop ways to support caregivers, including economically.

According to the report, people who help elderly family members with three or more personal tasks a day devote 253 hours a month to caregiving — almost the equivalent of two full-time jobs.

Five years is the median duration that family members care for older adults with high needs, the report said.

For some Americans who accept that responsibility, that can mean taking a less demanding job, foregoing promotions or dropping out of the workforce.

Lost wages and benefits average $303,880 over the lifetimes of people 50 and older who stop working to care for a parent, according to a study cited in the report. That’s not all: A lower earnings history also means reduced Social Security payments for caregivers when they become eligible.

A possible fix for that problem, proposed by researchers in 2009, is to provide caregivers with a Social Security credit for a defined level of deemed wages during a specified time period, the report said.

Leave programs do exist for some workers shouldering caregiving duties, but many lack such job protections.

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act doesn’t cover 40 percent of the workforce. It allows eligible employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid time off to care for certain family members, but the law only applies to those who work for federal, state and local governments and private companies with more than 50 employees. But ineligible family relationships for leave include sons- and daughters-in-law, stepchildren, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. Many workers can’t afford to give up their incomes for 12 weeks.

In 2011, 17 percent of caregivers didn’t take leave because they feared losing their jobs, according to a national survey cited in the report.

The report recommends that family caregivers receive status as a protected class under existing job discrimination laws and that employers get guidance and training on ways to support workers caring for family members.

Beyond the economic costs of caregiving, the report notes that the social and physical toll of caregiving should get more attention than it does.

“If their needs are not recognized and addressed, family caregivers risk burnout from the prolonged distress and physical demands of caregiving, and the nation will bear the costs,” the report said.

Instead of delivering “patient-centered” care, health care providers should adopt “family-centered” models that include checking with caregivers to ensure they are healthy and capable of filling the role. The report also recommended wellness visits, counseling sessions and better training for caregivers who must understand increasingly complicated medical instructions.

Dealing with feeding and drainage tubes, catheters and other complicated medical devices causes stress, and the study’s authors noted that caregivers report “learning by trial and error and fearing that they will make a life-threatening mistake.”

The study was funded by 13 private foundations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and an anonymous donor that requested the National Academies undertake the research in 2014.

‘Tis the Season … to Practice Decorating Safety!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year during the holiday season, 15,000 people rush to the emergency department due to injuries involving decorating. Falling from a ladder or stepping on broken ornaments may be funny in holiday movies, but in real life, these and similar mishaps result in visits to the emergency room, or calls to fire departments, for thousands of consumers each year.

“There are about 250 injuries a day during the holiday season. Adding safety to your checklist can keep a holiday tradition from becoming a holiday tragedy,” said CPSC Commissioner Robert S. Adler. “Keep Christmas trees watered well, don’t leave candles unattended, and use caution whenever you are on a ladder.”

The most frequently reported holiday decorating incidents seen in emergency departments involved falls (34 percent), lacerations (11 percent) and back strains (10 percent). And fire departments nationwide respond to hundreds of fires each year in which candles or the Christmas tree are the first items ignited, resulting in death, injuries and millions of dollars in property loss.

To prevent fires, discard holiday light sets with evidence of damage such as broken sockets and bare wires, water Christmas trees frequently, and always extinguish candles before leaving a room.

Consumers can use the following safety tips as a guide to help prevent decorating disasters this holiday season:

Ladders

1. Heed the warning labels on ladders. (For more information, read CPSC’s OnSafety blog, “Ladder Safety 101,” for tips to prevent ladder falls this season.)

Trees and Decorations

1. Buying a live tree? Check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, its needles are hard to pull from branches, and the needles do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
2. Setting up a tree at home? Place it away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Because heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to monitor water levels daily, and keep the tree stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic, and do not block doorways with the tree.
3. Buying an artificial tree? Look for the label: “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean that the tree will not catch fire, the label does indicate that the tree is more resistant to catching fire.
4. Decorating a tree in a home with small children? Take special care to avoid sharp, weighted, or breakable decorations. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children, who could swallow or inhale small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that might tempt a child to reach for and swallow them.

Candles

1. Keep burning candles within sight. Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room, or leave the house.
2. Keep candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface. Place candles where kids and pets cannot reach them or knock them over. Lighted candles should be placed away from items that can catch fire, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.

Lights

1. Use lights that have been tested. Select lights tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Lights for both indoor and outdoor use must meet strict requirements that testing laboratories are able to verify. On decorative lights available in stores, UL’s red holographic label signifies that the product meets safety requirements for indoor and outdoor use. UL’s green holographic label signifies that the product meets requirements for indoor use only.
2. Check each set of lights. Examine new and old lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets, and do not use electric lights on a metallic tree.
3. Check each extension cord. Make sure each extension cord is rated for the intended use and is in good condition. Do not use cords with cuts or signs of fraying.
4. Check outdoor lights for labels. Look for labels indicating that the lights have been certified for outdoor use, and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

Fireplaces

1. Use care with “fire salts.” Fire salts produce colored flames when thrown onto wood fires. Fire salts contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting, if swallowed. Keep fire salts away from children.
2. Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result from burning wrapping papers because wrappings can ignite suddenly and burn intensely.