Spring Arbor Living Blog

An older person who cares for a spouse with dementia is also at an increased risk of developing problems with attention and memory, according to a new review of studies.

This is because the spousal caregiver likely shared lifestyle risk factors with the person with dementia, and undergoes ongoing stress from caring for the person.

Researchers from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine reviewed more than 100 studies that examined the cognitive health of older adults who cared for a family member with dementia, with the majority of the subjects being spouses. They found that these caregivers have more trouble with attention and memory, also known as cognition, than people who don't have to care for a family member with dementia.

The review of the studies showed that those caregivers had a higher risk of cognitive decline or dementia than people who do not have to care for someone with dementia. This could be due to a number of factors, including depression, loneliness, sleep problems, social isolation, exercise, diet and even obesity.

People who are caring for a spouse with dementia may themselves be at risk for cognitive problems which, in turn, will not only negatively influence their quality of life, but may reduce their ability to provide the necessary care for their spouse.

Most care-recipients prefer to be cared for in their homes, and, by remaining in their homes, health care costs are reduced greatly, therefore, often spouses of end up providing care.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

People with dementia are not the only ones who have health problems – a spouse who cares for them are also at risk for attention and memory problems.

Original article on MSN.com

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Disease develops years before symptoms show.

New guidelines for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease set forth methods for identifying the disease before it progresses to full-blown dementia, and for the first time include lab and brain-imaging tests that can help identify Alzheimer's as the likely cause of a person's mental decline.

The guidelines, revised for the first time in 27 years, reflect a firm consensus among Alzheimer's researchers that the disease begins to attack the intricate structures of the brain 10 years or more before the disabling mental problems appear. Therefore, to be effective, drug or other therapies will have to begin work early in that process.

So far, though, there are no therapies that alter the course of Alzheimer's disease. And in a media briefing, authors of the new diagnosis guidelines emphasized that while testing for Alzheimer's pathology in the brain may one day be used to identify the disease at much earlier stages, today the tests are primarily a research tool. They are not ready for routine use in doctors' offices.

Delaying disability

Even so, doctors hope the new diagnostic criteria encourage people with worrisome memory problems to seek help. There's a lot patients and their families can do to minimize the impact of Alzheimer's, from structuring the patient's environment to optimizing medical care, activities, exercise and diet.

New tests outlined in the guidelines involve looking at the brain with imaging technologies and examining the fluid obtained by a spinal tap. The imaging studies can reveal so-called plaques made up of a protein called amyloid, a defining feature of Alzheimer's. They also can indicate characteristic patterns of shrinkage or reduced metabolic activity in the brain. The cerebrospinal fluid tests look for levels of amyloid as well as of another protein, tau, which makes up the twisted strands or "tangles" that, like plaques, are signature brain pathology in Alzheimer's.

Weaknesses of the tests

Research studies have demonstrated that all these tests can help identify Alzheimer's as the cause of a patient's dementia, and can help predict which patients with milder symptoms will go on to develop dementia. But the tests aren't conclusive in themselves. They aren't standardized so that a certain result means the same thing in every medical center. And there's no clear cutoff separating normal findings from those indicating a problem.

Original article by: Katharine Greider from AARP Bulletin

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The terms Assisted Living Community and Nursing Home are often used interchangeably, however this is a mistake. They are actually very different, and a candidate for one is not necessarily a candidate for the other. However, that being said, Spring Arbor and The Oaks are assisted living residences. However, we recognize that just as every resident is unique and different, so too are his or her care needs. The fact is some residents require more time and attention than others. We address those needs individually rather than increase service fees for everyone.

The following are some differences between the Assisted Living and Nursing Homes.

Assisted Living Communities:

• Individuals in assisted living are more independent and can usually get through most of their day on their own. Generally, they only need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and preparing food.
• They still enjoy social activities and make autonomous decisions.
• Assisted Living Communities require limited to no medical care or specialized medical care.
• In Assisted Living Communities, residents are able to maintain their independence in a more secure atmosphere and they focus more on personal privacy and self-sufficiency than a nursing home.
• They offer their clients a comfortable apartment that is luxurious and comfortable.

• Those in nursing homes need a great deal more care. They usually require 24-hour nursing supervision and are generally not in good health.
• Nursing home patients require help with much more than three or more daily tasks:walking or being pushed in wheel chairs, eating, and regular medical tests.
• A nursing home is a place for someone who is unable to be cared for at home, but is not a candidate for hospital care.
• Nursing homes also provide rehabilitation to help people gain back their independence after a serious health problem.
• Similar to hospitals, nursing home patients have little to no privacy and quite often share rooms.
• Those in Nursing homes are viewed as patients, not clients. They are there to get well. If you or your parent is well, a nursing home is not ideal.

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