Author: mikebarry123

Challenges with Challenging Behaviors  

Lonely senior man feeling very sad
By Galina Markovich Director, MMC Dementia care is becoming ever more needed in an increasing variety of settings including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, boarding homes, rehab centers and of course, in the homes of friends and neighbors. It is crucial to understand what the best care setting is for someone with behavioral dementia. In my support groups, I frequently meet caregivers who ask this very question. Many of them have already had experiences with facilities where it ...
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Alzheimer’s May Reduce Ability to Perceive Pain

brain power graphic
Researchers at Vanderbilt University recently reported in BMC Medicine that Alzheimer’s may reduce ability to perceive pain. The three-year study at Vanderbilt examined two groups of adults aged 65 and older: one group diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and a second group with no signs of Alzheimer’s. Participants were asked to report pain levels resulting from exposure to varying degrees of heat. The study revealed that reports of pain sensation required higher temperatures for participan...
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Benefits Of Exercise On The Brain | Millennium Memory Care

Senior Couple with Weights
Everyone knows how important it is to be physically active. Some of the many physical benefits of regular exercise include improved strength, flexibility, stamina, balance and coordination. Exercise can also help with managing weight and controlling risk factors for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and stroke. On the other hand, lack of activity can have serious negative consequences. In addition to an overall poorer sense of well-being, older adults who are ...
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The Role of the Caregiver

Caregiver Support
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, people experience a gradual loss of memory along with a slow decline in cognitive and reasoning skills. At the outset, this can be frustrating and challenging, as forgetfulness increases and tasks that were once routine become harder to manage. But some simple coping tips and strategies can help with daily tasks and extend the opportunity to live an engaged and independent life. Before employing any of these strategies, it is important to acknowledg...
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Alzheimer Test | Millennium Memory Care

Diagnosing the Brain
The familiar symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include forgetfulness, speech difficulties, confusion and inability to form memories. But the telltale biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease begin to take hold in the brain well before any of these outward signs become apparent. In Alzheimer’s patients, amyloid plaques and tangles of tau proteins form and accumulate in the brain which can lead to functional impairment. While these formations can be detected through positron emission tomography ...
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What Is A Residential Care Facility | Millennium Memory Care

Holmdel Outside
As Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia progress, your loved one will become increasingly dependent upon you for the most basic of care. As a caregiver, it is natural to feel overwhelmed, and even feel resentment, as the demands on time and energy continue to increase rapidly. As you endeavor to meet the growing needs of your elderly loved one, a struggle naturally arises between realistic expectations of care and the guilt resulting from conflicting priorities. Part of being a success...
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Respite Care For Caregivers | Millennium Memory Care

Male-Senior-with-Daughter
Being a caregiver to someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s can be extremely rewarding. It can also be incredibly stressful. But many caregivers hesitate to admit they need help. Often, caregivers of an elderly parent or spouse hide their depression, frustration, and feelings of being overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to be this way.  It is normal to both want to take care of a loved one, yet still face exhaustion and the need to take a break. This does not indicate failure or lack of commitment. I...
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Air Pollution And Alzheimer’s Disease | Millennium Memory Care

Smokestacks
It is well understood that exposure to industrial pollutants can lead to a number of negative health effects, which can range from mild irritation to asthma and other more severe respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Now new research from the United Kingdom and Mexico has uncovered a possible link between neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and the presence in the brain of a magnetic iron oxide compound called magnetite. Magnetite, a common industrial air pollutant release...
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Smell Test For Dementia | Millennium Memory Care

Happy Seniors wheelchair and nurse
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine have found that using a simple “sniff test” could boost the accuracy of diagnosing cognitive impairment. Scientists are already aware that individuals in early stages of Alzheimer’s find their sense of smell quickly deteriorates. Researchers found that when administering standard cognitive tests, adding a sniff test in which subjects must try to identify different odors, increases the accuracy of diagnosing mild cogni...
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Early Onset Alzheimers | Millennium Memory Care

Brain Electricity Graphic
We typically view Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia as a condition affecting older people. This is generally true. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, of the over 5 million people in the United States affected by Alzheimer’s disease, about 95% are 65 years and older. But this means that nearly 5% of people with Alzheimer’s are diagnosed at a younger age, in their 50s, 40s and, sometimes, even in their 30s. This is known as younger- or early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and it...
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