April 20, 2020

How to Connect With Nursing Home Patients in Quarantine

THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 -- U.S. nursing homes, assisted living centers and other long-term care facilities have closed their doors to outsiders due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it difficult for residents and their families to stay connected.

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) has some advice for making this difficult situation better.

April 9, 2020

Pandemic Adds to Challenge of Caring for Loved One With Dementia

THURSDAY, April 2, 2020 -- Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Annette Adams-Brown's 87-year-old mother was an avid follower of TV news. Now Adams-Brown has to channel-surf for a less stressful pastime.

Her mother, Bertha, has dementia, and each time she hears the news about a terrible disease spreading through the country, it's like she is hearing it for the first time.

March 30, 2020

Caring for Relatives With ALS Almost a Full-Time Job for Youth: Study

FRIDAY, March 27, 2020 -- Kids and teens spend as much as five hours a day helping care for relatives with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a new study finds.

Although the young people often help with bathing, dressing, eating and other caregiving activities, they may not have enough training or information about the disease, the study authors said.

March 11, 2020

Who's Caring for Family Caregivers? 1 in 5 Says Health Is Poor

THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 -- Caring for a loved one at home can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming and take a toll on your own health, a new study suggests.

According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 of the nearly 18 million Americans who provide informal, unpaid care may be in fair or poor health.

March 4, 2020

Helping Seniors Manage Meds After Hospital Reduces Readmission: Study

TUESDAY, March 3, 2020 -- Helping older people manage their prescribed medicines after they leave the hospital reduces their risk of readmission, researchers say.

Many older patients take multiple medicines and these often change after a hospital stay. This can cause misunderstandings that result in patients taking too much or too little of their medications, or not taking them at all, the authors of the new study noted.

March 4, 2020

Many Seniors Leave Hospital With New Disabilities

MONDAY, March 2, 2020 -- Older Americans often return home from the hospital with disabilities they didn't have before, a new study finds.

These new problems can lead to difficulties with daily activities, such as bathing and dressing, shopping and preparing meals, and getting around inside and outside the home.