Fifty Plus Advocates

By Micha Shalev Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease impacts every aspect of daily life. As Alzheimer’s patients lose one ability after another, caregivers face tests of stamina, problem solving and resiliency. During this long and difficult journey, communication diminishes, rewards decrease, and without strong support, caretakers face challenges to their wellbeing. Maintaining emotional and physical [...]

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By Micha Shalev The phrase “home is where the heart is” captures the sentiments of many older adults when it comes to making choices about where they live as they age. Eighty-nine percent of those people 50 and over surveyed in 2005 stated that they would prefer to remain in their home indefinitely. Should they [...]

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By Micha Shalev Some people with Alzheimer’s disease experience confusion and agitation that escalate in the late afternoon or evening. They have trouble going to bed and staying asleep. Experts believe this behavior, commonly called sundowning, is caused by a combination of exhaustion and changes in the person’s biological clock that confuse day and night. [...]

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By Micha Shalev About 44 million people, roughly 19 percent of the U.S. adult population, provide unpaid care to someone who is age 50 or older. The average age of caregivers is 50 and the average age of care recipients is 77. Most caregivers assist family members, usually their mothers. How do you define the [...]

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By Micha Shalev Q: I take care of my mother who has dementia. With the bath, it’s always a battle! I try to convince her that she needs a bath but she resists. She can’t bathe herself anymore and we can’t afford to bring someone in to do it. I need some tips. A: For [...]

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By Micha Shalev Dementia is not an inevitable consequence of aging, but the risk of dementia increases sharply with advancing age.  Its prevalence is expected to increase dramatically over the coming decades. Dementia features an alteration of memory and at least one other cognitive disorder such as language difficulty, inability to perform particular purposive actions, [...]

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