Category: Blog Post

The holiday season has arrived, and it is the time to buy gifts for family and friends. What will you give your loved one with dementia and the caregivers?

Shopping and giving gifts during the holiday season can be challenging, but it is much harder when you’re buying for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. 

The good news is that there are a variety of fantastic presents for seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Depending on the illness stage, thoughtful gifts for the individual or their caregiver can bring joy or be helpful.

If you’re looking for a gift for a caregiver or someone with Alzheimer’s, here are some ideas to help [1]. 

Gift Ideas for People with Alzheimer’s

These gift suggestions are for those in the early, middle, and late phases of Alzheimer’s. These are stage-specific recommendations intended for keeping the person interested, safe, and active in daily duties. 

For those in the Early Stages of the Disease

• Post-it Notes or an erasable whiteboard for listing reminders or the day’s activities
• Labelable trays or baskets that fit into drawers or cabinets.
• Give them gift cards for a favorite activity (golf, movie, restaurant, etc.) or ride-sharing services so they can stay active.
• GPS tracking devices, such as watches, bracelets, and small trackers, or signing up for a secure return scheme.
• A “memory” calendar with images of family members – write down your major family occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
• Assorted jigsaw puzzles to help provide a healthy mental challenge for the person with dementia while also improving their short-term memory.

For those in Middle-to-Late Stages

• Music playlists featuring the individual’s favorite artists or songs
• Loose-fitting, comfortable, easy-to-put-on and wash clothes, including a fluffy bathrobe, sweatsuits, slip-on blouses and shirts, non-slip socks, Velcro shoes, and wrinkle-resistant nightgowns.
• Framed photos or a photo collage made exclusively for the Alzheimer’s patient. Add the individuals’ names to the pictures to aid with identification.
• Soothing presents that can ease anxiety, such as a cozy blanket or a portable massager.
• Adaptive dining equipment, such as spill-proof cups, plate guards, and silverware with specially constructed handles to help increase independence during meals
• A medication dispenser that can, for example, tell the person with dementia when it’s time to take their medication and automatically dispense the right medication at the right time

To Assist with Routine Tasks and Keep the Alzheimer’s Patient Engaged

• A “memory” phone that can save images of friends and family together with their names and contact details.
• Automated nightlights that turn on when it gets dark.
• A digital clock that shows the time and date in huge text.
• An excursion to a museum, play, concert, movie, athletic event, or perhaps a planned holiday shopping trip with loved ones.
• Spending time together making homemade gifts for family members, painting decorations, setting the table, scrapbooking, or carrying out other activities.

Gifts for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers

The most meaningful gift you can give someone who is caring for a person with dementia is your time. Taking a little break every day can assist a caregiver in reducing stress and avoiding burnout. The following gift suggestions could reduce the workload and motivate caregivers to take some time for themselves:

• Coupons for tasks like shoveling the driveway, mowing the yard, cooking, or cleaning the house
• Restaurant or meal delivery gift cards and certificates, dry cleaning and laundry services, lawn care services, computer and tech support, maid services, and personal pampering services like massages and pedicures
• Give books – besides novels on the caregiver’s “must read” list, shops and your local library may stock a wide range of self-help and caregiving books. 
• Self-care products, like a collection of personal care items (soaps, foot creams, scrubs, moisturizers, etc.)

Donate Today to Support Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers!

The holiday season has begun! As we come together to celebrate this holiday season, let’s take a moment to extend our support to those who are bravely navigating through challenges and hardships. Caregiving is a demanding task that often leaves the caregivers physically, emotionally, and financially unstable. The least we can do is to try to alleviate some of their burden by supporting them via donations.

Let’s honor the dedication and sacrifices of the family caregivers who devote their lives and resources to caring for their loved ones! Don’t forget to support them, which you can do by acknowledging their hard work and donating as much as possible: https://www.alzra.org/donate-now/. 

References

1. Holiday Gift Guide for Caregivers and People Living with Dementia. Alzheimer’s Association. https://www.alz.org/help-support/resources/holidays/gift-guide. Accessed: 2nd December, 2024.
2. Holiday Gift Guide for Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Freedom Village. https://fvhollandseniorliving.com/blog/holiday-gifts-for-alzheimers-dementia/. Accessed: 2nd December, 2024.
3. Holiday gift ideas for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. AARP. https://states.aarp.org/colorado/holiday-gift-ideas-for-people-with-alzheimers-and-their-caregivers. Accessed: 2nd December, 2024.
4. The Best Gift Ideas for People with Dementia. Senior Helpers. https://www.seniorhelpers.com/fl/orlando/resources/blogs/best-gifts-for-people-with-dementia/. Accessed: 2nd December, 2024.

According to new research, Alzheimer’s appears to occur in two stages: a slow, symptomless phase that affects only a few susceptible cell types and a destructive later phase that manifests the disease’s hallmark signs and symptoms. The results could aid scientists in creating novel approaches to early Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent type of dementia, a degenerative neurological condition that eventually interferes with day-to-day activities by affecting memory, thinking, and behavior.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 10 million individuals worldwide receive a dementia diagnosis each year and that approximately 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia [1]. Up to 70% of these individuals have Alzheimer’s.

Mild memory loss is typically the initial sign of Alzheimer’s, and as time passes, the symptoms worsen. Later-stage Alzheimer’s patients frequently require 24-hour care since they are unable to carry out ordinary daily tasks and have conversations.

Changes in the brain trigger the disease symptoms. However, a new study indicates that some brain changes may begin long before symptoms appear.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study contends that Alzheimer’s first slow and silent phase arises before any memory loss, damaging only a few susceptible brain cells.   Plaques, tangles, and other markers of Alzheimer’s accumulate during the second phase, which is more destructive and occurs when symptoms start to appear.

Nature Neuroscience published the research [2].

Alzheimer’s First Phase: Slow, Early Changes in Brain

The research team examined brains from 84 donors (postmortem), with an average age of 88. There were 51 female and 33 male donors; 9 of them had no Alzheimer’s, 12 had low ADNC (Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes), 21 had intermediate ADNC, and 42 had high ADNC.

About one-third of intermediate (7 of 21) and low (4 of 12) ADNC cases and nearly three-quarters (31 of 42) of high ADNC cases had dementia before death. Before passing away, none of the people without ADNC developed dementia.

For each donor, the researchers first employed machine learning to measure Alzheimer’s progression, including beta-amyloid and pTau, which indicate the amount of phosphorylated tau protein in blood plasma.

Each received a score ranging from 0 to 1. The researchers discovered that a score of 0.4-0.6 indicated a significant rise in pTau and beta-amyloid buildup and increased cognitive impairments. 

They concluded from the scores that there are two distinct phases that characterize the severity of Alzheimer’s:

In an NIH news release, Richard J. Hodes, MD, director of the NIH National Institute on Aging, stated that an obstacle to identifying and treating Alzheimer’s disease is that a large portion of brain damage occurs long before symptoms appear [3]. 

He went on to say that by being able to identify these early changes, we can finally observe what is happening to a person’s brain in the early stages of the illness.

Early Cell Damage Causes Subsequent Changes in the Brain.

The researchers were surprised to discover that, accompanied by a gradual buildup of plaques and immune system activity in the brain, one specific kind of neuron, or nerve cell, was dying.

Somatostatin (SST) inhibitory neurons typically transmit soothing signals to other cells. The death of these neurons may set off the ensuing modifications in the brain that drive Alzheimer’s, according to the study’s authors.

The researchers point out that inhibitory neurons might be one of the first brain cell types to become susceptible and cause changes in intercellular communication. These cells are predominantly present in a brain area related to memory, vision, and language. 

Alzheimer’s Second Phase: Inflammable and Increased Damage

The researchers reported a decrease in oligodendrocytes and an increase in inflammatory cells known as astrocytes and microglia after the loss of SST inhibitory neurons.

Oligodendrocytes create myelin, the nerve cell’s outer coating that is necessary for nerve impulse transmission.

Researchers suggest that other inflammatory brain cells, known as microglia and astrocytes, start a process to try to reverse these early alterations by releasing chemicals or altering their structure in what they refer to as the later phase of the disease [4].

Changes in inflammatory cells and inhibitory neurons gradually evolve to display the well-known molecular abnormalities of Alzheimer’s, including amyloid plaque deposition and tau tangle pathology, resulting in a deadly state.

Could these findings contribute to early Alzheimer’s diagnosis?

Researchers were able to identify the initial cellular alterations in the brain as Alzheimer’s progressed via powerful new technology. According to the study’s authors, their research could result in novel treatments and diagnostics focusing on particular disease phases.

Alzheimer’s Research Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We provide the latest information and news about the illness and helpful tips to help caregivers cope with their daily caregiving challenges. We realize the most important thing that a caregiver needs is financial assistance. Therefore, we provide grants to caregivers to ease their financial burden. Caregivers can apply for grants here: Alzheimer’s Grant Application. 

You can also help caregivers in their endeavor by donating as much as possible: Donation To Alzheimer’s Research Associations.

References

1. Dementia. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia. Published Online: 15thmarch, 2023. Accessed: 22nd November, 2024.
2. Gabitto, M.I., Travaglini, K.J., Rachleff, V.M., Kaplan, E.S., Long, B., Ariza, J., Ding, Y., Mahoney, J.T., Dee, N., Goldy, J. and Melief, E.J., 2024. Integrated multimodal cell atlas of Alzheimer’s disease. Nature Neuroscience, pp.1-18.
3. Alzheimer’s disease may damage the brain in two phases. News Release. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/alzheimer-s-disease-may-damage-brain-two-phases. Published Online: 15th October, 2024. Accessed: 22nd November, 2024.
4. Study detects early Alzheimer’s ‘stealth’ phase before symptoms set in. Medical News Daily. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/study-detects-early-alzheimers-stealth-phase-before-symptoms-set-in. Published Online: 21st October, 2024. Accessed: 22nd November, 2024.
5. Alzheimer’s Disease Harms The Brain in 2 Distinct Phases, Study Reveals. Science Alert. https://www.sciencealert.com/alzheimers-disease-harms-the-brain-in-2-distinct-phases-study-reveals. Published Online: 17th October, 2024. Accessed: 22nd November, 2024.
6. New study reveals Alzheimer’s disease progresses in two distinct phases. Touch Neurology. https://touchneurology.com/insight/new-study-reveals-alzheimers-disease-progresses-in-two-distinct-phases/. Published Online: 22nd October, 2024. Accessed: 22nd November, 2024.

Research has demonstrated that being bilingual can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. According to a recent study, bilingual people with Alzheimer’s have larger hippocampi than monolingual people, which is a crucial part of the brain for memory. Despite Alzheimer’s-related changes, this brain resilience aids in maintaining cognitive abilities. The findings indicate that bilingualism promotes general brain health as we age.

The benefits of bilingualism for older adults’ cognitive abilities have long been known. Research indicates that it may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s by up to five years compared to monolingual adults [1]. This is one of the various lifestyle choices that could support brain resilience as we age.

In a recent study, researchers from Concordia University used neuroimaging techniques to investigate brain resilience in brain regions associated with aging and language.

When they matched bilinguals with Alzheimer’s disease for age, education, memory, and cognitive function, they discovered that their hippocampi were significantly larger than those of monolinguals.

According to the lead author, Kristina Coulter, the hippocampus, which is the primary area of the brain involved in learning and memory and is severely impacted by Alzheimer’s, had more brain matter.

Bilingualism: Language and Cognition published the research [2].

About the Research

The researchers examined and compared the brain characteristics of monolingual and bilingual older persons who were either cognitively normal, at risk states of mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline, or who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

They discovered that although monolingual people with Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment showed signs of hippocampus shrinkage, bilinguals showed no change in hippocampus volume during the course of Alzheimer’s development.

Coulter observed that the brain volume in the Alzheimer’s-related area was consistent among healthy older individuals, the two risk states, and the Alzheimer’s group in bilingual participants. This implies that bilingualism may be associated with some form of brain maintenance. 

Localized Resilience

The three components of brain resilience—a term that describes the brain’s capacity to deal with changes brought on by aging—are brain maintenance, brain reserve, and cognitive reserve.

Brain maintenance refers to the brain’s ability to preserve its form and function as it ages. Mental stimulation, such as bilingualism, combined with other lifestyle factors like a healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and sensory health, is thought to help protect the brain against deterioration.

Brain reserve refers to the brain’s structure and size. Even when aging causes damage or shrinkage, including from degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, brains with greater reserve can continue to operate normally due to the additional volume or capacity of brain matter.

Cognitive reserve describes how a brain can employ alternative pathways to maintain function even after experiencing damage or age-related shrinkage.

The lifetime accumulation of cognitive flexibility allows brains with higher cognitive reserve to employ different brain regions than those usually linked to a particular function, like language or memory.

According to Coulter, there was no bilingualism-associated brain reserve in the brain’s language-related parts or cognitive reserve in the brain’s Alzheimer’s-related areas.

Significance of the Study

The study’s corresponding author, Natalie Phillips, a professor in the psychology department and the Concordia University Research Chair (Tier 1) in Sensory-Cognitive Health in Aging and Dementia, said that speaking multiple languages is one of many ways to be socially and cognitively engaged, which supports brain health.

This research study was unique, she added, because it examined the possible impact of bilingualism on brain structure across the dementia risk spectrum, from people who were cognitively normal to those who are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s to those who already have the disease.

The Concordia researchers’ further investigation will examine whether multilingualism has a similar beneficial impact on brain networks.

Alzheimer’s Research Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. We provide the latest information and news about the illness and helpful tips to help caregivers cope with their daily caregiving challenges. We realize the most important thing that a caregiver needs is financial assistance. Therefore, we provide grants to caregivers to ease their financial burden. Caregivers can apply for grants here: Alzheimer’s Grant Application.

You can also help caregivers in their endeavor by donating as much as possible: Donation To Alzheimer’s Research Associations.

References

1. Alladi, S., Bak, T.H., Duggirala, V., Surampudi, B., Shailaja, M., Shukla, A.K., Chaudhuri, J.R. and Kaul, S., 2013. Bilingualism delays age at onset of dementia, independent of education and immigration status. Neurology, 81(22), pp.1938-1944.
2. Coulter, K. and Phillips, N.A., Bilinguals show evidence of brain maintenance in Alzheimer’s disease. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, pp.1-10.
3. Bilingualism Boosts Brain Resilience, Delaying Alzheimer’s Onset. Neuroscience News. https://neurosciencenews.com/bilingualism-alzheimers-delay-27914/. Published Online: 22nd October, 2024. Accessed: 19th November, 2024.
4. Bilingualism linked to greater brain resilience in older adults. News Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20241022/Bilingualism-linked-to-greater-brain-resilience-in-older-adults.aspx. Published Online: 22nd October, 2024. Accessed: 19th November, 2024.

Over 48 million family caregivers assist elderly parents, spouses, grandparents, and other family members in maintaining their independence in their homes and communities rather than being compelled to reside in expensive nursing homes [1].

Family caregivers make a big difference in the lives of society’s most vulnerable members. They care for and help loved ones with limitations resulting from disease, accident, or disability. The care receiver may have physical or developmental disabilities or may be in a condition (permanent or temporary) where they require assistance with daily activities and other parts of their lives. 

Being a caregiver is a tremendously demanding task. Taking care of a person can be taxing, and bearing the weight of such responsibilities requires massive dedication and patience. The caregivers deserve recognition for their tireless efforts. 

National Family Caregivers Month

While providing care can be a fulfilling experience, it can also be challenging. A recent poll found that between 40 to 70 percent of caregivers suffer substantial symptoms of depression, and many of them report feeling anxious [2].

In the process of providing care, caregivers frequently neglect their own needs. They also often fail to receive the recognition and gratitude they deserve.

We commemorate National Family Caregivers Month in November every year to honor the millions of family caregivers in the US. It is a moment to honor and thank caregivers nationwide, educate communities, strengthen support for our country’s caregivers, and promote awareness of caregiving challenges.

This November, it’s critical that we take the time to honor those who look for the most vulnerable family members.

How to Honor Family Caregivers

How can we honor family caregivers? Here are ways we may acknowledge them and let them know they are not alone.

Thank Family Caregivers

Express gratitude to family caregivers for their efforts daily, not only during specifically difficult times. Appreciate them on a job well done, whether it’s a good meal or an excellent crisis management effort.

Describe the various ways they are truly improving the lives of their loved ones. Honor the successes, no matter how big or small. Convey your admiration for everything they do and your recognition of their abilities and perseverance under the most challenging circumstances.

Spend Time With a Caregiver

Take some time out of your busy schedule to be with them.

• Inquire about their well-being and express your interest in their response. Emphasize that their quality of life and physical, mental, and emotional well-being are equally as vital as those of their loved ones.
• Do activities with them frequently. Take them out for dinner or a cup of tea or coffee. Plan a weekly check-in call or go for a walk with them once a week. Make plans in advance to give them something to anticipate. Be accommodating if there is a last-minute adjustment due to their caring responsibilities.
• Visit to see them and their loved ones. Even brief visits can have a significant impact on their day. If they are giving hands-on care to loved ones, attempt to avoid their busiest times.

Listen to Them Without Being Judgmental.

Encourage caregivers to express whatever emotions they may be experiencing.

• Allow them to share their feelings, narrate stories, laugh, weep, vent, and think back on their caregiving experiences. All you have to do is show concern and affirm their viewpoints; there is nothing you need to change.
• Tell them you understand that they are going through a difficult period. Let them know that you understand that feelings of joy, fullness, and satisfaction can coexist with resentment, rage, and frustration.

Help Caregivers Take a Break.

Instead of just telling them to take a break, assist them in making it happen.

• Assist them in scheduling and implementing a plan. You can pay for some respite care via an agency.
• Look into respite care options. Explore local or state respite programs, or consider a brief respite stay at a skilled nursing or assisted living facility. Discuss it with them and take the necessary steps to follow up and make it happen. 
• Consider spending some time with the people they are caring for. Having someone else engage with the people they care for while they take care of other things is a tremendous assistance.

Actively Show Your Support.

Help by taking on caring responsibilities or supporting their daily lives. There are things you can do to help and express gratitude, either once or repeatedly, whether you are physically present with them or providing support from a distance.

• Assist with continuing caring duties, such as scheduling appointments, ordering prescription medications, paying bills, and arranging transportation. This can ease the caregiver’s daily burden and enable them to perform their tasks more effectively.
• Prepare a meal or order for delivery for a caregiver and their loved one they look after. Inform them beforehand so they know they won’t have to prepare the meal that day.
• Conduct internet research for them. Assist in finding health care professionals, gathering information about health concerns, locating medical equipment, or finding the right gadget to fulfill a particular need.
• Do housework and yard work (or pay someone to do so) at their home. Cleaning, mowing the lawn, putting up holiday decorations, and other activities on top of caregiving might be stressful. 
• Help them organize. Reduce their stress levels by arranging medical supplies, cleaning the refrigerator, organizing that disorganized closet or cupboard, or getting rid of clutter around the house.
• Run errands for them. Pick up household goods, dry cleaning, groceries, or care supplies, or schedule and pay for delivery.

Promote the Self-Care of the Caregiver.

Tell them you appreciate them, and urge them to value and nurture themselves as well. Remind them that taking care of themselves is rational and not selfish. They must take care of themselves to have the internal energy to continue providing care. They will also make better caregivers.

• Offer them a gift certificate as a token of appreciation. Treat them to a massage, facial, or other relaxing treatment.
• Sign them up or purchase tickets to a lesson, movie, art show, festival, workout session, or other local community event.
• Assist them in scheduling their health appointments. Offer to help them locate a medical professional by conducting internet research. 

Help by Raising Awareness and Donating

Raising awareness and supporting caregivers with vital resources and donations can also help make a difference in the lives of family caregivers.

• Use this month to raise awareness about the critical role that family caregivers play. Tell about your personal experience as a caregiver or that of a loved one. You might also share your experiences in an article, blog post, or social media.
• If you are aware of any helpful caregiver resources, don’t forget to share them! Numerous organizations and websites that provide support and information to caregivers are available, so make sure everyone you know is aware of these vital services.
• Donate to an organization that helps and supports caregivers. Your contribution will have a positive impact on caregivers’ lives nationwide.

Donate Today to Support Caregivers!

Caregiving is a demanding task that often leaves the caregivers physically, emotionally, and financially unstable. The least we can do is to try to alleviate some of their burden by supporting them via donations.

November is National Family Caregivers Month! Let’s honor the dedication and sacrifices of the family caregivers who devote their lives and resources to caring for their loved ones! Don’t forget to support them, which you can do by acknowledging their hard work and donating as much as possible: https://www.alzra.org/donate-now/. 

References

1. Care for America’s Caregivers. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2024/election-issue-family-caregivers.html. Published Online: 8th February, 2024. Accessed: 31st October, 2024.
2. Caregiving Statistics: Health, Technology, and Caregiving Resources. Family Caregiver Alliance. https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregiver-statistics-health-technology-and-caregiving-resources/. Accessed: 31st October, 2024.
3. Honor a Caregiver During National Family Caregivers Month. National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/article/honor-a-caregiver-during-national-family-caregivers-month/. Published Online: 2nd November, 2022. Accessed: 31st October, 2024. 
4. 5 Ways to Thank & Honor an At-Home Family Caregiver. Fedelta Home Care. https://fedeltahomecare.com/home-care-blog/5-ways-to-thank-honor-an-at-home-family-caregiver/. Accessed: 31st October, 2024.
5. How to Celebrate National Family Caregivers Month. AO Multispeciality Clinic. https://www.aomsc.com/how-to-celebrate-national-family-caregivers-month/. Accessed:  31st October, 2024.
6. National Family Caregivers Month: November 2024. Unseen. https://caregiverdoc.com/national-family-caregivers-month/. Accessed: 31st October, 2024.
7. 5 Ways to Thank a Caregiver on National Caregivers Day. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2023/ways-to-celebrate-national-caregivers-day.html. Updated: 14th February, 2024. Accessed: 31st October, 2024.