By: Beth Hutchason, MN, ARNP What is palliative care? Okay, let’s start with a very frequent question: How do you pronounce this anyway? It is pronounced “PAL-ya-tive,” not “PALE-ee-ah-tive.” Congratulations! You are now on your way. Palliative care is a type of care unknown to more than two-thirds of U.S. residents. Worldwide, 40 million people need palliative care each year, and only 14% receive it. … Continue reading Five Benefits of Palliative Care
Dr. Alexandra Jackson, PhD, RDN, CDCES, is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Health (IREACH) at Washington State University. Dr. Jackson recently received funding from the Alzheimer’s Association for her research project, “Adaptation of an intervention for caregivers of Native Hawaiians with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.” Below, Dr. Jackson explains her research and her personal connection to … Continue reading WSU Researcher Adapts Online Program for ʻOhana Caregivers
By Heather Shadko My name is Heather Shadko. I grew up in the Midwest, just outside of Chicago, but I’ve been a resident of Puyallup, Wash., for 24 years. I’m a mother, wife and active member of my community. I work as a contract specialist for King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks, combining my passion for the environment and our community with my … Continue reading Honoring My Dad, My Hero: The Longest Day
When an elder or a disabled person needs long-term care, the individual must pay the cost using long-term care insurance, from income and private funds, or from government needs-based benefits like those available from the Medicaid program. Continue reading Paying For Long-Term Care
Don Desonier became an Alzheimer’s Association volunteer after losing his wife, Nancy, to early-onset dementia. This year, he is participating in The Longest Day® in her honor. A woman of grace, beauty and limitless love Don’s wife, Nancy, was a professional flute performer and teacher, having graduated from UCLA with a degree in flute performance. Little did she know that her talent and love for … Continue reading My Journey in Honoring Nancy: The Longest Day
By: UW Dementia Palliative Education Network (DPEN) Team Dementias are prevalent, debilitating conditions with far-reaching health and social effects. An aging U.S. population means that there will likely be a 50% increase in demand for dementia care by 2025. But large gaps exist in the US healthcare system for people living with dementia. With almost four million registered nurses — the largest part of the … Continue reading Two New DPEN Initiatives Aim to Strengthen Dementia Care
By Mark Donham The following is an excerpt from Mark Donham’s chapter in The Moment Collectors: Twenty Travellers’ Tales From Around the World. It has been adapted for the purposes of the ALZWA Blog. Mark is a long-time Alzheimer’s advocate and is currently a board member for the Alzheimer’s Association Washington State Chapter. I was riding and exploring the dusty gravel roads of six countries … Continue reading The True Value of Travel
By Colleen Kienbaum, RN-BSN Brain Injury Awareness Month is here and the perfect time to learn more about how amazing yet vulnerable our brains are to impact and injury. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, one out of every 60 Americans lives with a traumatic brain injury-related disability. Let’s explore the various types of brain injuries and what researchers are saying about their … Continue reading Brain Injury and Dementia: What You Need to Know
By Colleen Kienbaum, RN-BSN It’s that time of year again — the time when households all over America set their clocks forward and lose an extra hour of precious sleep during the night. For people living with or providing care to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, the time change can also be the beginning of a change in routine. Some changes that come with … Continue reading Daylight Saving Time and Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr. Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca received funding from the Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity Program for her project, “Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, vascular risk factors and cognitive variability in aging adults with Type 1 diabetes.” Here, we ask her some questions about her background and the important research she’s currently undertaking. Tell us a little about yourself. How did you first become involved in Alzheimer’s … Continue reading Alzheimer’s and Type 1 Diabetes: Q&A with Dr. Luciana Mascarenhas Fonseca
