Woman and her daughter at a doctor's appointment

Two New DPEN Initiatives Aim to Strengthen Dementia Care

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

Celebrating nurses who care for people, families and communities living with dementia

The UW School of Nursing is deeply invested in research, education and action directed at improving the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. Among the School of Nursing’s initiatives are the transformational Dementia Palliative Education Network (DPEN) initiative and the Queen Silvia Nursing Award. Continue reading Celebrating nurses who care for people, families and communities living with dementia

Five Things I Learned as a Palliative Nurse Practitioner and Family Caregiver

By: Beth Hutchason, MN, ARNP Over the last 14 years doing palliative and hospice care, I found myself in hundreds of conversations with people who have dementia and people who love and care for them. This was mainly in a professional setting as a nurse practitioner, but I also personally had some of these difficult conversations with my family surrounding my dad’s diagnosis with Lewy … Continue reading Five Things I Learned as a Palliative Nurse Practitioner and Family Caregiver

Improving Dementia Care in Clinical Settings

The Alzheimer’s Association is working to engage more than 300 health systems nationwide to offer proven solutions for improving health outcomes and more effectively managing the cost of care for people living with dementia. Kathy Jacobi, our health systems director, is leading this effort in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska.  “I work with health systems to help them uncover their greatest needs and opportunities for … Continue reading Improving Dementia Care in Clinical Settings

Team Linda’s Angels: Why I Walk

By John Morris My name is John Morris Jr., and I am 62 years old. I lost Linda, my wife of 29 years, to dementia. She was a strong woman. This is why I participate in the Columbia Basin Walk to End Alzheimer’s with Team Linda’s Angels. I noticed some changes in Linda around 2002. She had recently lost her mother, so I  thought, “Well, … Continue reading Team Linda’s Angels: Why I Walk

Aging with Pride: IDEA (Innovations in Dementia Empowerment and Action)

The Aging with Pride: IDEA (Innovations in Dementia Empowerment and Action) study is the first federally-funded research study examining ways to improve the health and quality of life for adults aged 50 and older in the LGBTQ community with memory loss and their caregivers. It tests a tailored approach to improve physical function and independence, addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ older adults who frequently … Continue reading Aging with Pride: IDEA (Innovations in Dementia Empowerment and Action)

Kay Lehmann: Tri-Cities volunteer

By: Kay Lehmann  My name is Kay Lehmann. I am a native Eastern Washingtonian, empowered single person and VIG (Very Important Grandma). I grew up on the banks of the Snake River in northern Walla Walla County. Go to the ends of the earth and the farm I grew up on is beyond that! I moved into the City of Walla Walla in the ‘90s … Continue reading Kay Lehmann: Tri-Cities volunteer

What is palliative care? Q&A with Dr. Lee Burnside

Lee Burnside, MD, MBA, is a geriatrician and palliative care physician in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of Washington. He works in palliative and hospice care and is a member of the UW Memory Brain and Wellness Center. He has had a longtime interest in caring for and improving the lives of persons with dementia and their family, friends and community. He has … Continue reading What is palliative care? Q&A with Dr. Lee Burnside

My Advocacy Story: Seema Abbasi, MD

By Seema Abassi, MD (speaking in photo above) My father was a retired air force officer. He was in excellent health until one day, when he was 80 years old, he suffered a heart attack and needed an emergency bypass surgery. The surgery was a success, but after his discharge from the hospital, we noticed significant memory changes and thence began his seven-year journey with … Continue reading My Advocacy Story: Seema Abbasi, MD

AAIC 2019: 5 top news stories

Over 6,000 researchers from more than 60 countries attended the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) last month in Los Angeles. AAIC is the world’s largest gathering of researchers focused on Alzheimer’s and dementia science.The four-day conference featured more than 3,400 presentations, convening and catalyzing the scientific community to uncover the causes, progression, risk factors, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. More … Continue reading AAIC 2019: 5 top news stories