From the desk of Rosemary Laird, MD
Founder of Navigating Aging Needs (NAN), LLC
Coping with an Uncertain Future
While anxiety might perhaps seem like a natural response in these troubled times, it still isn’t good for you. Studies have shown that having long-term anxiety can trigger a host of issues in a person’s physical and mental health, including high blood pressure, digestive troubles, a weakened immune system, sleep disturbances, and fatigue.
Let's Get Personal
You may have heard talk during the COVID pandemic about the risks we face from social isolation. As a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, you no doubt have had multiple hurdles in trying to maintain your personal life and interacting with your social community.
Finding the Calm After a Storm
Like all big storms, Milton left in its wake a loss of sleep, a flooding of stress hormones, and the exhaustion of being buffeted by the winds of change. As a caregiver, you must dig out, take stock, and make a plan for the path ahead.
Get Ready for the Upcoming Storm!
We know many of you are facing the additional pressures of dealing with our back-to-back storms. When stress mounts, and your mind feels overloaded, it can help to have clear guidelines to choose your next steps.
The Dangers of Wandering
One of the more challenging aspects of caring for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s is the behavior known as wandering. The illness can change aspects of thinking that keep a person oriented and aware, and so your loved one may simply leave the house, lose their bearings, and end up wandering through the neighborhood without any specific purpose or destination in mind.
You are what you eat: The MIND Edition
Can you eat your way to better cognitive health? According to a recently published research paper, the answer is a resounding “yes”!
Your Body On Fire
The new drug known as Ozempic is being seen as something of a wonder drug for helping people lose weight. But the drug also points to a new way to think about the causes and treatment of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because Ozempic, and other drugs like it (which are known as “GLP-1 receptor agonists”) appear to target what is rapidly beginning to be realized as a major factor in many of the diseases that affect modern civilization — inflammation.
Do Hospitals Make a Person Better or Worse?
Thanks to the rise of modern medicine, hospitals are now thought of as places people go to “get better.” But several studies have shown that in fact, elderly people who must undergo a hospital stay often get worse. For our loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss the risk of complications during a hospitalization are high.
Labors of Love
Caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia work as much as 40 hours a week caring for their loved one, nearly 30% more time than caregivers tending to people who do not have dementia. A 2019 study found that family caregivers provided more than 18 billion hours of unpaid care to loved ones with dementia, and a 2023 study estimated that the unpaid hours caring for loved ones with dementia could be valued at $346 billion.
Good Reads!
A recent cartoon in the New Yorker magazine says it all: At the top of the drawing is the label “The Complete Book of Caregiving.” and below it is a drawing of an open book. But the book only has one page, and on that page are written the words: “Too tired to write it”. It’s very funny, and of course very true.
Empower Yourself!
I love This week marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women in the United States the right to vote. Though the Amendment was passed by Congress a year earlier, in 1919, it had been ratified by only 35 states — one short of what was needed to be adopted as part of the Constitution. A vote was held in Tennessee, the 36th state needed for ratification, in 1920, and it passed by a single deciding vote from 24-year-old Harry Burn, who had been considered to be against ratification. But Burn instead voted for it, citing having received a letter from his mother urging him to support the amendment!
Nature's Bounty!
I love summer when it gets into full swing. Sure, it is occasionally very hot, and there are occasionally fierce storms, but the sun and water that power these weather phenomena also have the wonderful effect of making plants explode in growth at this time of year. The local farmers' markets burst with flavors and tastes of all kinds, from plump tomatoes to crunchy carrots to juicy watermelon. Every bite reminds me of the amazing natural processes that, almost miraculously, have evolved the ability to turn sunlight and water into food for us to eat.
Going for the Gold!
Every Olympic season, I marvel at the sheer majesty and perfection of the human body as the athletes run, swim, and hurdle through space during the Games. The feats of athleticism, for which these competitors have trained all their lives, is truly inspirational.
Hope on the Horizon!
This week I’m attending the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Philadelphia, and gatherings like these always infuse me with hope. Here I meet with fellow scientists, clinicians, and therapeutic companies who are all intent on the same goal: To find the cure for Alzheimer's, care for those living with the disease, and support their caregivers.
You Deserve a Break!
In these somewhat crazy times of oppressive heat, violence in the news, and overall uncertainty about the future, the word “respite” comes to my mind.
Here Come the Dog Days!
Much of Florida, as well as the rest of the U.S., is going through an intense heat wave. June 2024 was the warmest month on record in the nation, and there are currently record temperatures across the country. Here in Florida, we are used to hot days, but this week we are undergoing excessive heat warnings as well, with the heat index rising above 100 in many counties.
The Real Meaning of Independence Day
Independence Day means different things to different people: Some see it as a chance to start off the summer with a cookout and family and friends. Others celebrate by contemplating the founding of the nation, and the joys and responsibilities of having “freedom.”
Preventing Alzheimer's
If you are a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s, you may no doubt be wondering if you are susceptible to the disease yourself as well — especially if you and your loved one are genetically related. It’s true that recent studies have shown a genetic connection between inheriting some forms of genes and getting Alzheimer’s, but the number of people having this genetic profile is very small — less than 2% of the U.S. population. But even "having the gene" for Alzheimer's is not a guarantee an individual will develop the disease.
Celebrate Juneteenth!
This week we celebrate Juneteenth, one of the oldest international commemorations of the ending of slavery, and the newest Federal Holiday. The celebration of the holiday “is a story of pride, resilience and determination that will always be of historical and spiritual importance – as it serves us well to understand that together, we can overcome all obstacles in our path.” Certainly overcoming obstacles is a core part of being a caregiver. I hope you can take a moment on this holiday to reflect on your critical role in the wellbeing of your loved one, family, and community.
It’s Hot Out There!
Summer hasn’t even begun yet, and parts of the world are engulfed in sweltering, even dangerous, heat. So far it looks like Florida won’t heat up much more than usual during this current heat wave, but it’s a good reminder of the need to make preparations and make sure you and your loved one are safe during our hot summer months. Here is some key advice on staying safe as the sun bears down on us this summer.