The September 17, 1994 medical Journal the Lancet documented the striking differences in brain cell loss experienced by mentally alert elderly compared to persons with Alzheimer’s. The research headed by Waren J. Strittmatter O duke University Medical Center came to the conclusion that Alzheimer�s patients autopsied later than death lost brain cells in a much greater quantity and in more areas of the brain than in their elderly subjects. A specific amount of brain cell loss is expected by regular medicine to be a natural process of aging (not in my judgment, but along with Alzheimer’s patients, the loss is much greater. In two Alzheimer�s victims, they factually came to the conclusion no brain cell. In the early 70s, a study team led by Dr. Crapper at the University of Toronto autopsied Alzheimer’s victims and every instant came to the conclusion isolated aluminum accumulated in contained brain areas and amazing tangle of nerve fibers (neurofibrils; nerve conductors inside brain cells). If nothing is done, Alzheimer’s is quite3 plainly capable of turning and thinking, living human being into a brain-dead zombie.

Tom Warren is living confirmation that Alzheimer’s can be reversed. Tom experienced a comeback to natural earthly existence past physicians told him he had terminal Alzheimer’s disease and would be dead within seven years. Fortunately for him, he did not take their word for it.

Tom describes how he went to specialist as soon as specialist; scouring libraries, books and wellbeing food stores to read everything he could unearth on the subject matter. His wife, lousise, a pharmacist by trade, helped once his memory failed him. A statement he made that will stick with most was his regret that if he was not successful, he would no longer be capable to create a positive contribution to the the human race. He in addition says, in the most papers he has written in this area his discoveries, than �the Alzheimer’s sufferer is in a battle for his earthly existence and sanity and frankly, sanity is more crucial than life. I am pleased to give an account that Tom Warren won his battle.

If you understand enough of the process to know what you’re looking for, however, choosing an Alzheimer’s care facility can be much easier. My job is to make your selection process simple – we’ll take a look at the many highlights and features of superior care facilities around the country and get into the nitty-gritty of things in order to help you find Alzheimer’s care and assisted living facilities that will provide the kind of attention your loved one needs.

Aside from the major qualifications you should look for – a meal plan, housekeeping, transportation, staff training, and extensive safety and security measures – you also need to be prepared to evaluate Alzheimer’s care and assisted living facilities based on hygiene, diet, décor, and activity time, four hallmarks that, if met adequately, often reflect the level of care that is provided at the facility. Even though I fully understand the challenges you face in trying to find a quality facility, don’t feel overwhelmed – you’ll be better prepared to ask questions about the care provided and find the perfect place for your aging parent or loved one with time. Let the following highlights of unique Alzheimer’s care and assisted living facilities around the country be your guide to finding superior treatment and care for your loved one.

Hygiene: Because bathing is carried out by the facility’s staff, cleanliness is both monitored and controlled on a daily basis. A good facility should work with a resident’s existing bathing schedule to make him or her feel more comfortable. If, on your walk-through of the facility, residents are poorly groomed, it should be a pretty good indication of the level of care that residents are receiving.

Slips and falls can be common with bathrooms located in a resident’s personal room; the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging, for instance, created a separate bathing area from the residents’ rooms to prevent these types of accidents. Alzheimer’s care and/or assisted living facilities in Connecticut, for example, must provide a separate apartment with a bath as well as assistance with bathing (1). While a plan of care will be created by the staff upon your loved one’s arrival, you should discuss with the facility’s director how issues of hygiene are handled, the existence of grab bars and other safety equipment in bathing areas, as well as how often residents are monitored throughout the day.

Diet: Getting residents to eat properly is an often cited problem in Alzheimer’s care and assisted living facilities. Even though a facility may serve three square meals per day, if the food is not of a high enough quality (or quantity), residents will lose weight.

To encourage residents to eat, the Woodlands Assisted Living of Hallowell offers a residential kitchen with supervised cooking activities for Alzheimer’s patients (2). Similarly, Potomac Homes in Ramsey, New Jersey has created a NutriCare food program allowing for the changes that Alzheimer’s disease causes in senior diets, including the frequently overlooked decrease in both taste and smell. The current make-up of a diet for a senior with Alzheimer’s disease should be about 55 – 60% carbohydrates, 12 – 15% protein, and 25 – 30% fat (3). Substantial snacks, ‘comfort’ foods, and a variety of beverages should always be available to residents on an ongoing basis.

The thing to note here, however, is that Alzheimer’s care patients have difficulty distinguishing food from a plate, and either the food or the plate needs to be colorful enough to prevent things from blending together. When touring the facility, make sure to visit the dining room to get a feel for how residents are accommodated at meal times as well as ensuring that the plates are colorful and the food is easily distinguishable.

Decor: The design of a room plays a big part in selecting Alzheimer’s care and assisted living facilities. The wrong carpet pattern has led to some Alzheimer’s patients believing that hundreds of bugs were crawling along the floor. The Wilsonville in Wilsonville, Oregon emphasizes the feeling of home with unique architecture and interiors that are designed to evoke the atmosphere of a home or hotel that residents may have visited at one point in their lives; the facility even boasts a lovely craftsman style and antique décor (4). Bright, warm lighting is recommended, and dramatic or busy carpeting, drapes, and other upholstery should be avoided.

The residents’ rooms should be able to be easily identified, whether by a name plate or artwork. The Barton House in Texas, for instance, installs a small curio cabinet outside every resident’s door that can be filled with personal items to help quickly identify his or her room. The colors of the room and bathroom doors also match so that residents know it’s their own personal space (5).

Activities: Scent and music therapy have been shown to elicit positive responses from Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Asking residents to identify certain smells or sing along with old songs are great ways to get residents’ cognitive juices flowing. Puzzles, games, gardening, reading, sorting, and organizing are also the kinds of activities you should look for when visiting Alzheimer’s care facilities.

Small group activities are highly important as large groups just don’t work the way they should. It’s vital that you watch an activity session to get an idea of how caregivers interact with the residents during these group and one-on-one activity times. And of course, the more caregivers the better – make sure you consider the ratio of caregivers to residents as this allows more time for interaction with your loved one.

Many Alzheimer’s care facilities now have what I’ll call a ‘Memory Lane.’ Antique objects, furniture, clothing, and dolls are placed around a room along with other reminders from a past time to help residents continue their memory-jogging exercises. The only problem is that most of these communities do not fully utilize these highly effective retrospective areas. It’s important that caregivers engage residents in these small memory corners in order to be practical, so take note if it is being properly used.

Final Thoughts: Residents of Alzheimer’s care facilities need a schedule that’s extremely consistent as activities done on a whim or changes in eating or bathing times can trigger attacks of anxiety or confusion. Alzheimer’s care residents in superior assisted living facilities have well-scheduled, structured lives with round-the-clock customized care. If the facility does not stress these prime requirements for Alzheimer’s care, my suggestion is to thank the director for his or her time and begin hitting the pavement once again. Attentive, thorough research of the facility’s features and your loved one’s needs guarantee that you find an Alzheimer’s care facility that will be as committed as you are to the level of care that’s administered. Remember – if it’s a concern to you, speak up! You’ll learn much more that way.

Sources

1. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2004/rpt/2004-R-0664.htm

2. http://www.woodlandsofhallowell.com/alzheimerscare.html#features

3. http://www.potomacgrouphomes.com/program_nutricare.html

4. http://www.thewilsonville.com/

5. http://www.uncommoncare.com/facilities/facilities.html

A 2009 study published in the medical journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders found that individuals with moderately high cholesterol levels in their 40s have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the 60s. The study followed 9,844 subjects for 30 years and found that individuals with cholesterol levels of 240 or higher were 57 percent more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, individuals with borderline cholesterol levels (from 200 to 239) were 23 percent more likely to develop the disease.

Some neurological studies in animals have suggested that high cholesterol levels in the blood might further the development of a brain-clogging substance known as beta-amyloid protein.

Other risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and a high-fat diet. Excluding smoking, all of the above risk factors are related to diet. A healthy diet is the best way to prevent Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, the typical American eats a diet high in fat, sugar, and processed foods. A healthy diet should include less fat and more whole fruits and vegetables. A 2009 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that individuals who ate a Mediterranean diet (comparatively high in fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil) and exercised regularly enjoyed a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 50 percent.

It is found by researchers that exercise alone can decrease the risk by 50 percent and 40 percent risk can be cut down by following proper diet. For this study the researcher researched with 1880 persons for a range of five and half years. When speaking about preventing Alzheimer’s exercise seems to be more helpful than diet.

Blood flow gets reduced and our cardiovascular systems gets weak when there is little or no exercise. When blood flow reduces tissues can get damaged and the cells will begin to die. Both heart and brain is kept healthy by doing regular exercise as blood flows strongly due to exercise.

When there is more physical activity brain automatically gets active as both are interrelated. Certain neuroprotective substances in the body is created and boosted by exercising regularly.

It is said by Dr. Ronald Peterson, director of the Alzheimer’s Research Center at the Mayo Clinic says “Regular physical exercise is probably the best means we have of preventing Alzheimer’s disease today, better than medications, better than intellectual activity, better than supplements and diet,”.

A gym-sculpted physique is not required to get the benefits of Alzheimer’s protection. The important thing is to avoid inactivity. Inactivity – non-movement – allows the body to start breaking down. Movement – physical activity – allows the body to regenerate itself. Get out of your chair and get moving!

Christian Goodman a natural health researcher has created a set easy and simple exercise to prevent and delay Alzheimer’s disease. This program will be very helpful.

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