Article Excerpts – Caregivers Planning Less, Five Fingers of Care, Reversing Alzheimer’s

This month’s curated articles for caregivers for people with dementia feature four excerpts: Northwestern Mutual’s C.A.R.E. Study – nearly half of future caregivers are not prepared. Homewatch Caregivers’ article comparing each finger’s role in the hands of care. The Sleep Help Institute’s article on how sleep changes as we grow older and what we can do about it. Hope for reversing Alzheimer’s with the BACE1 inhibitor.

Americans Are Spending More but Planning Less for Caregiving

Northwestern Mutual’s 2018 C.A.R.E. (Costs, Accountabilities, Realities, Expectations) Study found caregivers feeling increasing financial and lifestyle pressures. Nearly 70% of caregivers provide financial support with 34% spending between 21-100% of their monthly budget on caregiving-related expenses. Forty-eight percent of caregivers spend between 6 and 16+ hours a day providing care. While sacrificing time spent with spouses/partners, children and on their own pursuits, caregivers are not taking proactive steps to plan for providing care for others or even their own care. According to Northwestern Mutual’s Long-Term Care VP, Kamilah Williams-Kemp, the good news is that it’s rarely too late to take proactive control. Working with a professional to develop a strategy will help empower caregivers to fulfill their obligations without compromising their own financial security or lifestyle needs.

The Five Fingers of Care

BACE1 – Alzheimer’s Research Breakthrough?

[TCV Update 6/20/2024: Title URL updated] Could it be that we’ve finally broken through the Alzheimer’s reversal barrier? In the 22 years I’ve been actively involved in this profession, the study reported in Alzheimer’s Dramatically Reversed for The First Time shows promise. Assuming it is safely tolerated by humans, the BACE1 inhibiting drugs have been shown to prevent and/or reverse amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Caregiver, imagine if your loved one’s symptoms improved even slightly. That could make a huge difference! For those with an appetite for more technical details, click to read “BACE1 deletion in the adult mouse reverses preformed amyloid deposition and improves cognitive functions,” Journal of Experimental Medicine. [TCV Update 6/20/2024: Article URL updated]
Thank you, Carole Mulliken, M.Ed. for sharing this BACE1 article.