Caring for Aging Parents is NOT a Family Affair
Two in five caregivers care for or have cared for a parent. Only one in 10 (of the 83% who have siblings) say they share equally in caregiving defined as a combination of practical/personal care support, and emotional and financial support. Click for the downloadable 2019 CARE Report A 25-page PowerPoint presentation reveals eye-opening details including that most caregivers assume they’ll be caregiving for a decade (slide 13).
Can AI really make healthcare more human—and not creepy?
“AI is great for diagnostic imaging/radiology as it “sees” better than we can, and in data processing of medical histories and the voluminous evidence-based scientific, clinical literature, because it can remember and pattern-synthesize better and faster than us.” But what about making AI more human? Dr. Chris Stout, a LinkedIn influencer, is working on developing an “integrative work-up that is inclusive of the psychological/emotional health aspects of a person… The findings would be interpreted and provide treatment and/or lifestyle recommendations, powered by a proprietary algorithm.” This has powerful implications for treating people diagnosed with dementia with respect.
World Health Organization Guidelines – Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia
[TCV UPDATE 9/7/2021: URL for WHO Guidelines removed due to ongoing Maintenance Break alert.] Recommended lifestyle behaviors and interventions to delay or prevent cognitive decline and dementia. Includes downloadable 96-page document with pages xii and xiii summarizing their recommendations. Surprisingly, the quality of evidence and the strength of the recommendation (mostly conditional) takes a bit to digest. Consider the amount of coverage regarding cognitive interventions, cholesterol (dyslipidemia) and diabetes management that come with “conditional” recommendations due to “low” or “very low” quality of evidence. To dig deeper, review pages 12 through 45.
Summer Meals for Those with Dysphagia
[TCV Update 11-5-2023 URL yields a 401 error] For people with swallowing disorders, Diane Wolff offers a way to feel part of an outdoor barbeque and other social events of the summer. This e-book details recipes for the summer. After her mother was diagnosed with dementia and had to go on a puree diet, Wolff is likely the only independent author-publisher in the U. S. with a line of books with recipes for people with swallowing disorders.
