The Dementia Caregiver's Toolbox

Alzheimer's Action Plan Signed Into Law

Last month, President Obama signed into law the very first National Action Plan for Alzheimer's disease.  This National Plan is poised to help coordinate an effort to "accelerate the development of treatmnets that would prevent, halt or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease" while also to "improve the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and coordination of the care and treatment of citizens with the disease".

Dementia Book Review: The Long Hello

I'm grateful to the many readers of this blog because they often tip me off to new products or books that you may find helpful.  Here is a brief review of a new book called, The Long Hello:  The Other Side of Alzheimer's, sent to my by the author, Cathie Barrie.

Dementia Caregiving: Is Depression Hitting You?

We've mentioned the topic of depression before but with the winter upon us, we need to check in on this serious concern.  

The Family Caregiver Alliance has reported that up to 40% of all caregivers suffer from depression.  That is a staggering statistic!  In addition, Maria Shriver (who just lost her dad, Sargent Shriver, to Alzheimer's disease) has a new report called, "A Woman's Nation Takes On Alzheimer's " which mentions research demonstrating that dementia caregivers have increased risk of having high stress hormones, less active immune function and have a greater chance of developing heart disease.  Not only that, the report cites that almost half of all dementia caregivers have marital or family relationships that are strained.