What we’re doing, what we’re reading, and where we’ve been: it’s all here. Follow our Facebook & LinkedIn pages for updates, and forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues interested in all things Alzheimer’s. Thanks for keeping us in your inbox!
HBI Road Map
The new Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Road Map is a valuable resource to help partners take action and address the ever-increasing challenges of cognitive decline throughout the population.
Developed by the Alzheimer’s Association and CDC, this latest version offers 24 actionable strategies to promote brain health, improve diagnoses, and maximize care in every community. With new additions that align with existing public health initiatives, the HBI Road Map is designed to guide and empower partners in their efforts to reduce the risk and impact of dementia throughout society.
Ready to take action? Download the HBI Road Map today!
Brain Health Webinar Series
Partner of Splaine Consulting, The International Association for Indigenous Aging (IA2), will be hosting the American Indian & Alaska Native Resource Center for Brain Health Webinar
Series. We’d like to highlight one of their events, tailored to persons with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Tribal Resolutions on Brain Health
When: 7/19, 2-3pm EST / 11-12pm PST About: Twila Martin Kekahbah, MEd, MFA (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) and Chandra Wilson, MSW, NPAIHB (Klamath, Modoc, Yahooskin Paiute), will be presenting on Tribal Resolutions addressing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Register here.
Victory in the Supreme Court for Medicaid Beneficiaries
In the Supreme Court case, Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana v. Talevski, the Supreme Court upheld the right of Medicaid beneficiaries to seek relief in federal court when their rights are being violated by state officials. The National Health Law Program protects and advances health rights of low-income and underserved individuals and families.
Read their full statement on the Talevski decision here.
Rosalynn Carter has Dementia
Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and champion for mental health, has been diagnosed with
dementia, according to a statement from the Carter Center.
Rosalynn Carter and her family shared the news of her diagnosis in the hope to ‘increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices around the country’ (around dementia). This news highlights the need for improved access to care and support for those affected by this disease.
Read the statement here.
A long-time partner of Splaine Consulting, Nevada Senior Services’ President and CEO Jeffrey Klein, was once recognized by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers and received a grant to support caregivers. We are grateful for Carter’s many years of dedicated service to care partners, mental health, and dementia education and de-stigmatization.
How to Talk to Someone with Alzheimer’s
Experts say that such interactions take patience and sensitivity. Here are some things to keep in mind when spending time with someone with Alzheimer’s:
- Be mindful of the setting and your body language.
- Limit open-ended questions and avoid “elderspeak.”
- Don’t give long explanations.
- Change your approach as the disease progresses: The Alzheimer’s Association offers a comprehensive list of communication strategies broken down by stages.
- Connect with resources: There are many excellent resources to help with communication including NIA’s guidance on communication.
The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving
In her new book, “Who Cares: The Hidden Crisis of Caregiving and How We Solve It,” Emily Kenway relates her experience as the sole caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. The author speaks with Michel Martin about her own experience and the hidden crisis that caregivers around the world are silently suffering from.
Virtual Community for People with Dementia who Live Alone
Living Alone and Connected! is a private Facebook group for persons living alone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The group is a platform for members to receive emotional support, share questions or ideas, and find resources regarding their condition and lifestyle. Here you can find: Community and connection, Knowledge sharing and resources, Engaging conversations, Educational and social virtual events.
The private Facebook group and unique online community is designed exclusively and thoughtfully for people who live alone with a dementia / Alzheimer’s diagnosis. This is to ensure the privacy of our members, and to foster a safe, welcoming, and meaningful space to connect.
Join the Living Alone and Connected group!
For those who care for people living alone with dementia, the Living Alone and Connected public Facebook page provides resources to those family, friends, and caregivers who support those living alone with dementia.
Follow the Living Alone and Connected page!
Download our Flyers HERE and HERE.
Living Alone and Connected! is hosted and moderated by Cognitive Solutions, LLC. Living Alone and Connected! is supported in part by a cooperative agreement #90ADPI0067-01-00 from the Administration on Aging (AoA), Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative (ADPI) and cooperative agreement NVADPI0082 from the Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada.
