Eating oily fish appears to be beneficial to the heart, but the final findings on its effect on improving cognitive function and decreasing dementia are still to be recognized.

(SeaBear image at Amazon)

Post from: Blisstree

Fish Oil Now Questioned Whether Helpful in Alzheimer’s

The word’s out that Obama drinks tea, particularly organic berry tea, rather than coffee.  So, the possibility that tea becomes an even more popular beverage looms before us.  What about tea parties?  More of these, too?
(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

Will Obama Spur Tea Drinking?

Watch out for your Alzheimer’s family member (and yourself if you’re “senior”) if Obama’s Stimulus Bill sneaks through in its current form.
  

As ultimately planned, your doctor will have to get permission for your treatment, possibly by someone not medically trained but only looking at the bottom dollar or cost effectiveness:

•  Is the cost of treating this person (you or your Alzheimer’s family member) economically worthwhile, considering age, life expectency and contribution or drain upon society?
• Will this person be a productive, contributing member of society if treated? 
• Will the cost of treatment outweigh their future productiveness?
• Will the person be a burden…so we’ll let them die? 

Senarios:

• Would my mother have been allowed to suffer and die or, perish the thought, be “put out of her misery,” when she broke her hip during her Alzheimer’s years?  Because it was treated, she lived 8 more years…yes, in a nursing home and slowly progressing further into Alzheimer’s.  But still she was a joy to her family and, by living and simply being there, taught her great grandchildren about love and caring.
• Would I have been forced to go untreated when I broke my back and required a body cast?  Would we have had to prove my future contributions to society?
• Would my mother-in-law with breast cancer in her early 80s have been considered too old for the lumpectomy and radiation?  (She died 12 years later of congestive heart failure, at age 94, cancer free.  But no one could have predicted that longevity when she was treated.)

Non-complying doctors would be penalized if they treated a person the health care coordinator deemed unprofitable for society.  The individual who could afford to go outside the system for treatment would be penalized.  (”Penalized” could mean fines and even jail time.)

These national health care provisions could affect more than the elderly and infirm.  What about anyone who is terminally ill or deemed not worth the expense of getting them well? 

Related Posts:

“Big Brother” health care provisions

Fast Tracking Govt. Control of Health Care

Eliminate the Elderly

Motto of the Stimulus Bill 

(Scientifics Online image at Amazon)

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Stimulus Health Care Provisions Could Eliminate the Elderly, the Infirm & Terminally Ill

It has been noted, in recent years, that sports figures, such as boxers, football players, and soccer players, who are regularly hit in the head during their exploits, develop Alzheimer’s in their later years.  Floyd Patterson also developed Alzheimer’s disease.

See Related Posts:

Parents Beware!  Are You Setting Your Kids Up for Alzheimer’s!

Ex-NFL Players Suffering from Alzheimer’s Qualify for Assistance

The NFL, Concussions and Alzheimer’s Disease

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Boxer Ingemar Johanssen Dies of Alzheimer’s

A court hearing on the conservatorship is set for late January.  We’ll see how it all plays out.

Post from: Blisstree

Does Peter Falk (”Columbo”) Have Alzheimer’s?

In order to bring current news about Alzheimer’s, dementia, and caregiving, I’ve been finding various web sites and resources for you to put onto your list that you can refer to frequently.  I’ll also develop a page of resources in my “About” section here at Alzheimer’s Notes.

Recently I mentioned Alzheimer’s Daily News in a blog post.

I discovered that the Alzheimer’s Association also has a very informative In the News page on their site.

Today’s topics are:  C.A.R.E. Pharmacy Award Winner Announced, Gardening reduces stress for busy caregivers, Alzheimer’s Association launches interactive Caregivers Stress Check.

Post from: Blisstree

More Alzheimer’s News Resources

When Liz Lewis co-blogged with me here at Alzheimer’s Notes, she offered a very informative feature concerning Alzheimer’s news around the world.  Since Liz lives in New Zealand and I live in the US, we automatically offered global views.  But Liz tried to find information from other countries, too.

Where Are You From?

I know this information was of interest to our readers, so I’ll start featuring it again.  I’d appreciate it if  you let me know which country you’re from so I can find something specifically for you. 

Do you have news you can share with us?

Post from: Blisstree

Alzheimer’s News Around the World

Today, September 21, has been designated at World Alzheimer’s Day, when activities focus on world awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.  Various events, such as walkathons, workshops, get-togethers have as their goal…creating more awareness of this disease and the people who have been stricken with it. Ultimately this awareness should result in more research and recognition that with an increasing number of people reaching the “Alzheimer’s age,” we will see more need for care of those stricken and support for their families.

Here are some sites/blogs that give recognition to World Alzheimer’s Day.  Help spread the word yourself.

• At Minding Our Elders, Carol Bradley Bursack discusses World Alzheimer’s Day: Truly a Global Issue.
• Today is World Alzheimer’s Day at Healthy Aging
• Everyday Health has an Alzheimer’s Disease Center

Are there events in your area?  Are you doing something special today with your Alzheimer’s family member?  Share with us your thoughts and feelings.

(Amazon image; click here for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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World Alzheimer’s Day Today!

Finally we have a postal stamp to call attention to Alzheimer’s disease.  It’s a 42-cent stamp called the Alzheimer’s Social Awareness Postal Stamp and will be unveiled September 18  It will be available in post offices throughout the United States October 17th.

For more information, visit usps.com.

Post from: Blisstree

An Alzheimer’s Stamp Unveiled September 18

Remembering 9/11 occurred across the country today. 

 At the school where I was substitute teaching, the students and faculty gathered at the flag pole in front of the building.  Police and firemen from the community, along with other citizens joined them for a short talk, pledge of allegiance, and to sing “This Land is Your Land.”

On 9/11/01, I also was substitute teaching, in first grade that day, when the principal stopped by my room and handed me a note, mentioning what was happening and that the television in the teacher’s room was on.  Until we knew more, we weren’t to alarm the students.

Since than we have comforted, found comfort, remembered, reminisced, and wondered “Why?”  Friends and relatives have gone abroad to defend our country and to keep terrorism at bay.

What do we say to our children, when they ask, like my grandson did tonight at the supper table, “What was 9/11?  Why did we have the ceremony at school today?”

Then we realize that he was too young to grasp the what was going on as we watched the television for more than a week, waited for names of people we knew and loved, wondered if there would be another attack soon.

It was a day that changed much in our country…and the world.  How did it affect your life?

(Amazon images; click for DVD details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

9/11 – A Day of Remembrance for Families Around the Globe