In the November/December edition of Scientific American-Mind, one of the feature articles discusses an often misdiagnosed illness called Frontal-Temporal Dementia (FTD).  Formerly called Pick's Disease, a disease that has been known about for a number of years but not often diagnosed, it is a form of dementia that obliterates the ...

Professional caregivers for the elderly are one of the fastest-growing segments of the American workforce, and they are primarily women over the age of 55, according to a recent article in the New York Times. From 2008-2018, the number of direct-care workers, including those in long-term care facilities, will increase from 3.2 million to 4.3 ...

The American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) Foundation, the non-profit research and education arm of AMDA, invites you to meet two dogs that have a key role in caring for long term care facility residents. Come meet Sophie and Tessa and hear from their owner, a facility medical director, and other physicians about the power of pets in their ...

How much can a small touch really mean to a person? A recent article in The New York Times suggests that little touches mean a lot, and that high fives and reassuring pats on the back can even lower stress and increase happiness. The article focuses mainly on the positive effect of supportive touches in sports like basketball ...

A recent pilot study has found that regular use of ''exergames''--video games, like Nintendo Wii, that combine entertainment with exercise--can improve symptoms of subsyndromal depression (SSD) in seniors.   SSD is much more common than major depression in seniors, and is associated with substantial suffering, functional ...

If your residents are not complying with their metformin medication schedule, it could be the smell, which has been described as similar to dead fish. Many diabetics report nausea when taking the commonly prescribed drug, but doctors have not associated it with the odor. Read more here.

Late last month, Island Nursing and Rehab Center, Holtsville, N.Y., implemented a Musically Designed Program for residents with dementia. The program was funded by a grant from a generous family member. Conducted by a therapeutic recreation specialist with a background in music, the program includes a variety of activities featuring ...

Are you paying enough attention to your residents' cognitive wellness? Read my latest column on the ADVANCE Web site.

The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) is sponsoring Active Aging Week September 22 - 28. The theme is ''Choose an Active Life!'' This annual health promotion event is dedicated to introducing older adults to a healthy and active lifestyle. Get in on the fun by planning some events in your community that encourage ...

What interests me is how often stereotypes dedicate care. In society, individuals still assume older adults should be depressed and that it is part of normal aging. Furthermore, in long-term care this stereotype is even further consolidated. It is often assumed that older adults in long-term care settings, even more so than their same ...