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I advocate Alzheimer's prevention. For me, this means eating things that lower cholesterol, keep my heart healthy, and in general help my body ward off heart disease, cancer and dementia. I now realize you need to have a good awareness of all body parts, especially your vital organs.

In this age of information technology, life has become more convenient and fast-paced. Everyone is always on-the-go but manage to stay connected, thanks to wireless communications. Take the case of the rising popularity of laptops among the yuppies and even among students.

Vigilan, provider of software for better senior living, announced today 10 new continuing education courses for assisted living community administrators. These courses—developed and taught by Christian Mason, chairman and CEO of Vigilan, nationally certified leader in assisted living training, and developer of the first national licensing exam—are certified for assisted living administrator licensing in 16 states. The curriculum includes courses on managing client and residential services, human resources, leadership and governance, physical environment, and finances. Available through Provider Management Educations Services at http://www.ceusite.com/, the courses are approved by the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB), endorsed by ACHCA (American College of Health Care Administrators) and recommended by NCAL (National Center for Assisted Living).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE for National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week:

Pin-Up Girl Raises Big Money For Vets’ Health Care
& Boosts Morale for Deployed Troops and Hospitalized Vets

Los Angeles, California—January 27, 2010—Sexy Pin-Up-In-Chief Gina Elise, creator of the award-winning “Pin-Ups For Vets” Calendar fundraiser project, recently presented a $15,000.00 check to the Portland, OR VA Hospital to improve rehabilitation programs for Veterans and recovering troops. This was Elise’s third donation to a VA or military hospital in the U.S. since she began her pin-up calendar project in 2007 to help ill and injured Veterans.

A few years ago Elise started seeing news about under-funded Veterans’ healthcare programs and wanted to do something to help. She decided to produce a WWII-style pin-up calendar to bring in funds to support these Veterans Hospital rehab programs.

Along with raising money for hospitals, Elise has also made thousands of bedside visits to Veterans across the U.S. to personally deliver her “Pin-Ups For Vets” calendars and “Kiss A Vet” T-shirts. These gifts, complete with personal messages, are donated by supporters who purchase the gifts on Elise’s popular website, www.PinUpsForVets.com.

In addition to her visits to VA and military hospitals, Elise sends hundreds of “Pin-Ups For Vets” items to deployed troops around the world to boost morale. The troops have responded to Elise’s support by flying 7 American flags in her honor over military bases.

“The troops have sent me hundreds of thank-you notes for the great morale boost that the calendars have brought them. It is important to let them know that they are not forgotten,” says Elise. The photos have been torn out of the calendars to decorate tents, and some of the photos have been carried with troops during missions to inspire and motivate.

The letters to Elise from the troops all show appreciation for her support. Letters like this one arrive daily: “I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation for your efforts towards our Veterans. This morning a helicopter flew into our remote base in Afghanistan and delivered your wonderful calendar. We are a small team of advisors to the Afghan National Army, and all of us enjoyed a great boost of morale that you gave us. Thanks again for all you do for the boys and girls over here."

Military units have put in requests for the pin-up calendars, and Elise needs to find donors to meet those requests. Elise says, “These donated gifts boost morale and improve Veterans’ healthcare. What better way to honor those who have served our country!”

Contact: Gina Elise
website: http://www.PinUpsForVets.com/
e-mail: PinUpsForVets@aol.com
mail address: Gina Elise, P.O.Box 14, Redlands, CA 92373
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Note to Editors: Gina Elise will be visiting Veterans at the Utah VA Hospital on February 8 to kick off the start of "National Salute To Hospitalized Veterans" week.

By Max Wallack posted on Alzheimer's Reading Room

Many families have negative attitudes, feeling that the person is “no longer there”. It is important to realize that the person is always there. We need to help the Alzheimer’s person find things the person will enjoy, and they will become “more there.”

Last night I attended the Boston Film Premiere of “I Remember Better When I Paint,” co-sponsored by ARTZ: Artists for Alzheimer's™ and the Boston University Alumni Association in conjunction with the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center.....

A web resource in Illinois that shares family members reviews of nursing homes and long-term acute care facilities as well as a forum for members to share information and resources..

2009 documentary film about treating Alzheimer"s through the arts

Curious about the role social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can play in your Boomer marketing programs? When deciding where to budget your dollars and effort to reach mature consumers, consider the research/statistics. Also, consider the similarities between the offline and online behavior of Baby Boomers and beyond.

“Businesses and mature consumers often approach challenges and decision-making in a similar fashion – cautiously,” we wrote in our summer newsletter. As Creating Results works with clients on comprehensive internet marketing strategies, we recommend acting like the Boomers and Silent Generation members we target: go slowly and be choosy.

This series of blog posts from generational marketing experts Creating Results offers new statistics, insights and ideas for using social media to engage seniors.

Scientists have long known that maintaining and developing new social relationships can help decrease the risk of dementia.

A brief overview of the main issues, three examples of health care/senior living organizations effectively using social media without violating HIPAA, and some resources for developing your own social media and online communications policies.

Based on a new study released by Alzheimer's Disease International, we now know that approximately 35 million people around the world suffer from dementia. But is dementia a forgone conclusion for a rapidly aging population?

In BEYOND ALZHEIMER'S: How to Avoid the Modern Epidemic of Dementia, Dr. Scott Mendelson offers cutting-edge scientific and medical advice to help combat and prevent this dreaded disease.

Here are a few things to think about.

Is Dementia an Epidemic?
• The number of people affected by Dementia has increased 10% since 2005. This number is expected to double by 2020, and double again by 2040. Meaning dementia will affect 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.
• One in seven Americans age seventy-one and older, or about 3.4 million, have dementia.
• Every seventy seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer's Dementia.
• Medicare payments for the care of patients with dementia were over 91 billion dollars in 2005, and these are projected to increase to 160 billion dollars by 2010.

Is Dementia the same as Alzheimer’s?
• The classical form of what we call Alzheimer’s Dementia, first described by Dr. Alois Alzheimer in 1907, is the result of genetic abnormalities that cause early and rapidly progressing loss of cognitive function.
• Modern cases of dementia can be the result of genetic abnormalities. However, in most cases, abnormal genes are neither necessary nor sufficient to produce the degeneration of brain tissue that results in the forms of dementia commonly seen today.
• The damage underlying most current cases of dementia is largely self inflicted.

Is Dementia Inevitable?
• Some losses in cognitive function that occur with age are unavoidable. Some people are genetically predisposed to dementia of one type or another. However, there is compelling evidence that by improving our diet, reducing stress, exercising our minds and bodies, staying socially active, and finding emotional peace most of us can avoid or at least delay the development of dementia.

Below my signature is an in-depth description of BEYOND ALZHEIMER'S, including bullet pointed sections explaining: 1) What is dementia?, 2) The causes of dementia, and 3) How to avoid dementia.

If you are interested in exploring and sharing Dr. Mendelson's message, I would be happy to offer you the following three opportunities.

A BOOK REVIEW: For a free review copy of the book, simply send me a note with your mailing address.

AN EXCERPT: I have a 1,000 word excerpt from the book (available in Microsoft Word format) that I would be happy to share with you if you would like to post it, or part of it, on your site.

AN INTERVIEW: If you would like something fresh, Dr. Mendelson is also available for print and audio interviews.

gene

Gene Taft
GT/PR, LLC
Cell: 917/701-4072
Land line: 301/593-0766

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BEYOND ALZHEIMER’S
How to Avoid the Modern Epidemic of Dementia

by Scott D. Mendelson, M.D., Ph.D.

BEYOND ALZHEIMER’S (October 2009; M. Evans; 320 pages; $24.95 hardcover) showcases Dr. Scott Mendelson’s groundbreaking examination of the causes and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease, based on evidence that Alzheimer’s is merely one of several types of dementia—and that in most cases dementia is avoidable. Dr. Mendelson explains that the various forms of dementia may well be different manifestations of the same set of underlying problems. Rather than being the inevitable result of aging, he asserts, dementia is often the result of bad diet, stress, lack of mental and physical exercise, and other poor lifestyle choices.

What is dementia?

• The definition of dementia, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual I,V is: A condition of loss of memory, accompanied by impairment of decision making or personality change. These changes must be severe enough to impair an individual’s work, social activities, or relationships with others.

• When memory disturbances are present, but they do not significantly affect a person’s work, social activities, or relationships, the condition is referred to as Mild Cognitive Impairment, or MCI.

• Alzheimer’s Dementia is the most common and well known dementia. However, it accounts for only about half of cases of dementia. Other forms of dementia include Vascular, Lewy Body, and Frontotemporal Dementias.

• The diagnosis of dementia can be made only after medical and psychiatric diagnoses have been ruled out. Thus, evaluation of changes in cognitive function must include a good physical examination, blood tests, and consideration of psychiatric contribution.

• Some psychiatric conditions, such as Major depression, and medical conditions, such as low thyroid hormone, vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea, and other problems can mimic dementia. If diagnosed and treated promptly, loss of cognitive function can sometimes be reversed.

Dr. Mendelson spends the early chapters of BEYOND ALZHEIMER’S outlining a straightforward explanation of how the brain ages—physically, structurally, and chemically. He then explains the various forms of dementia, the methods for diagnosing dementia, as well as how it can sometimes be misdiagnosed. He then gives an analysis, based on the latest scientific evidence, of the genetic, biological, dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors that can cause or contribute to the progression of dementia.

The causes of dementia

• Although some people are genetically predisposed to one or another form of dementia, in most cases dementia is due to poor lifestyle choices. For most people, dementia is avoidable.

• Studies have shown that individuals who immigrate to developed countries, depart from the ways of their traditional cultures, and adopt the lifestyles of the modern societies are at increased risk for dementia.

• In the majority of cases, genes are neither necessary nor sufficient to cause dementia. Genes we inherit from our parents merely tend to determine the primary ways in which bad diet, stress, and the other unhealthy aspects of lifestyle will affect the brain and cognitive function.

• Metabolic Syndrome is a major risk factor for all types of dementia.

• Metabolic Syndrome is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes, which themselves are risk factors for dementia.

• Metabolic Syndrome is diagnosed by the presence of high blood pressure, high fasting blood glucose, high triglycerides, low HDL (the good cholesterol), and abdominal obesity.

• The underlying cause of Metabolic Syndrome is insulin resistance.

• Metabolic Syndrome is often the result of too much sugar, too much saturated fat, too much stress, too little sleep, not enough exercise, and bad health habits.

• Other risk factors for dementia are Major Depression, sleep apnea, poor educational background, boring work, overindulgence in smoking and drinking, head injury, poor dental care, social isolation, inflammatory processes, hormone imbalances, environmental toxins, and a growing list of bacteria and viruses.
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The second half of BEYOND ALZHEIMER’S is prescriptive, and offers hope to both Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers by recommending scientifically-tested herbs, vitamins and nutraceuticals that can help mitigate or delay the effects of dementia. He also discusses the latest medications that can be prescribed when necessary to treat dementia. Dr. Mendelson then advises on lifestyle changes that might help a person avoid dementia altogether, including steps to prevent heart disease and diabetes, avoid sleep apnea, achieve an ideal body weight, and maintain an active mind through intellectual stimulation and an active social life.

How to avoid dementia

• To stay free of dementia you must fight Metabolic Syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, and other physical risk factors through diet, prudent supplementation, weight loss, exercise, good sleep, and stress reduction.

• For most people, the diet that best reduces the risk of Metabolic Syndrome, heart disease, diabetes and dementia is the Mediterranean Diet.

• The key features of the Mediterranean Diet are fruits and vegetables high in fiber, less red meat and more deep sea fish, less butter and more olive oil, garlic, red wine, spices rich in antioxidants, and few sweets.

• The best diet for weight loss may not be the Mediterranean Diet. For most people, high protein and good fat tends to cut appetite and make weight loss easier.

• Diet plus exercise is the surest way to lose weight.

• Ideal weight for men is 106 pounds for the first 5 feet, then 6 pounds for each additional inch of height. For women, this weight is 100 pounds for the first 5 feet, then 5 pounds for each additional inch of height. Add 10 extra pounds for being over 50 years old, and add or subtract 10 pounds for having a large or small frame.

• There are many herbs , vitamins, and nutraceuticals that can be taken as supplements to help avoid or delay the progression of dementia.

• The actions to look for in a useful combination of supplements include: anti-oxidant effects, anti-inflammatory effects, enhancement of acetylcholine, stimulation of neuron growth, anti-amyloid effects, and prevention of Metabolic Syndrome.

• Steer clear of environmental toxins by drinking clean water, breathing clean air, and eating fresh uncontaminated food.

• In some cases, medications are necessary to avoid Metabolic Syndrome and its adverse effects.

• Medications maybe needed to improve cognitive function and prevent further decline in the early stages of dementia. Currently, the FDA approved medications include NMDA receptor drug, Namenda, and the cholinesterase inhibitors, Aricept, Reminyl, and Exelon.

• Do not despair, research is ongoing, and there are many new medications on the horizon.

• To avoid dementia you must exercise your mind as well as your body. You must keep learning throughout life, and strengthen your mind with challenging work and interesting pastimes.

• Use books, puzzles, and games as supplements, not replacements, for doing intellectually stimulating things with interesting people.

• A good marriage, where the spouse is also a friend and confident, is the best of all possibilities.

• People who are able to maintain close friendships through adulthood and old age are less likely to develop dementia.

• People continue to develop and grow emotionally and spiritually through adulthood and old age.

• Learn to love unconditionally, fulfill your dreams, find meaning and contentment, forgive and come to peace with yourself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Mendelson is currently a Consult Liaison Psychiatrist at the Roseburg VA Medical Center in Roseburg, Oregon. He graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1996, and then completed a four-year residency in psychiatry at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville. His first book, Metabolic Syndrome and Psychiatric Illness, has been called "magnificent" by his peers, and the Journal of the American Medical Association called his work on the link between diabetes, obesity and psychiatric illness "brilliant and scholarly." Dr. Mendelson lives in Roseburg, Oregon.

Publication Date October 2009 • Published by M. Evans • 320 pages • ISBN 978-1-59077-157-0 • $24.95 hardcover

Although the housing slump may have “bottomed-out”, occupancy declines, especially for independent living, are more widespread [1]. Will the industry re-bound with a business-as-usual mentality? Will new generations of customers be satisfied with today’s level of service?

There is no question that the real estate crisis and decline in portfolio values have impacted occupancy in senior living communities. AND, it’s easy to buy into the concept of “We just need to hold on, the demographics are still there, and we’ll be OK as soon as the housing market recovers”. The reality may be very different.

Assisted living insurance & nursing home costs are a growing concern. The reality is, they're very different and one doesn't even exist. Which is it?