USA2 SPOTLIGHT

A May 30, 2019 Service Year post explored the idea of a national service initiative for young people, centered on providing services for the elderly. There is a serious shortage of caregiving professionals in the U.S - by 2035, people older than 65 will outnumber those under 18, and we will need around 3.5 million more healthcare professionals. Nihal Satyadev of The Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s leads the efforts in California to establish a statewide Care Corps, providing trained youth for eldercare positions. YMAA is an UsAgainstAlzheimer’s coalition partner.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES

A June 3, 2019 Eurasia Review article focused on high-tech work in the EU to better understand the brain, including Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases, and depression. According to the article, “Now the research focus on developing new treatment options for patients with brain disorders has taken an inevitable digital turn – harnessing the power of digital technologies and the increasing clout of computing as a means to push forward the boundaries of brain research, cognitive neuroscience and brain-inspired ICT advances. Alongside basic research, technological advances are also lending themselves to new solutions that help patients better manage their conditions, thus leading to improvements in quality of life – wearable technology, for instance.”

PATIENT AND CAREGIVER VOICES

A June 2, 2019 NBC 5 DFW broadcast segment featured Sarah B. Smith, inspiring others dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s in their family. Smith’s mom, lovingly called “Beauty,” has early-onset AD and inspired her to write “Broken Beauty,” to let other know they are not alone. “And I just felt like people needed to hear and understand what it looks like behind the curtain and how scary it is, and how difficult it can be,” said Smith.

CAREGIVING CORNER

A June 2, 2019 The Advocate Alzheimer’s Q&A asked about special tips for keeping people with Alzheimer’s disease comfortable in the summer months. Dehydration and overheating are potential issues, so be sure liquids are offered frequently, fans and/or air conditioners are in proper working order, and appointments and exercise are scheduled in early-or-late in the day when it is cooler for added comfort.