MUST READS

A July 23, 2017 The Washington Post opinion piece (subscription required) by Suzanne Carbone touts the importance of PET scans for an accurate Alzheimer’s diagnosis and follow-up. Carbone’s husband’s AD diagnosis helped her family make important decisions regarding his care. “Knowledge is power,” she writes. 

A July 22, 2017 Medical Economics blog by Lori Rousche, MD advised on consulting hospice for end-stage Alzheimer’s. According to Rousche, hospice care is a Medicare-covered service that allows patients to die with dignity by increasing their quality of death, provides family/caregiver support and decreases end-of-life care burdens, and offers volunteer services and bereavement help.

CLINICAL TRIALS SPOTLIGHT

A July 23, 2017 The Washington Post article (subscription required) focused on the difficulties of enrolling older people in research studies. Fewer than one-third of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s are eligible to join clinical trials. Some of the obstacles include: co-morbidities could complicate a study’s results, medications could interact with therapies being examined, the patient may not have someone to accompany them to the study site for tests and procedures, and they may be frail and unable to get around easily.

RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

According to a July 21, 2017 Healthcare Finance article, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center is designing potential payment and service delivery models for behavioral health and the use of telehealth-enabled care. The behavioral health models will focus on substance abuse and use disorders, mental illness, and mental health disorders in the presence of co-occurring conditions, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. 

CAREGIVER CORNER

A July 23, 2017 Alzheimer’s News Today article looked at tips from the Mayo Clinic for choosing elder care providers for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Things to consider include location, timing, cost, food, programs and other services, group activities and staff.