2021-07-02_amanda_HomeCare_JuneContent_Draft1_21June2021.docx

How are you preventing Alzheimer’s?

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Scrabble time is sacred time at Vivian’s house. As a full-time caregiver to her octogenarian parents, she knows better than to disturb their daily afternoon match.

“They play Scrabble together once a day, and I can tell it’s a real brain boost for them both. It’s helpful,” she explains. “The fact that they use the dictionary is a good exercise because they have to find words. The whole game becomes a process in searching and remembering.”

Since her parents moved in about six years ago, Vivian’s noticed the little changes and big changes that mark their path to aging. Building on her parents’ life-long interest in games, word puzzles and crosswords has been an easy way to keep them challenged and engaged—even as other activities become more difficult.

“My mom has always done crosswords in English and Italian. Now, she plays word games on her iPad, and does jigsaw puzzles,” she says. “Just anecdotally, I can see that it really keeps her sharp. It’s the same for their daily Scrabble match. It gets them using their brains in a different way,”

What she’s seeing in terms of benefits at a household level is real. The positive implications of fun-yet-challenging brainwork like this is applicable for seniors everywhere. How? Challenging our brains through lifelong learning, games or puzzles can support overall health in ways that dial down the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. That represents a clear upside for seniors, among whom the prevalence of dementia more than doubles every five years after age 65.

What else can help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s? Staying on top of continuous developments in research. Because recommendations are always changing, embracing opportunities to ask your doctor what’s new on the Alzheimer’s prevention front should be a regular part of routine check-ins. Using these four key questions as a guide can be a great place to start:

What’s changing on the medication front? In June, U.S. government health officials approved the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in nearly 20 years. The same company has submitted an application for Health Canada to begin reviewing its medication, which is purported to treat the underlying disease, rather than only managing or slowing Alzheimer’s symptoms. While it’s early days yet, and studies are still ongoing for this particular drug, be sure to periodically ask your doctor what’s new on the prevention front in Canada to stay current on the latest guidance.

Am I exercising enough? Studies show healthy lifestyles can go a long way toward managing factors known to put folks at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s (and dementia more broadly). Chronic illness like diabetes, high blood pressure and unchecked cholesterol can all play a part. There’s evidence that the right amount of exercise helps prevent Alzheimer’s, or slow down the progression in people who have symptoms. That typically involves about 30 minutes of moderately vigorous aerobic exercise, three to four days a week. Ask your doctor about the most recent guidelines, and which exercise activities make sense given your overall health profile.

Does my diet put me at greater risk? Because eating well ties right into your health and wellbeing, improving your diet can be a good way to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Regularly incorporating foods known to support brain health can make a difference. The Mediterranean and MIND diets—rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and legumes—are both considered solid options. True, too, for bringing colour to your plate by choosing foods that span the full spectrum of the rainbow. Tell your doctor about the way you eat now, and ask for the latest suggestions on foods that could help you avoid Alzheimer’s down the road.

Am I connected enough to the outside world? As we slowly emerge from pandemic lock-down measures, it’s fair to say many of us have experienced feelings of isolation over the last year. Poor mental health (loneliness, depression, etc.) can wreak havoc on overall mental health, driving up the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. On the flipside, observational studies have shown that greater social contact helps prevent it. Reaching out to your doctor for the latest advice to proactively manage your mental wellness, and seeking help as needed, is an effective way to tackle Alzheimer’s risk factors.

Closing thoughts

There’s no silver bullet prevention strategy for Alzheimer’s disease. Right now, your best defence is a strong offence that prioritizes overall health and wellbeing, and proactively mitigates risk factors. Keeping current on medications and other recommendations can empower you to live your best life by cutting out known risks along the way.

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The more things change… the more they change. Are you current on the top ways to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease? Bring these four questions to your next check-up to ensure you’re up to date on the latest ways to mitigate risk factors.

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The best knowledge is current knowledge. If you’re wondering how to dial down your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, be sure to ask these four key questions at your next check-up. Link in bio.

Why is personalized care better care?

Big picture view: Article 2

At Home Care Assistance Montreal, we know every client is unique. We’ve built our approach, and our Concierge Care model, to address the individual needs of each person we care for with a personalized approach that’s grounded in science, and backed by empathy.

This month, we spoke with Maria Licoudis—a registered nurse, and Home Care Assistance Montreal Care Manager—to understand the benefits of this bespoke take on in-home senior care.

What’s different about the Concierge Care your team offers?

Maria:	“It’s really all about creating a centralized approach to care. We become the overall coordinator for the family, connecting all the dots across the client’s day-to-day activities. That means we focus on communicating clearly and openly between the caregiver and the multidisciplinary team that supports each individual client. From physicians to physiotherapists to nutritionists, we become the single point of contact, making sure everyone supporting a given client is on the same page. That allows us to maintain a clear view of how a client is feeling and doing, and then keep family members totally up to date in real time. That’s been especially impactful during the pandemic, when health guidelines and travel restrictions kept so many family members apart.”

Can you tell me about the care plans your team develops?

Maria:	“We start every client relationship by meeting with the family, and having a fulsome conversation about the individual we’ll be caring for. What are their specific needs? What does their typical day look like? What kinds of professionals will they be working with besides us? We cover all aspects of daily living from physical, cognitive and psycho-social factors down to the littlest things that often make the biggest difference. For instance, what interests them? What activities do they enjoy? From there, we create a plan and assign a caregiver on our team deemed to be the best possible match. From that point onwards, we manage the care plan centrally, bridging between our team, the other professionals and practitioners involved, and the family to ensure that it’s a totally connected process. Everyone involved has the information and the details they need to create the best possible life for the client. That reduces stress for the client, their family and the team.”

Who is the ideal candidate for Concierge Care?

Maria:	“Clients that require more involved care usually make the best candidates for this concierge service. Anyone that requires 12 to 24-hour daily care would likely be a good fit. That would include seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or families seeking palliative care support for a loved one. I’ve been with Home Care for seven years, and before that, I was head nurse at the palliative care centre for Mount Sinai Hospital. I can honestly say that clients who require heavy care do a lot better with this kind of concierge approach. Many of them are lonely or depressed and this coordinated way of working can really improve their quality of life. It’s important to have a routine, to have someone you can consistently count on. Through our concierge services, we offer clients that empathetic care while making sure the client’s family feels completely supported, and up to date.”

Closing thoughts

Different families require different levels of support. If you’re looking for well-rounded, in-home care that alleviates the burden of managing multiple professionals in real time, Concierge Care could be your best path forward.

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Everyone’s different. Our Concierge Care service offering builds on the unique needs of each individual client to provide seniors with the in-home care they need, and families with a centralized point of contact they can count on. Home Care Assistance Montreal’s Maria Licoudis, RN, shares insight on the benefits of a personalized approach.

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How can Concierge Care help families better balance the needs of an aging loved one? Home Care Assistance Montreal’s Maria Licoudis, RN, shares insight on the benefits of a personalized approach.