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Researchers Take Another Look at a Promising Alzheimer’s Disease Drug

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Responsive Home Care keeps you up to date with Alzheimer’s disease treatment news.

After 16 long years with no truly viable Alzheimer’s disease drug, there is some optimism on the horizon, in a stunning reversal on the previously-rejected antibody therapy, aducanumab. The latest research uncovers that high doses of this medication do, actually, lessen cognitive decline at the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.

According to Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, “It could be a game-changer for the field. It could be one of the first disease-modifying therapies approved for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Biogen, the manufacturer of aducanumab, has found substantial benefits for dementia patients in a number of areas: activities of day to day living, memory, language, and orientation. Biogen stated its plans to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S., with a longer-term goal of launching the medication globally.

With an estimated request for approval from the FDA as quickly as early 2020, the drug is slated to possibly become the first treatment option to actually reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s. At the same time, it should open doors to other treatment options that impact amyloid beta plaques, joining other trials that target the immune system, inflammation, blood vessels, and synaptic cell health. As discovering the most effective treatments for the disease is a complex endeavor, it is very likely that a variety of these approaches will be necessary, according to Edelmayer.

The next challenge? Persuading the FDA to approve the drug after previous unsuccessful trials. If approved, aducanumab will first be offered to individuals who had signed up for previous clinical trials, and hopefully, soon open to other people dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s as well.

When it comes to the nearly 6 million senior Americans fighting Alzheimer’s (and that number is expected to more than double in the next 30 years), and also the family who care for them, these most recent findings may possibly be life-changing, as there are presently just minimally successful symptom-management medications available. Even as we wait for a treatment, we at Responsive Home Care are able to help dementia patients through highly skilled, trained, and qualified caregivers who utilize innovative therapeutic approaches that center on each person’s distinct strengths and making sure that each individual is living to the fullest.

For more information on effective Alzheimer’s care which helps maximize total wellbeing in the comfort of home, reach out to the dementia care experts at Responsive Home Care at 954-486-6440 and learn more about how our team provides the kind of senior care Hollywood, FL and surrounding area families recommend most.

Why Diabetic Seniors Need to Take Another Look at How They Are Managing Blood Sugar Levels

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Doctors are rethinking the treatment and management of diabetes in seniors and the dangers low blood sugar levels can cause.

The most up-to-date guidelines from the Endocrine Society regarding the elderly and diabetes are surprising, to say the least: lower blood sugar isn’t always best. And for individuals who have been maintaining a regimen of finger pricks, insulin injections, and careful monitoring of food consumed, this alteration may be rather hard to swallow.

Known as de-intensification, geriatricians are now commonly using the approach with older adults that the advantages to be achieved by striving for meticulous blood sugar control are not outweighing the health risks inherent with aging and illness. When A1c and glucose levels are kept at very low levels within the elderly, for instance, it could possibly result in an increased occurrence of hypoglycemia and even kidney failure.

With up to one out of three older adults currently diagnosed with diabetes, these new recommendations are poised to have a staggering influence on the treatment and management of the disease for seniors, requiring a shift in mindset for many.

And not unexpectedly, many older diabetics are unwilling to welcome this change. In one patient’s words to Dr. Pei Chen, a geriatrician in the geriatric clinic at the University of California, San Francisco, “I’ve been doing this for 25 years. You don’t need to tell me what to do. I can handle it.”

The latest guidelines recommend an increase in A1c from 7 to 7.5% for seniors who are in good health; and up to 8 – 8.5% for all those with dementia, multiple chronic illnesses, or poor health. It is critical to note, however, that suggestions are extremely individualized centered on a variety of factors, and that at no time should high blood sugar be ignored in the elderly.

Responsive Home Care can help seniors stick to doctors’ guidelines to control diabetes and a number of other conditions with professional, customized, in-home care services for seniors. Just a few of the countless ways we are able to help include:

  • Grocery shopping to guarantee the senior has a good amount of healthy food choices easily accessible
  • Meal planning and preparation in adherence to your prescribed dietary plans
  • Accompaniment to medical appointments, tests, and procedures
  • Encouragement to engage in physician-approved exercise programs
  • Medication reminders to ensure prescriptions are taken in the correct time as well as in the appropriate dose
  • And more!

Contact  Responsive Home Care, the home health services Hollywood, FL leaders, at 954-486-6440 to inquire about an in-home assessment and access a healthier lifestyle for a loved one you adore.

Making Caring for Your Parent’s Pet a Valuable Part of Your Senior Care

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Senior Care Hollywood FL

Senior Care Hollywood FL

If you have been on a senior care journey with your elderly loved one for any length of time you likely already know how valuable a pet can be in their later years. Spending time with a companion animal can make your parent feel more involved and important in their lives, ward off feelings of depression and anxiety, and even lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. While just having a pet around can provide exceptional benefits, actually focusing elements of your care around the animal can increase these benefits.

Use these tips to make caring for your parent’s pet a valuable part of your senior care efforts:

• Taking walks together. Giving a dog a walk is one of the basic aspects of caring for them, and it can be an extremely beneficial part of your senior care journey. A senior who is reluctant to participate in exercise may be willing to put their dog on a leash and head out for a few laps around the neighborhood. While they may not see the benefit of exercising for themselves, they might be much more willing to do what they know that they need to do for their pet. Taking walks burns calories, improves cardiovascular health, strengthens and conditions the joints and muscles, and improves balance.

• Playing. A dog that receives regular physical and mental stimulation through play is going to be a much more cooperative and enjoyable dog to have as part of your parent’s life. Playing with their dog also helps to boost your parent’s emotional health, offers extra physical activity, and can create an environment that promotes sharing, conversation, and social interaction. All of these are vital to high mental and emotional health.

• Feeding and watering. Structure and predictability can be exceptionally beneficial in a senior care journey. Especially if your elderly parent suffers from cognitive limitations such as from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, making sure that their schedule stays consistent can help to reduce anxiety and other negative emotions. Doing something at the same time every day, such as feeding and watering a pet, also encourages stronger cognitive processing and memory skills.

• Grooming. Grooming a pet is a show of love, nurturing, and compassion that can be extremely beneficial for your loved one’s emotional health. Much like caring for a doll can give a senior with Alzheimer’s a greater sense of security and provide recognizable activities, so can grooming a pet. Even just sitting with a well-tempered, patient pet and gently brushing or combing through its fur can give your parent the sense that they are taking care of that animal. This speaks to the nurturing instincts that remain strong with many seniors. As with doll therapy, this can help your parent to open up emotionally, provide a calming, soothing effect, and reduce the chances of issues such as depression.

If your parent does not already have a pet, consider making a trip together to the local animal shelter. Here you can find a variety of animals looking for a forever home. This will give your parent a strong connection to the animal from the very beginning and help to create a meaningful and beneficial relationship.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home senior care in Hollywood FL to provide companionship, compassion and motivation, please contact the caring staff at Responsive Home Care. Call today 954-486-6440.