Memory « The Professional Geriatric Care Manager’s Blog

Great Benefits From Walnuts!

March 29, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Health, Life, Memory, Research, Tips

Last week as I was driving in my car and listening to a news station on AM radio. During a commercial break, Dr Oz came on to advertise California Walnuts. He spoke about how wonderful they are for your health and how he eats walnuts with just about every meal. This is what Dr Oz states about walnuts “They are, in my mind, one of the best foods around. Walnuts are portable, healthy and satisfying, and they provide the body with plenty of Vitamin E, manganese, copper and omega-3 fatty acids.” I usually never really pay attention to Dr Oz, because he is all over the place with medical information and I think he is too extreme on many issues.

I have done a blog on high fiber foods and spoke about almonds, so I figured I’d focus on walnuts this time. I have been reading many interesting articles that speak of wonderful facts and even research studies that have been developed for elderly people to see how walnuts are so beneficial in their diet.

The study that I read about was conducted by researchers with the Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston.

They used rats in this study to test their memory and motor skills. The rats were fed a mixed diet containing two, six or nine percent of walnuts in their diet, or no walnuts at all. The study found that in aged rats, the diets containing two or six percent of walnuts were able to improve age-related motor and cognitive skills, while the nine percent walnut diet also improved in memory. The study stated for comparison, the six percent walnut study diet was equivalent to eating about seven to nine walnuts daily.

I also read that walnuts have also been shown to help reduce stress and help with sleep. A 2010 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that individuals whose diet was supplemented with walnuts or walnut oil had better responses in stressful situations. Walnuts contain melatonin in a bio-available form. Melatonin is a hormone which is involved in inducing and regulating sleep and is also a powerful antioxidant. Walnuts sound like a like the perfect snack for getting a natural good night’s sleep. Other studies have found that walnuts may help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Enjoying just 4 walnuts a day significantly increased blood levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA is a longer-chain omega-3 fat and is found in cold water fish, but is not found in nuts, which contains the shorter-chain omega-3 fat, ALA. But, a study confirms, our bodies can make EPA from the ALA provided by walnuts, which are the richest source among all the nuts. A recent study, was published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, showed that even a very simple change in diet by adding walnuts, can have very beneficial and long-lasting effects on one’s health.

Increasing your body’s supply of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids couldn’t be any easier, by just adding a few walnuts to your morning cereal, your evening salad or a handful just before bedtime for a healthier you. Dr Oz would have to agree to this.

Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283.

145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446

45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

The Myth of Multitasking

February 17, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Deborah Varisco, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Memory, Personal, Study, Tips

We live in a very hectic environment where everyone wants tasks accomplished quickly. Our lives are busy and we often find ourselves trying to cope by doing several things at the same time. We talk on the phone while driving, we watch the evening news while cooking, or we text or email while walking. These are examples of multitasking, trying to do more than one thing at the same time. We are all guilty of trying to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously and thinking that we are doing a good job at it. Research states otherwise. When you multitask your brain is shifting attention from one task to another which makes it difficult to focus on either task. We simply cannot focus on more than one thing at a time. One of the reasons for this is that similar tasks compete to use the same part of the brain. Studies have shown that we actually lose time when we try to multitask. Researchers state we go through two stages, goal shifting and rule activation, when we multitask and this uses significant time, particularly if we switch back and forth between tasks many times. You may think you are saving time and being more efficient, but you are actually taking more time in the end to complete a task. There is actually a lag of several tenths of a second each time your brain handles a switch. We overestimate our ability to handle multiple tasks.

New research also shows that multitasking may take a toll on our memory. Individuals who learned something new while multitasking were less likely to recall what they learned later on. This is particularly true of older adults. Studies are showing that multitasking takes a significantly greater toll on the memories of older adults, and they have more difficulty remembering tasks after experiencing a brief interruption.

One of the best things you can do to improve your memory is to pay attention to the things you want to remember. Multitasking causes you to pay less attention to what you are doing or learning, and you do not learn as well as if you had paid attention. While this probably won’t stop any of us from multitasking, remember that if you are trying to learn something new that you definitely want to remember, don’t multitask!

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ramsey or Ridgewood Office to schedule a consultation. 201-587-5283. 145 N. Franklin Turnpike, Suite 311, Ramsey, NJ 07446 45 N. Broad St., Suite 503, Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Presentation of Maximizing Your Memory

January 2, 2012 at 10:30 am | Posted in Pat Linard, PR | Leave a comment
Tags: Education, Help, Memory, Seminar, Tips

Who doesn’t want to maximize their memory! Sophia Heftler, RN, MSN,CALA, CMC, CDP® will be presenting one of her most popular talks, Maximizing Your Memory, at the North Rockland Senior Center at 69 Bridge Street In Garnersville, NY on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 11:00AM. If you would like to attend, call Barbara DuVal at 845-429-9027 to let her know you are coming.

Learn what memory is and how your memory works. This seminar will discuss what simple things can be done to improve your memory. Find out what normal memory loss is and what it is not. Discover when memory loss should be investigated further with your physician and become informed about some of the current medications used for memory loss, Alzheimer’s and the various other forms of dementia.

If you would like to attend, call Barbara DuVal at 845-429-9027 to let her know you are coming.

Maximizing Your Memory – From Community Presentation to CEU

December 19, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Pat Linard, PR | Leave a comment
Tags: CEU, Education, Health, Memory, Research, Seminar

Sophia Heftler, RN, MSN, CALA, CMC, CDP® has given our free community presentation, Maximizing Your Memory, numerous times in the past year. Why is that? What I have been told is that it is an upbeat topic that is pro-active and offers ways to improve quality of life. The program covers what memory is and how memory works, as well as what is normal memory loss and what is not. It offers tips on avoiding memory loss. It touches on when memory loss should be investigated further, and covers current medications used for memory loss, Alzheimer’s and the various other forms of dementia.

When I present the list of topics for someone to choose, the topic of Maximizing Your Memory has been chosen most often. And each time it is presented, it gets improved upon. So much so, that there is now enough information gathered on memory that is has been submitted for approval as a 2.0 credit continuing education unit (CEU) course for nurses and soon will be submitted for social worker approval.

When approved, we hope to offer this course to nurses and social workers who are working in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and wherever nurses and social workers may work with older adults in Bergen and Passaic Counties in New Jersey and Rockland County in New York. At Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management, we think it is an important topic and the information should be available to everyone, both seniors and those working with them.

Fish is the New Brain Food!

December 8, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Education, Health, Life, Memory, Personal, Research, Study

I just finished reading an interesting article that was sent to me a few days ago from Emaxhealth. The title of the article was “Baked Fish, Not Fried May Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk.” We have known for many years that fish contains omega-3 fatty acid which has been very helpful for lowering cholesterol levels. According to a new study presented by the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting, at least one serving of baked or broiled fish per week helps preserve gray matter of the brain, strengthening the area of the brain deemed critical to memory and cognition. This is particularly important for people with dementia or leading to Alzheimer’s disease.

A study took place at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mercy Hospital. They found study participants that ate baked and broiled fish (not fried) had larger brains. They had larger brain cells in areas of the brain most responsible for memory and learning. This area is known as the gray matter. It was noted that these brain areas are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. After five years of following the effects seen with eating fish one to four times a week, the study showed mild cognitive impairment went down significantly in these participants. It is easy as including broiled or baked fish at least once a week into your diet that may help reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

I had my weekly dose of fish tonight. Baked Salmon, delicious!

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

What a Good Read!

July 25, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Pat Linard, PR | Leave a comment
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Caregiver, Eldercare, Life, Memory, News, Research

I read a good book recently, Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer’s by Lauren Kessler. The author is a journalist who feels that she failed in the role of caregiver for her mother who had Alzheimer’s. So when her mother passed away, she decided to give it another try, but in a different way. She went undercover as an aide in a dementia care facility.

What Lauren found was that aides in dementia care facilities are underpaid and usually living from hand to mouth. Their workload is heavy and their day is challenging both physically and emotionally. In many cases, the job of aide is not the only one that they hold. Their day is repetitive in the tasks they do but not in the challenges that interrupt those tasks. Quite often they are the caregiver that is there when a resident falls or has an accident or has an aggressive episode.

What Lauren also found was that she became attached to these elderly men and women with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Yes, they experienced behaviors typical to the disease, such as repeatedly asking the same question or experiencing episodes of paranoia, but they also had personality. And each one was an individual in many of the same ways that they had always been an individual before they were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They were able to experience emotions like you or I, and although they didn’t have a memory of things that just passed, they were able to enjoy life in the moment.

The statistics for Alzheimer’s are staggering and worth us paying attention to as a nation, and as a world. Today, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, as many as 16 million Americans will have the disease. Of Americans aged 65 and over, 1 in 8 has Alzheimer’s and nearly half of people aged 85 and older will have the disease. For more information on this devastating disease, go to Alz.org. Geriatric care managers and other healthcare professionals can help families in caring for a loved one in caring for those with dementia. To find a geriatric care manger in your area, visit CareManager.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

Coconut Oil and Alzheimer’s

May 12, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Diet, Education, Health, Memory, Research, Tips

I have a client that has used Coconut Oil to help treat her problems with dementia. Her daughter had actually researched it and had told me all about the oil and how it could help with her memory problem concerns. So, I decided to do a little research myself. Many studies over 6 years ago have been done in Europe on MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) and the positive effects they may have on people suffering with Alzheimer’s. It really came to fruition 3 years ago for Dr Mary Newport, who wanted to have her husband enrolled in a clinical trial to help him with his diagnosis of a rapidly progressive Alzheimer’s. Dr Newport did some intense research and found out that the drug’s main active ingredient in the clinical trial was that of MCT (medium Chain Triglycerides). MCT are natural fatty acids that are abundant in coconut oil. The increased intake of MCT can help the brain increase its function. Research has shown that Alzheimer’s patient’s brains have difficulty metabolizing glucose, the main source of energy for your brain. Without glucose, your brain cells may die. Scientists have discovered an alternative source of energy for your brain cells. Special fats that are called Ketones. Ketones are a high energy source that nourished the brain. When you eat MCT oil, the liver converts it into ketones, rather than being stored as fat.

Dr Newport researched and found out the Virgin Coconut Oil is more than 60% MCT oil and the clinical drug trial derived it’s oil from coconut trees. Dr Newport stated “It was like the oil kicked in and he could think clearly again.” Dr Newport noticed a difference on the first day that her husband took the coconut oil. He then continued to take the oil everyday and by the fifth day there was a tremendous improvement.

I took my client to see her Neurologist and we discussed using coconut oil to help with her memory. He said a few of his patients have been trying this sort of “food medicine” and is not sure it truly effective, but it is most definitely not harmful. It is always best to speak with your doctor and discuss any changes in medication or diet. Just because it is safe for one person, doesn’t mean that it is safe for you. If you would like to learn more about the use of coconut oil for dementia, please check out these websites, here and here.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

Alzheimer’s Association Annual Conference

April 15, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Sophia Heftler, GCM | Leave a comment
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Caregiver, Dementia, Education, Memory, Seminar

I attended the Alzheimer’s Association Annual Conference this past Friday. I attend the conference every year and, as usual, this one did not disappoint!

From the opening remarks to the final elective workshop that I attended, the day was amazing.

I thought the most interesting session was presented by the keynote speaker, Cameron J. Camp, PhD. Called “I’m Still Here ®: A Montesessori Based Approach to Providing Care to Persons with Dementia,” the session provided the attendees with many interventions regarding activity planning that enable the caregiver to avoid pharmacological approaches. Basically, he reminded everyone of the important fact that those living with dementia have the same needs as those without dementia. The thing that really excited me about this presentation is the fact that so much of what he was talking about with regard to dementia care are practices that Distinctive Care already has in place. He spoke about how persons living with dementia have the need to feel self-worth, express one’s thoughts and feelings, and have a sense of belonging and accomplishment. He stresses the importance of “destigmatizing” dementia and “embracing the person in the person with dementia.” As I sat there listening I wanted to jump up and shout, “This is what Distinctive Care does every single day!” and to tell him the story about my lunch and shopping trip with one of our Clients which took place earlier in the week.

The workshop I attended was “Best Practices: Creating Therapeutic Activities for Quality Dementia Care” with the expectation that I would be able to provide our Care Managers with even more interventions to ensure a high quality of life for all our Clients. I was not disappointed and will certainly apply what I learned, and our Care Managers will also implement the assessment techniques and care planning information I shared with them in their practice.

I have so many new ideas that I can’t wait to implement and already am excitedly planning for next year’s program.

Distinctive Care is a care management practice that takes special pride in the care we provide for our Clients living with dementia every day with specialized, individualized care planning for each individual Client to address their specific needs and to improve their quality of life. If you have a loved-one living with dementia and are at the point where you feel you need help with your caregiving and are not sure where to turn, please contact us in our Ridgewood, New Jersey office to see if we can assist you and your family in providing the highest quality of life possible for your loved one which in turn will provide you with a more satisfying role as a caregiver. We assist families in Bergen, Passaic and northwest New Jersey and families in Rocland, Orange and Westchester counties in New York. We can be reached at 201-857-5283.

Dementia 101

March 16, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Joanne Jordan, Office Manager | Leave a comment
Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia, Education, Health, Love, Memory

As Office Manager of Distinctive Care, I love learning new things every day. Last week I had the privilege of attending a full day seminar by renowned dementia expert Teepa Snow. Even though I’m not a geriatric care manager, I know that the more I learn about dementia and aging, the better equipped I’ll be to support our clients and their families.

I came away from the seminar with a greater understanding of the devastating effects dementia has on brain structure and function. Of course I knew about the effects of Alzheimer’s on memory, but I now know that vision and hearing are also greatly affected as the disease progresses. Ms. Snow showed us how to experience the reduced field of vision by using our two hands to make “binoculars” to look through, and that as caregivers, we need to respect that compromised field and adjust our approach accordingly. She went on to explain how depth of vision is destroyed as well. Both of these effects contribute to an added risk for falls. Hearing also declines from stereo to monaural, which can be disorienting.

One of the lasting points Ms. Snow made concerned the sometimes frustrating conversations we have with our loved ones who repeatedly ask the same question, or insist on arguing a point with us. She reminds us that it’s not the outcome of any one encounter that matters most—it’s the relationship that counts. A loved one with dementia may not remember the facts you tell them today (even if it’s the 17th time you’ve done so) but they will remember the emotions they felt during your encounter. Sometimes, it’s just not worth being ‘right’.

Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.

Vitamins and Memory

February 3, 2011 at 10:30 am | Posted in Amy Shein, GCM | 1 Comment
Tags: Diet, Memory, Vitamins

I am thrilled to be the new Geriatric Care Manager with Distinctive Care of Bergen County. This is my first attempt to share my skills and knowledge with this group of professionals. I started out my career working in hospitals and nursing homes in the food service department. Now as a Registered Nurse and Geriatric Care Manager I can continue to educate patients on eating healthy and making smart food choices that could really help their mind and body. I recently did a presentation on Maximizing Your Memory to a group of seniors. I reviewed with them some foods rich in Vitamin B and Choline that could help with memory. Acetylcholine is the key chemical for memory in the human brain.

Acetylcholine is derived from the nutrient choline. Fish, especially sardines, are rich in choline. Eggs are also a major source of choline, as well as liver, soy beans, peanuts, and many other nuts. We also need Vitamins B5, B1, B12 and C to form acetylcholine in our body. Foods with vitamin B5 include liver, red meats, whole grain cereals, chicken, fish, cheese, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, avocados and beans. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) is found in peas, soy foods, fish, beans, and oranges. Foods with Vitamin B12 may be found in leafy green vegetables, oranges, brussel sprouts, turnips, salmon, orange juice, avocados and soybeans. I found all the above listed vitamins and food sources on eHow.com where they had a Vitamin and Mineral Fact Sheet that can help anyone look up more choices of Vitamin B and Choline rich foods. People may be slightly concerned about the mention of the high cholesterol content from the eggs and the liver that they have stayed away from as recommended by their physicians. I would not recommend eating eggs or liver every day, but should be done in moderation.

“Distinctive Care Geriatric Care Management serves Bergen, Passaic, Rockland and Orange County with nurses licensed in New Jersey and New York. We help families dealing with various issues related to their elderly loved ones and would be happy to discuss any concerns you may have related to long term care. Please contact us in our Ridgewood Office at 201-587-5283 to schedule a consultation.”