AlzCare was formed in December of 1998 to provide assisted living services to persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia. Our purpose was clear from the beginning….to restore some of the quality of life that has been lost due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias. AlzCare does this by offering residences that provide safety, security, dignity and independence in a setting that is better than home. According to Dr. Barry Reisburg, “The way we typically care for patients may be precisely the opposite of what they need.” This is especially true in traditional nursing and assisted living facilities that place their priorities in areas that do not have a positive impact on the needs of residents with Alzheimer’s.

AlzCare is committed to its mission of serving individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease in an intimate, home setting; generously staffed by well trained, compassionate and engaging caregivers. Each facility is licensed for no more than 16 to maintain a small, intimate setting in which staff, resident and family alike have the opportunity to form relationships that are a part of the therapeutic milieu of AlzCare..

Studies have pointed towards the many benefits of fish based nutrients. These include omega-3 fatty acids, choline, and uridine. Results shows that frequent and regular consumption of these nutrients correlates with increased improvement in verbal memory, at about 40%.

Researchers are studying people who are in early stages of the disease. Five hundred volunteers were recruited at 40 study sites nationwide to participate in the 24-week study. Participants are at least 50 years old, have mild to moderate Alzheimer's and are on a stable dose of a drug approved to treat Alzheimer's.

Half of the participants are being given the nutritional shake to drink with breakfast. The other half receive a control beverage. All participants will continue taking traditional Alzheimer's medications prescribed by their doctors.

The shake is made with fish nutrients but flavored like vanilla and strawberries.

"You have to be able to mask the fish taste," said Dr. John Morley, a leader of the study and director of the university's division of geriatrics. "That's the problem - no one likes to drink fish."

The shake was concocted by Dr. Richard Wurtman, professor of neuropharmacology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, and contains uridine, choline and omega-3 fatty acids - compounds that are found in fish, meat and breast milk.

Wurtman discovered that the combination of nutrients promotes the growth of spines on the membranes of nerve cells in animals. When those spines come into contact with other nerve cells, they form connections.

Read More at The Arizona Republic

AlzCare in Texas. Quality Alzheimer’s treatment in a home setting. San Antonio, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Waco, Fredericksburg, Victoria.

As we grow older, we become less resistant towards the effects of stress. Aging makes a person more prone to the psychological and emotional effects of stress, and are not able to recover as easily. The effects of chronic stress on mental health are clear. Studies show the link between chronic stress and Alzheimer’s disease. In this article, distress is described as an effect of chronic stress, and possible solutions are discussed.

Everyone has been there. You are about to get into an accident, your heart races, your mind is completely focused on the oncoming car, time seems to slow, your thoughts become crystal clear. It's a near-death experience that you never forget. Your "stress response" has helped you to survive.

Here's another scenario: your boss is shouting at you, your kids are sick, bills are piling up, life is getting really stressful on a chronic basis, day after day, and... after a while, you can't think straight! Your mind is racing, you have trouble paying attention and focusing, memory is impaired, worries abound, you can't make decisions or you make bad decisions, and depression may set in. Now the "stress response" is impairing your brain.
What's going on here??

Let's go back to basic biology. Long ago, through evolution, animals developed the "stress response". When a deer encountered a tiger, it needed a "survival response," the "fight or flight response," to either gear up for a fight, or to run fast, pay attention, and then remember where that tiger was, and never go there again. Animals evolved a biological way to accomplish these effects through the stress hormone "cortisol".

Read More at Psychology Today

AlzCare in Texas. Quality Alzheimer’s treatment in a home setting. San Antonio, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Waco, Fredericksburg, Victoria.

Being a caregiver doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to give up life’s pleasures. You can still enjoy traveling with a person who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. There are two keys to success in travel: plan well in advance and keep SAFETY your number one consideration.

Call your local Alzheimer’s Association and register with the Safe Return Program.

Remember to never leave your loved one alone during the trip. They are much more likely to wander in an unfamiliar environment.

If a situation presents itself, have a crisis plan ready and don’t be hesitant to seek assistance from local authorities and emergency services.

When preparing for bedtime at a hotel, secure the room door.

Maintain your daily routine such as mealtimes, rest times and bed times as much as possible. If you regularly take a walk with your loved one for exercise, continue that pattern on your trip.

Have comfort items such as pillows, snacks and water ready available when you travel.

If you are traveling by car and don’t have child proof door locks, consider renting or borrowing a car equipped with them.

Recruit a friend or family member to go along for the company and extra support.

Leave a detailed itinerary with family or friends. Check in with them often to let them know you are okay.

If you still feel that travel with your loved one may be too difficult, consider respite care at an assisted living facilities. Many facilities offer this form of short-term care. A helpful way to approach respite care with your loved one is to tell them that they are going on a vacation as well. Respite care will provide quality care and meaningful activities which will make their stay very enjoyable and safe. You can even call the facility while on your trip to make sure everything is okay.

Remember taking a break from your care giving responsibilities can be vital for your own mental health and physical well-being. In the end, it can be a great benefit to both care giver and recipient.

AlzCare provides quality care and treatment for Alzheimer’s patients in Texas. Our main office is in New Braunfels, close to San Antonio. We also have offices in San Marcos, Victoria, Temple, and Waco.