Alzheimer's Expert Jacqueline Marcell shares Alzheimer's management news and commentary at OurAlzheimers.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/58009/depression-loved Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:08:00 -0500 Jacqueline Marcell When I began caring for my elderly parents (both with early Alzheimer’s not properly diagnosed), I was shocked to read that family caregivers are often more depressed than those they care for. And caregivers who have a chronic illness have a 63% higher death rate than their peers of the same age. A year later, without a day off with my “challenging” elderly father—I was surprised the statistic was that... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/58009/depression-loved http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/53198/stubborn-caregiver Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:56:00 -0500 Jacqueline Marcell Ohhhh, I had this exact situation while I was caring for my parents, so I know how exasperating it is! Actually I went through 40 caregivers that first year—most applicants only there for about ten minutes as my father would be so nasty they’d run out--or he’d just throw them out of the house. Here’s what I unfortunately had to learn the hard way!   Keep in mind that any kind of change is often frightening... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/53198/stubborn-caregiver http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/50792/assisted-research Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:23:00 -0500 Jacqueline Marcell At one of my recent seminars, an “at-her-wit’s-end” adult daughter, Sally, rushed up afterward pleading for my advice on how to get her elderly parents to move to Assisted Living before their health deteriorated any further. She lived cross-country and was terrified about them being alone as there had already been a few close calls—like the time her father left the gas stove on without it lighting, filling the house... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/50792/assisted-research http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/47760/coping-challenging Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:07:00 -0500 Jacqueline Marcell My challenging elderly father always said he was feeling a bit chilly, but he’d refuse to put on a sweater or more clothes at home, nor would he wear a jacket over his thin summer clothes whenever he went outside, which of course he also wore in the winter. A wonderful caregiver (Ariana) and I constantly offered warm soups and warm liquids, but he’d refuse, only wanting to eat corn flakes with cold milk. We also constantly... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/47760/coping-challenging http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/44859/traveling-demented Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:45:00 -0400 Jacqueline Marcell Recently I was so dismayed to see a sweet little elderly lady (obviously suffering from dementia) and her devoted adult daughter, being delayed and searched at an airport checkpoint. The daughter was a bit heavy and apparently her underwire bra kept setting off the alarm, which finally embarrassed her to tears. The mom, seeing her daughter getting so upset, got so frightened and confused that soon she was in a frenzied panic.   I... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/44859/traveling-demented http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/43404/dont-pull-plug Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:23:00 -0400 Jacqueline Marcell When my mother had a heart attack and was in a coma for months, the doctor told us that she was without oxygen for far too long and that we should “pull the plug” because if she ever came to, “she’d just be a vegetable.” My father and I were so stunned and furious to be told such a thing and flatly refused. We decided to try an around-the-clock vigil talking, lightly massaging and grooming her. I remember the doctor... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/43404/dont-pull-plug http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/41840/suspecting-mental Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:10:00 -0400 Jacqueline Marcell I have spent eight years promoting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of dementia and am certain that misinformation, denial, and untrained GP’s are still the biggest factors preventing families from getting elderly loved ones properly evaluated. The mild and intermittently odd behaviors that gradually increase year after year continue to get chalked up to advancing age and nothing more. And even when it becomes very... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/41840/suspecting-mental http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/35537/recommendations Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:29:00 -0400 Jacqueline Marcell When people hear about what I went through during the year of caring for my elderly parents, they often ask what I would do differently if I had to relive the experience with the knowledge I have now. I sigh and say, "Ohhh, if only I could! I'd know exactly what to do to help my parents much sooner and I would be able to save so much time, money, and a fortune in Kleenex!" If you are heading into the eldercare years, please learn from my... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/35537/recommendations http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/33891/misdiagnosed Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:12:00 -0400 Jacqueline Marcell Alzheimer's Disease makes up 65% of all dementias, but there are many other diseases that cause dementia which can mistakenly be diagnosed as Alzheimer's. Therefore, a thorough evaluation by a dementia specialist is important to assure an accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Here are the most common diseases that have been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's:   1. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): A rare, fatal brain disease caused by... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/33891/misdiagnosed http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/32821/senior-moments-log Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:38:00 -0400 Jacqueline Marcell Are you one of millions experiencing those pesky senior moments, which seem to occur more frequently with each advancing year? We whisper to our friends with a gallows laugh about the silly thing we have done now, secretly worrying we may be starting to get Alzheimer's or something. Then there's that anxious moment waiting for our friends to validate our experience by sharing their own senior moment, which makes us feel so much better that we... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/43/32821/senior-moments-log