Literature Review

Hospice student volunteers gain insight into dementia Ahwatukee Foothills News; by Lin Sue Flood; 8/23/24 Once a week, graduate nursing student Merle Tamondong pauses her busy college life to visit Micheline Schulte. They color together, play Micheline’s favorite songs and chat in French, her native language. “When I come here, the only time I’m on my phone is when I’m playing some music, which Micheline likes when we are coloring,” Merle said. “I feel very lucky.” Merle is part of Hospice of the Valley’s College Partners Program, an innovative collaboration with Maricopa Community Colleges, Arizona State University and other schools to provide socialization to people living with dementia and a much-needed break to family caregivers. Hospice of the Valley’s dementia and volunteer departments spearheaded this intergenerational program to help inspire careers in dementia care. ... To date, 106 students have been trained and paired with 123 patients since College Partners launched in 2021 with a grant from Community Care Corps. 

“What I wish I knew about dementia”: A caregiving only child’s experience The Healthy; by Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO; 8/20/24 It's no secret dementia affects the brain of the patient, and tests the hearts of their loved ones. Through one woman's personal journey, experts advise on the emotional, medical, and financial aspects of caregiving for dementia. ... Drawing from Ann’s caregiving journey and insights from Dr. Wint and Lucille Carriere, PhD, Cleveland Clinic Angie Ruvo Endowed Caregiving Chair, we share their collective wisdom on what they wish more people knew about dementia.

Cognitive impairment in the workplace Alzheimer's Association; email 8/14/24, webpage posted 8/8/24 Due to the aging of the U.S. population, rates of cognitive impairment and dementia in the workplace are on the rise. This creates challenges for employers, many of whom may not know how to best support employees who are experiencing symptoms of cognitive impairment. Conversely, employees may be hesitant to share with their employer the challenges that they’re experiencing. ... Recommendations Regarding Dementia in the Workplace ... [Click on the title's link for this excellent HR information.]

Thrive Alliance donates robotic pets to Our Hospice dementia patients Local News Digital, Columbus, IN; by LND Staff; 8/13/24 Our Hospice of South Central Indiana has announced that it has received a generous donation from Thrive Alliance that will significantly improve the quality of life for dementia patients. The donation includes several lifelike robotic animals designed to provide sensory-based stimulation and comfort to patients experiencing dementia. The innovative pets calm patients, encouraging them to smile, hug, and stroke the robotic animal’s fur. ... President of Our Hospice Steph Cain said, “These robotic animals will make the transition from home to our care center much smoother. They not only provide comfort but also act as a catalyst for social connection, sparking positive interactions with staff, visitors, and fellow patients.”

Alzheimer’s prognosis models should expand data sources McKnights Senior Living; by Kristen Fischer; 8/12/24 Integrating data from nursing home electronic health records and claims in addition to the minimum data set — data required for nursing home residents — could be better than just relying on the MDS sources to produce an accurate prognosis for nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, according to a report published Thursday in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. ... The authors of the report noted that a recent review of prognostic models for late-stage ADRD found that assessments commonly used to evaluate prognosis-based eligibility for hospice weren’t reliable. ... Only 15% of people enrolled in hospice have a primary diagnosis of ADRD. That’s because it’s challenging to estimate the six-month prognosis required to be eligible for hospice, and dementias have a prognosis of 12 to 18 months when they are in the late stage, the authors pointed out.

Social isolation changes and long-term outcomes among older adultsJAMA Network Open; by Chen Lyu, Katherine Siu, Ian Xu, Iman Osman, Judy Zhong; 7/24Is social isolation change associated with long-term outcomes in older adults? In this cohort study using a national longitudinal health survey of 13 649 adults aged 50 years or older in the US, data revealed that increased isolation was associated with an increased risk of mortality, disability, and dementia. Decreased isolation was associated with a lower risk of mortality only among individuals who were non-isolated at baseline. These results underscore the importance of interventions targeting the prevention of increased isolation among older adults to mitigate its adverse effects on mortality, as well as physical and cognitive function decline.

Nonprofit pledges $4M to expand respite programs for caregiversMcKnight's Home Care; by Adam Healy; 7/26/24The Alzheimer’s Association has pledged more than $4 million in grants that will help community-based organizations enhance respite care programs for caregivers serving people with dementia. “There is an urgent need across the country for dementia-specific respite care programs for people living with dementia and their caregivers,” said Sam Fazio, PhD, the senior director of psychological research and quality care at the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association, in a statement. “These initial grants will help expand dementia-specific respite care programs and create new ones to support dementia caregivers while ensuring the person living with dementia gets high-quality dementia care in a safe environment.” The grants are part of a five-year program that will direct a total of $25 million to community-based respite service providers.

Resources for people coping with Alzheimer’s disease Everyday Health; by Pamela Kaufman; updated 7/29/24 No one should have to deal with Alzheimer’s alone. The government agencies, nonprofit groups, and other resources listed here can help people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers cope with the disease through education, advocacy, support services, clinical trial opportunities, and blogs that share the wisdom of lived experience. [This essential list of resources includes:]

A blood test accurately diagnosed Alzheimer’s 90% of the time, study finds The New York Times; by Pam Belluck; 7/28/24 The New York Times says researchers “reported that a blood test was significantly more accurate than doctors’ interpretation of cognitive tests and CT scans in signaling” Alzheimer’s disease. The study “found that about 90% of the time the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimer’s,” while “dementia specialists using standard methods that did not include expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps were accurate 73% of the time” and “primary care doctors using those methods got it right only 61% of the time.” The findings were published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Screening for Dementia: A Podcast with Anna Chodos, Joseph Gaugler and Soo BorsonGeriPal Podcast; Eric Widera, Alex Smith, Anna Chodos, Joseph Gaugler, Soo Borson; 7/19/24The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded back in 2000 that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for dementia in older adults. Are there, though, populations that it may be helpful in, or should that change with the advent of the new amyloid antibodies?  Should it?  If so, how do we screen and who do we screen? On this week’s podcast we talk with three experts in the field about screening for dementia. 

Innovative program for veterans aims to combat dementia and feelings of social isolation and loneliness by distributing animatronic pets nationwide Cision PRWeb; by Capital Caring Health; 7/18/24 Capital Caring Health, part of the nation's largest not-for-profit advanced illness care and hospice provider—Chapters Health System, and Ageless Innovation, the makers of the award-winning Joy for All™ Companion Pets, are distributing companion pets to Veterans with dementia, and those suffering from feelings of social isolation and loneliness as part of their innovative "Pets for Vets" program. ... To date, Capital Caring Health's "Pets for Vets" program has distributed more than 3,000 robotic companion pets – which provide joy, companionship, emotional support, and more to Veterans, will expand to deliver 1,000+ companion pets to Veterans living in Long-Term Care Centers across the nation.

Senior living providers embrace role in CMS dementia care pilot program McKnights Senior Living; by Kimberly Bonvissuto; 7/11/24 Senior living providers named participants in the federal government’s new dementia care pilot program said they are excited to be part of a new effort to support people living with dementia and their family caregivers. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, CMMI, announced the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience, or GUIDE, model last summer. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched the eight-year GUIDE model on July 1 and published the program participant list on Monday [7/8]. Eligible model participants are Medicare Part B-enrolled providers eligible to bill for Medicare services and that provide, or will provide, ongoing care to people living with dementia. Eligible organizations include accountable care organizations, home health and hospice agencies, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and physician practices. Additional long-term care providers and other healthcare providers, however, can participate as partner organizations by contract with another Medicare provider/supplier to meet the program care delivery requirements. Assisted living residents who are Medicare beneficiaries may be part of the model. Editor's Note: Adding to our previously published posts about the new CMS GUIDE Program (7/10/24 and 7/11/24) and its use by hospice organizations, this article describes its use by senior living care providers. 

CMS: GUIDE Model Participants and Infographic CMS.gov and various press releases; retrieved from the internet 7/10/24 The Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model is a voluntary nationwide model test that aims to support people with dementia and their unpaid caregivers. The model began on July 1, 2024, and will run for eight years. Editor's Note: Multiple press releases are populating across the internet. We share this list of links to information, participants, and sample press releases from well-known participants.