We can’t wait: Administration announces new steps to fight Alzheimer’s disease

Reposted from www.hhs.gov

The Obama Administration announced on Feb. 7 new efforts to fight Alzheimer’s disease, including immediately making an additional $50 million available for cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research. In addition, the administration announced that its Fiscal Year 2013 budget will boost funding for Alzheimer’s research by $80 million.  Today’s announcement also includes an additional $26 million in caregiver support, provider education, public awareness and improvements in data infrastructure.

In January 2011, President Obama signed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, which calls for an aggressive and coordinated national Alzheimer’s disease plan.  The Act also establishes an Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services, which brings together some of the Nation’s foremost experts on Alzheimer’s disease to inform the development of the national plan. The preliminary framework for the National Alzheimer’s Disease Plan identifies key goals including preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease by 2025.  As work on the plan continues, the Obama Administration is taking action.

“Today’s announcement reflects this administration’s commitment to confronting Alzheimer’s, a disease that takes a devastating toll on millions of Americans,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  “We can’t wait to act; reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s disease on patients and their families is an urgent national priority.”

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Aging in Place in the News

An article about aging in place ran in the Jan. 22nd edition of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It highlights the growing movement towards putting services and supports in communities so that older adults can continue to live in their own homes.

Read the article here.

Dental Care Important for People with Dementia

REPRINTED FROM PennLive.com


When you’re living with dementia, simple tasks such as brushing teeth or visiting the dentist can become monumental roadblocks. 


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Coping with Holiday Stress When a Loved One Has Dementia

Reprinted from Dementiacarecentral.com

While the holidays are a joyful time for many, they can be stressful for caregivers as well as people with dementia. This page discusses some of the challenges of the holidays.

U.S. Department of the Treasury announces the Go Direct campaign

Go Direct is the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s public education campaign regarding their announcement to go electronic. As you may have heard, the Treasury announced that all federal benefit and non-tax payments will be paid electronically by March 1, 2013. This change will impact people who are about to apply for federal benefits (like Social Security retirement) and the more than 10 million people who are already receiving benefits by paper check.

• People applying for federal benefits on or after May 1, 2011, need to choose their preferred electronic payment option when they enroll in federal benefits.

• People already receiving federal benefits by check will need to make the switch to electronic payments by March 1, 2013.

• People already receiving benefit payments electronically do not need to take action. They will continue to receive their payments as usual on payment day.

Recognizing the Differences Between the Normal Effects of Aging and Dementia

Reprinted from EldercareABCBlog

We all forget things, especially if we are low on sleep or high on stress, but we start to worry when aging loved ones exhibit forgetfulness when life is good. Is it Alzheimer’s, we ask ourselves, or dementia? By becoming familiar with the varying forms and symptoms of dementia, we can understand the differences between normal and abnormal brain function in aging friends and loved ones.

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Medicare Part D Enrollment Assistance

The Beaver County Office on Aging APPRISE Program (Pennsylvania's state health insurance assistanct program) will conduct a Medicare Part D Enrollment Center:

When: Saturdays (except holidays) beginning October 15 through December 7, 2011

Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (appointments are suggested)

Where: Center At The Mall, 284 Beaver Valley Mall Blvd., Monaca, PA 15061

Please bring with you the following items:

• Medicare card
• Other insurance cards (i.e., VA, PACE, ACCESS, etc.)
• Complete list of your medications and dosages

Great effort is made to ensure that quality time is offered to those who need assistance in comparing, switching, or joining a Part D plan.

Call 724-847-2262 or toll free 1-888-548-2262 for more information or to schedule your appointment.