Sleep Problems Up Risk of Alzheimer’s Says Study

From the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA):

Older adults with abnormal sleep patterns, whether it’s too much sleep, too little sleep, or restless sleep, have an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to three new studies.

The first study, which utilized participants in the larger U.S. Nurses’ Health Study, administered cognitive tests to women over the age of 70 every two years over a six year period. Participants were also asked about their average daily sleep duration. Researchers found that women who averaged seven hours of sleep daily saw higher cognitive scores over the years compared to women who reported 5 hours or less or those who reported 9 hours or more. Participants who averaged too much or too little sleep aged, on average, two years faster than those who slept seven hours a night.

A separate study monitored 1,430 women over age 75 while they slept and measured these individuals cognitive impairment over time. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found that participants with sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, were nearly twice as likely to develop cognitive impairment. The study also found that those who woke up in the middle of the night most often were at triple the risk for entering a nursing home compared to those who experienced the fewest interruptions.

A third study followed 4,900 French seniors who were 65 or older. This study found that certain sleep problems, such as problems falling asleep and early morning awakenings, were not associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, but those who felt excessively tired during the day were more likely to experience cognitive impairments.

Although researchers are not sure if inadequate sleep is a cause or a result of cognitive impairment, the studies, taken together, make a strong case for sleep’s involvement in Alzheimer’s and other forms of cognitive decline.

Learn more about these studies.

Learn more about the Assisted Living Federation of America.

National Alzheimer’s Plan Now Includes Assisted Living

Post from the Assisted Living Federation of America:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Serves (HHS) has released its first draft plan outlining its intended actions against Alzheimer’s disease. Due to ALFA’s advocacy efforts in response to the initial framework, the draft plan includes references toassisted living communities.

The plan, ordered by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), aims to develop effective treatment and prevention strategies by 2025, optimize care quality and efficiency, expand supports for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family, enhance public awareness and engagement, and track progress and drive improvement. The plan calls for an immediate increase in funding and an optimized system of allocating existing resources to support the multi-faceted approach. The plan emphasizes that a large-scale, coordinated effort across both the public and private sectors is needed to achieve its ambitious goal.

The draft plan includes some notable changes from the initial framework, including the mention of assisted living. Thanks in part to ALFA’s advocacy efforts, the draft plan includes assisted living in its strategy to assess and address the housing needs of those with Alzheimer’s disease. The plan promises to undertake an analysis of current data to better understand the number of assisted living residents with Alzheimer’s disease and the services assisted living communities provide these residents.

The plan will be submitted to the Advisory Council to Address Alzheimer’ Disease for input and open to public comment. ALFA will continue to work with the advisory council and HHS to ensure that assisted living communities play a valuable role in the final plan. Read the complete plan, Draft National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease, to see HHS’ complete proposed strategy.

Comment Period Opens for U.S. Alzheimer’s Plan

From the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA) via ALFA.  Welcome Home is a member of WALA.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released an initial framework for a national plan addressing Alzheimer’s disease. The framework tackles the problem from different angles and is open for comment through February 8, 2012.

The draft framework was created based on input from the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services, which is comprised of over 20 representatives from federal agencies and organizations outside the Federal Government. The framework seeks to address five goals:

• Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease by 2025.
• Optimize Care Quality and Efficiency.
• Expand Patient and Family Support.
• Enhance Public Awareness and Engagement.
• Track Progress and Drive Improvement.

The plan takes a multi-faceted approach to each goal. For example, in order to enhance care quality and efficiency, the agency outlines a plan to build a larger workforce of long term care providers and others who care for those with Alzheimer’s as well as implement policies that allow for easy transitions between hospitals and long term care settings. The plan asserts a commitment to advancing research but also to maintaining dignity, safety, and other rights for those with Alzheimer’s disease. Many other departments, agencies, and organizations will be collaborating with HHS in the coming years to implement the plan, when finalized.

Read the full document: “Draft Framework for the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease” and submit your comments about the plan to HHS at NAPA@hhs.gov.

First Advisory Council Meeting and AOA Grants Seek to Improve Care for Those with Alzheimer’s

The Administration on Aging (AOA) awarded 12.8 million dollars in grants, aimed at improving access to services for individuals with Alzheimer’s, while the first meeting of the Alzheimer’s Advisory Council assessed current programs that address Alzheimer’s disease.

The grants, which have been awarded to Ohio, New York, Georgia and Minnesota, will help states improve current systems in order to provide individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and their caregivers with access to needed services, such as caregiver training and home care. The grants will also be aimed at improving access to information about state sponsored programs and streamlining current processes. The awarded states will work collaboratively with Area Agencies on Aging, Centers for Independent Living, Alzheimer’s associations, health departments, and community-based organizations in increasing access to caregiver support programs, as well as health and prevention programs. AOA also requires these grant recipients to promote community living and ensure services and supports foster choice and independence for older adults.

The AOA also participated in the first meeting of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services, which was created by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) and charged with creating a national strategy for combating Alzheimer’s disease. At the initial meeting, various federal agencies described current programs and initiatives, highlighting current opportunities at a state and federal level for addressing the disease. The 22-member council also discussed impediments to effectively fighting Alzheimer’s, such as lack of participation in clinical trials and gaps in Alzheimer’s research, and methods of overcoming these problems. The Advisory Council charged the Secretary of Health and Human Services with drafting a national plan by December and planned to meet again in January to discuss the initial draft.

Read more about the Advisory Council on Alzheimer’s Research, Care, and Services and review the complete press release describing AOA’s recently awarded grants.

article:: Assisted Living Federation of America

ALFA Voices Concerns with Proposed CMS Rule

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), has written a letter expressing its concerns with regulation proposed last April by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  If the rule remains unchanged, ALFA fears that many currently eligible senior living residents will be denied assistance through the Home and Community Based Waiver Program.

The proposed rule would restrict what constitutes a community based option by centering the definition on specific physical requirements. For example, a community that does not provide a lease or does not include a kitchen in every apartment would no longer be considered a community based option. These restrictions would eliminate most residents of assisted living communities from participating in the Home and Community Based Waiver Program. “We strongly object to rules that define a home and community–based setting based on the size of the apartment or the number of people who may live in an assisted living community,” reads the letter penned by ALFA President & CEO Rick Grimes, “Further, individuals must have the choice to live where they want to live. The core values of respect, dignity, privacy, independence, autonomy and choice are the foundation for person–centered planning.”

Tons of stuff going on!

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who came out to see me speak with a good friend of mine at the Assisted Living Federation of America conference and expo last week in Orlando.  I was incredibly nervous, but I calmed once I saw a few familiar faces out there.  A quick thanks to my friend Traci for inviting me along to speak at such an awesome event!

Also, thank you to everyone who tuned in for our most recent Welcome Home LIVE web-broadcast!  It was great to see so many people engaged in great discussion.

I just wanted to take a quick minute and update all

Fighting Ageism in America

ALFA Short Film Competition winner - "Mind the Gap"

We recently returned from the Assisted Living Federation of America conference and there was a common theme we would like to share.

In today’s society, there seems to be a lot of “ageism” out there.  Ageism is defined as discrimination against people on the grounds of age; specifically, discrimination against the elderly.  This year, ALFA held a film competition that could help fight ageism in America.  If you click here, you can watch the short film that won the competition.

Then just yesterday, I came across this awesome story on MSNBC.com of a gentleman, who dreamed at a younger age, of crossing the Atlantic ocean in a raft.  At 85 years old, he set out with three of his friends to build the raft and set sail on the 2,800 mile journey.

Senior Living Professionals Gather at ALFA’s Conference & Expo

Welcome Home joined with 2,000 conference attendees this week to celebrate senior living’s efforts to fight ageism in America. Following a motivational speech by leadership guru, Steve Farber, attendees visited with exhibitors. All attendees later enjoyed the ALFA Hero Awards Lunch, concurrent sessions and an all attendee reception hosted by Mark Ohlendorf, new ALFA chairman.

The conference began with a presentation of the Best of the Best Awards, honoring programs, services, and products that advance operational excellence and serve as the gold standard in senior living. Steve Farber followed with an inspiring general session on leadership. He encouraged leaders to push themselves out of their comfort zone. “If the only reason you can think of not to do something is that you’re scared to,” said Farber “then that is a good reason to do it.”

The excitement continued with the ALFA Hero Awards Ceremony, which honored five extraordinary individuals who go above and beyond their job requirements and make a difference in the lives of seniors every day. The ceremony was emotional for many of the attendees, as they were reminded of the great work people across the country do every day. The day also included two blocks of concurrent sessions in the afternoon, and a Chairman’s Networking Reception in the evening open to all attendees.

*View the ALFA Hero Award Videos at http://www.alfa.org/alfa/2011_Hero_Award_Recipients.asp?SnID=1247596608 and Award Luncheon pictures.

*You may also view all ALFA 2011 Conference & Expo photos online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/assisted_living/collections/72157626440504898/.

Today, attendees heard from MSNBC’s Morning Joe anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski as they discussed the politics of aging in America and best selling author Jeff Jarvis explains how to better relate to your customers via the internet and social media.

Our own Roman Bloemke presented to a full house with two distinguished speakers. Traci Bild of Bild and Company and Jayne Sallerson of Emeritus Senior Living.

We are here for one more day, but we have to take a moment to thank the ALFA staff for everything they’ve done to put on a conference that is dedicated to Assisted Living professionals. This has been another outstanding conference so along with the other 2,000 attendees, we thank you for your hard work!

To learn more about the efforts of ALFA, visit them online at ALFA.org.
To learn more about Welcome Home visit us on the web at wtohdevelopment.com.