Who Cares?

Filmmaker Chris Wynn (Forgetful Not Forgotten) is working on a powerful new series called Who Cares? A Webseries about the State of Alzheimer's Care.

The series will provide a look into the lives of people touched by Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.

The first episode, A Captured Life, features Dr. Cleaver Keenan whose wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In this short video, he shares his wife's journey that he has captured on film.

(Movie still via Vimeo)

Need to consider the language of dementia

Yesterday, CTV reported on the World Health Organization and Alzheimer's Disease International's report, "Dementia: A Public Health Priority". The article reaffirmed how the number of persons with dementia is rapidly increasing. While this increase may pose significant challenges to our current health care system, and our communities, I question the usage of language that describes dementia as a "ticking time bomb". The 'tragedy' language of dementia needs to be reflected upon, and in most cases, challenged. Persons with dementia, are just that, persons. They are not time bombs.

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20120411/dementia-study-world-health-organization-120411/#ixzz1xan4f7JQ

Study: iPod helps persons with dementia

CBC News (New Brunswick) reported on research from the Atlantic Institute on Aging that is exploring "how using personalized music can help bring back memories and make emotional connections" (Para. 2). The article notes how three nursing homes in New Brunswick are piloting the usage of iPods as a "painless, drug-free way to reactivate the brains of people with Alzheimer's, dementia and other neurological conditions" (Para. 1). Researchers discovered that personalised music stimulates and reactivates the brain and can "be used to improve a wide range of neurological conditions, including dementia, depression, anxiety, strokes and Parkinson's" (Para. 4). Read more at:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/05/11/nb-ipod-pilot-nursing-dementia.html

ADI Survey.

Hi everyone,

We would like to share this message on behalf of Alzheimer Disease International. Please participate in this survey about stigma and dementia, or pass it on to eligible participants:

As part of the development of the World Alzheimer Report 2012, to be launched on 21 September, ADI is conducting a survey of people with dementia and family or informal carers to find out their opinion and experience of stigma related to dementia. The survey is in English and Spanish. The intended audience is only people with dementia and family or informal carers. Professional carers and associations are not being asked to participate in this way.

There is not much time - the survey will only be available until 17 June 2012.

We need your assistance. Please help us spread the word about this survey by forwarding this email, posting to your websites and social networks.  We would like as much participation as possible.  We recognize the format of a web-based survey may not be the best and only way to collect this information.  However, due to limited resources, we are piloting this to see if it is possible.  If your organization is able, feel free to provide assistance to individuals who cannot complete an online survey due to low educational level, lack of access to a computer or cognitive symptoms that impair their ability to use the survey, but they still have capacity to answer the questions thoughtfully.

Below is the link to the ADI website where more information and a link to the survey can be found:

http://www.alz.co.uk/research/world-report-2012

This survey is also available in Spanish from:

http://www.alz.co.uk/research/world-report-2012-encuesta-espanol