Dementia Care More Costly-Study

Support from family and friends was given a cost value at recent study which it found that it doubled the overall cost of caring for someone with dementia.

 According to the study caring for  patients with dementia, often called alzheimer's is a great financial burden on society, greater than caring for patients with heart disease or cancer.

Researchers  compared the cost of treating heart disease, cancer and alzheimer's  and found alzheimers care to be 109 billion annualy while, cancer is 77billion and heart disease 102 billion.

The study was done in the USA using US participants.

For the study researchers collected data on ;

• Self-reported out of pocket cost
• Nursing home spending
• Medicare claims data
• Hours spent by unpaid volunteers

The annual cost per person was $56.290.

When support from family and friends was  given a cost value the annual cost doubled, to 215 billion. Researchers predict this figure will reach 511 billion by 2040.

 Read more about this report on the cost of dementia care.

Caring For A Family Member With Schizophrenia

Caring for a family member with schizophrenia is a challenging and a responsible role that can leave the care giver stressed out and feeling down.

Family members own needs are sometimes not met leaving them in need of care themselves.

Caregivers can do a lot to ensure their needs are not left out.  This starts by:

• Being realistic about what to expect from the loved one
• Knowing what is expected of themselves
• Accepting that the loved one has a mental illness

Caregivers can make their work easier by being informed, by knowing what support is available for the loved one and for him/herself.  Being informed about the disease would allay any anxiety and remove unnecessary myths associated with it.

Support from mental health centers and mental  health workers can relieve some of the burden, making it easier for the caregiver to cope.

Here is a list of some common problems that  may present, The article has tips on how caregivers can best handle them . They are:

1.  If the loved one refuses to accept treatment
2.  If the loved one makes bizarre statements
3. if the loved one gets very angry

Click Here to read the article for tips on to deal with these situations.

Caregivers of Those With Special Needs

Caregiving is an important responsibility that can only be replaced by self-care.  When there is a member of a family with special needs, it takes another family member to provide that self-care care through care-giving.

A care-giver will improve the quality of life and replace self-care by taking responsibility for the loved-one.

A caregiver will be faced with his own responsibility to self-care plus that of the family member with special needs.

For the caregiver there may be many challenges along the way. It is vital that the caregiver keeps a balance in his/her life to maintain health throughout.

Here are some tips from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on how caregivers can help themselves and the loved one be safe and healthy throughout. The following topics are covered:

• Keeping informed
• Getting support
• Be an advocate
• Be empowering
• Keep balance in the family
• Take care of yourself

Click to read each in detail.

Alzheimer's Disease Risk Increased By Problem Gene

A gene which is said to help the immune system control inflammation in the brain  has been linked to alzheimer's disease.

According to a recent study the problem version of the gene triples the chances of one developing  the disease.

Medical experts are excited about the discovery, because it paves the way for more research and new treatment. They believe that treatment to correct the gene's malfunction may help in the treatment of the alzheimer's.

The gene is called TREM2, and is present in only 1% of the population.

Until recently medical experts believed that only one gene raises the risk for alzheimer's disease. Whereas 17 % of the population has that gene, more than 1/2 of alzheimer's patients do.

The recent study has identifed the TREM2 as a another.

Read more about this gene in TheSpec.com.

Helping A Loved One With Depression

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy and poor concentration. 

Depression affects people of any gender, age or background, it affects over 120 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability.

Depression can become chronic affecting the person's ability to take care of himself or to do everyday chores.

Depression can lead to loss of employment and relationships with family and friends.

If your loved one is suffering from depression there are things you can do to help and make them feel.
 better. 

The loved one will need support, but support is more than a shoulder to cry on.

If you are a care giver,  you must realize that treatment is important.
 
Here are some ways to go about giving your help.

• Get active in their care- If you are a care giver , get active in their care.
• Talk about it- let them know you care
• Stay in contact-Call, visit or involve them
• Focus on small goals- Praise their small achievements
• Keep informed
• Give them help to get to and from appointments
• Encourage and remind them to take medication
• Remind them to keep doctor's appointment

This article is about many ways you can help a family member or loved one who is suffering from depression.
View the ways and read about each in more detail, they are in slide format.

Click Here to begin.