Understanding Advance Health Care Directives

True or False: You don't need to worry about Advance Health Care Directives until you are retirement age. Answer: False. Every adult, especially the young adult, should at least consider having a legal proxy decision maker in case of an unexpected illness, accident, or other emergency which leaves you unable to state your wishes or take care of matters on your own. It's not difficult and in most cases, if done ahead of time, there is no need to hire an attorney. Learn more here:

Myths and Facts About Health Care Advance Directives | Special Committees and Commissions / Commission on Law and Aging

Discussing Advance Directives is just one of the important steps Eagleview West takes in completing a long-term care plan and creating a road-map for aging for clients.

Make it Simple. Learn how by contacting Eagleview West.

Early Detection & Early Engagement Can Improve Brain Health

Early recognition promotes engagement in shared decision-making regarding Life Care Planning. Medical and Lifestyle interventions can improve Brain Health. 

Brain Health: The Importance of Recognizing Cognitive Impairment: An IAGG Consensus Conference - Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

Silver Tsunami Not Always To Blame For Rise in Dementia

Baby Boomers get blamed for a lot of things. Congested doctor's offices, long wait times for appointments, caregiver shortages. Just to name a few. One might assume the rise in Dementia cases could be blamed on the baby boomers alone, especially considering  age is the greatest risk factor, with the risk for Alzheimer's Disease doubling every 5 years after age 65.

But finally, someone else is to blame (relax, baby boomers). The report recently published in Smithsonian magazine suggests early onset diagnosis of Dementia is on the rise with people in their 40's developing the disease, blaming pollution and the broad use of chemicals. Being someone who specializes in Alzheimer's and Dementia, I get asked  frequently for my thoughts on Dementia and the reason for the increase in early-onset cases. It was not long ago I was sitting in a meeting learning about the effects of electrical magnetic radiation, a "toxin", emitted from wireless devices and anything which uses electrical power. The presenter suggested we would begin to see today's youth develop cognitive impairment at  middle age due to their constant exposure to electro-magnetic frequencies. Unless populations develop a natural resistance to the toxin identified as electro-magnetic radiation, today's exposure will be tomorrow's silent health epidemic. Does today's 40 year old have less resistance than perhaps a child, who grows up with potentially constant exposure from time of birth? Is it realistic to blame one toxin as the culprit for the rise in early-onset Dementia? Less difficult to grasp, and more likely is the theory multiple factors contribute to cognitive impairment including environmental toxin exposure, diet, prescription drug usage, addiction(s), heredity, and traumatic brain injury. Most of these factors can be categorized as toxins. Take diet and prescription drug usage, for example.  Both have the potential to harbor and hide chemicals the body must learn to rid itself of. Has our modern and chemical world  transgressed too quickly for our human bodies to keep up?



Learn more about our Modern World and the Rise in Early-Onset Dementia by clicking below:



Modern Life Could Be Making Dementia More Common

Montana's collaborative approach to educating and empowering citizens

In less than a month, the Montana Department of Health & Human Services' Senior & Long-term Care Division will partner with the Montana Gerontology Society to provide Insights to Alzheimer's Disease through their annual conference. This is a first for the Annual Governor's Conference on Aging to collaborate with a professional affiliation such as MGS to put on a combined program for attendees.  Timely and efficient, participants will have a multitude of programs to choose from and be able to connect with leaders in the aging services industry.

Learn more and sign up to attend this unique conference and earn continuing education credits:
Click here to view the dates, agenda and lodging

You can also learn more about the Montana Gerontology Society by clicking here!

Motion-Controlled Tech for Aging seems Space-Age

Where did the time go? Seems like yesterday-not 4 years ago-when I was meeting with the Eye Hear Technology Group in Kalispell, MT, discussing options for installing home technologies to monitor older adults as they age in place. We are still talking about this technology as if it's space-age stuff. This tech has been available for years but underutilized and undervalued. Thankfully, the motion sensing technology continues to expand and develop into more useful tools, such as monitoring daily behaviors in the home.The deep rooted challenges are costs to the consumer and the background maintenance and upkeep for the companies who provide around-the-clock coverage.

Technology Helps Seniors Remain at Home-Kiplinger

Aging with Dementia and Housing Considerations

A diagnosis of cognitive impairment can be overwhelming at first. Taking the time to review your long-term care plan can help improve your sense of control and be better prepared for your future. One area needing consideration is housing.  A thorough review of the current living situation should be completed with emphasis on accessibility and safety. Learn more by clicking here:
Aging with Dementia: Housing Considerations

New smartphone App shares your last wishes

A new smart phone app is available which focuses on advance directives, or decisions focusing on end-of-life wishes. Developed by the Commission on Law & Aging for the American Bar Association, the app shares important information which can be crucial during a medical emergency or other unforeseen crisis. The App covers just about everything including contacts and insurance information. Legal documents are easily stored with improved access, from anywhere. While the App is not free-it currently is available for purchase for $3.99-it can be a valuable part of ensuring you or your loved one's wishes are respected. 

Check out the Health Care Wishes App by Clicking here!

Helena Capital Rotunda Turns Purple

Montana Capital Rotunda will turn purple February 13th 2015! Introducing the most expensive disease in the world and the 6th leading cause of death: Alzheimer's Disease. If you haven't already heard, Montana has something in common with the rest of America. In fact, Montana is a leader when compared to other states. By the year 2025, the projected number of people who will be living with Alzheimer's Disease or a Related Dementia in Montana alone is 27,000. Hands-down the burden will be huge.  Each community is already challenged to do things differently due to the demand for safe, affordable solutions. Employers  will be challenged to be more flexible and add benefits in support of caregivers. More Americans will become caregivers by necessity and have reduction in work hours or total work loss due to caregiving responsibilities. Life-savings, if any, disappear at astonishing rates with 24 hour care needs creating annual expenses which exceed $50,000.
There is a lot of work going on in the state of Montana but there is so much more to do.
Learn more about the Montana's state plan for ADRD by clicking here
I am working hard, along with so many others, to make Montana a Dementia-friendly state.
Join us, provide whatever support you may, or pass this message along to help advocate for those living with Alzheimer's Disease and their families, health care providers, caregivers and community.
Check out what is happening in Helena on February 13, 2015