Originally published October 4, 2014
As I am trying to do with each post moved, I checked the links provided in the original post. The study referenced here is no longer available; however, there is still important information for anyone dealing with dementia and long-term care of a family member.
I had written Meryl Comer, author of Slow Dancing with a Stranger, because I was so touched by her experience. She just happens to be a very reachable kind of lady and full of passion for her focus; mental health. During our chat she asked if I would share the press release for the Health eBrain Study around noon EDT, September 29, 2014. And I did. Everywhere I could think of. I also went one step further – I took the test.
The test was a simple one that really didn’t take all that long to do. You do provide some demographic information, mainly so that the researchers can compare apples with apples, sort of. It is NOT an IQ test. It tests your response time, the ability to remember a sequence (both forwards and backwards) and your ability to assess changing information based on some really simple parameters. Your score is provided at the end of each section and you were allowed to practice—how many times I’m don’t really know. My mouse got stuck in a couple of places and caused me to register a few errors. Which is okay; you aren’t competing for a scholarship or a vacation or anything, but it is a nice thing to provide the most accurate information you can.
So what is all the fuss about? Let me quote from the press release:
Changes in cognitive efficiency are closely linked and can occur with depression, fatigue, stress, and long-term chronic illness. This impact is particularly severe for caregivers of individuals with complex chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s and other dementias, two-thirds of whom are women. The physical, mental and emotional burden over time can take as much as ten years off a family caregiver’s life. It also can increase the caregiver’s own risk for dementia. [The numbers Meryl gave me are 6-1].
“Over fifteen million unpaid individuals provide care to the 5.4 million victims with Alzheimer’s or other dementias. [Just to point out the math, that is less than 3 individuals per patient which means that most of us are working far more than one 8-hour shift, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.] We form the backbone of all unpaid long-term care in the U. S. What happens to our loved ones if something happens to us?” (Meryl Comer, a 17-year veteran of caregiving and President of the Geoffrey Beene Foundation Alzheimer’s Initiative.)
The list of supporters for the program read like a who’s who in the world of caregiving and dementia. The organization is still going strong and working toward ways to support both the caregiver and the loved ones under care. Check out US Against Alzheimer’s.
No Comments