The Changing Face of Alzheimer's

For years, Alzheimer's has been closely linked to dementia and the elderly in the public's perception. Thanks to recent treatment options, and a greater understanding of the disease, this is beginning to change. Early-onset Alzheimer's has grabbed media attention and is showing everyone a different side of the disease. It's no longer limited to frail, elderly individuals in managed care settings. This article from the Chicago Tribune shows how many Alzheimer's patients are continuing to live fulfilling lives while managing the symptoms of the disease.

"Alzheimer's can progress at different rates, with many younger onset patients remaining engaged and enthusiastic for years after the diagnosis, experts say. That message got a major boost when Pat Summitt, 59, the University of Tennessee's legendary women's basketball coach, recently announced that she had symptoms of Alzheimer's but pledged to continue coaching.

"I love it that people like (Summitt) are out there saying they have it," said Nicole Batsch, director of early stage services at the Alzheimer's Association-Greater Illinois Chapter in Chicago, supporting patients going through the first phase of the disease. "It will help reduce the stigma. For patients, it will help them recognize symptoms."

Read more here: Younger Onset Alzheimer's Patients Stay Active.

Best Jobs in Healthcare

Photo courtesy of Lower Columbia College

The healthcare industry continues to grow, and now is a great time to start or advance your career. Thanks to the popularity of home health care options and outpatient therapies, it's now easier than ever to find a job that will fit your schedule and commute. Salary.com has a fresh review of the hottest jobs here: http://www.salary.com/hot-jobs-in-health-care/

The first four are all counseling-related, so if you have ever considered formal training for this, now is a good time to act on that. Medical assistants and physician's assistants continue to be in demand, too. Two of the best jobs for salary and schedule flexibility are Pharmacy Technician and Home Care Aide, respectively. We Care Online offers comprehensive training in both. Home Health Aide is a 20 hour class which is available to Kansas residents. Our Pharmacy offerings start with the 45-hour Pharmacy Assistant class which is available everywhere and will prepare you for an entry level job in a pharmacy setting. The comprehensive Pharmacy Technician program is much more in-depth and even includes a working "externship" in a real pharmacy. This class will give you the skills you need to go from the online classroom to a career.

The Power of Music, part 2

Photo by Arlington County

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about a recent story in which a patient with Alzheimer's "comes alive" when he listens to music from his past. (Click here to read the story). This week I have a follow-up story. That video clip was part of a film called Alive Inside which follows social worker Dan Cohen and his interactions with people in elder care facilities. In it, he creates personalized playlists of songs for the people he works with, and connects with them in ways that many healthcare workers did not think was possible.

For Elders With Dementia, Musical Awakenings has more about this remarkable story and includes a list of Mr. Cohen's tips on music and the elderly. It's amazing what you can do with a little handheld music player! If you have a chance to try any of his tips, we'd love to hear from you in the comments.

National Nursing Home Week

The National Health Care Association is celebrating National Nursing Home Week (NNHW) from May 13-19 this year. As their press release notes, "NNHW 2012 recognizes residents in long term care settings who live life to the fullest and the dedicated staff who care for them. This observance is a perfect opportunity to involve families, community members, youth and others in a community-wide show of support and respect for these individuals and the staff who provide the care or provide support services."

For a list of activities and ways your facility can participate, please see the National Health Care Association's guidebook at http://www.ahcancal.org/events/national_nursing_home_week/Documents/NNHWeb.pdf.

For a complete list of resources and activities, see their web site: National Nursing Home Week

Forever Young at Heart

Here's another great video that's going around this week. A 90-year old woman dances with a troupe based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. Not only is she still dancing up a storm at 90, but...well, watch the clip and you'll see! Some people say, "you're only as old as you feel," and she's living proof.

Job Hunting Resources

Photo by Ian Lamont

Are you still using the newspaper classifieds to find your next job? It seems like most people are turning to online sites for job listings, but with so many out there, where do you begin?

Job sites like careerbuilder.com and jobing.com can be a great resource, but they post listings from potentially thousands of employers a day, so it can be hard to separate the good from the bad. If you're searching online, your best bet is to go directly to the web site of the company that's hiring. Sometimes that's a particular nursing home or assisted living facility and sometimes it's a web site for a corporation that owns several types of health care facilities. If you don't know the web address of the company, you can type their name into any search engine and find the site quickly. It's not a foolproof method, but it'll help you limit your searches to local companies.

Where I live, most of the assisted living facilities hang banners outside their buildings when they have a job opening. In the past week, I've seen at least three different homes seeking CNAs and Restorative Aides. In this case, it's worth the effort to dress up a little and drop off your resume in person. If possible, call ahead and ask to speak with the hiring manager. That way you can meet the person responsible for hiring and not just leave your resume with a receptionist. It's even better if you can bring a cover letter to accompany your resume. That way the hiring manager will know you're serious about wanting a job, and you'll help your resume stand out from the crowd. This cover letter is for a Registered Nurse, but it's a good guide you can use for your own letter. http://media.newjobs.com/mm/usen/content/pdf/cover-letter-nurse.pdf. If you need tips on brusing up your resume, this site has a great list - http://articles.chicagotribune.com.

And don't forget the We Care Online forum! It's small, but growing, and is the perfect place to find current listings from companies and individuals who are seeking We Care Online students. 

The Power of Music

"To watch Henry—an elderly man who has spent over ten years in a nursing home, barely able to answer yes or no questions—come alive when listening to music from his past is a reminder of the powerful, inspiring, and affecting power of music." This is a recent article from Time magazine that is making the rounds on the internet. It's a touching story and probably a familiar scene to many of you who work with patients with cognitive disabilities.

Read more and watch the video here: http://newsfeed.time.com

Spring Celebrations for your Facility

flickr photo by tiaragwin

With Easter right around the corner, stores are full of chocolate bunnies and jelly beans, and Spring is in the air. This is also a very special time for both Christians and Jewish members of the community. To bring some of the holiday spirit to your residents, I've included a couple of links to festive activities.

First off, Easter Story Cookies. The link includes the recipe and a list of bible passages that accompany each ingredient in the cookies. This is directed at children, but can easily be changed into a devotional exercise / bible study for your adult residents. Each step of the cookie mixing gives you a chance to read a bible passage and reflect upon its meaning. The cookies bake overnight and give you a fun Easter surprise in the morning!

flickr photo by Lawrence

Also significant is the the Jewish festival of Passover, which runs from April 6-14 this year. This is a time when members of the faith celebrate the liberation of Israelites from Egyptian slavery (as recorded in the Biblical book of Exodus). Passover is traditionally marked with a "Seder" dinner in which every part of the meal is linked to scripture and guides the participants in prayer and reflection. To learn more about Passover, visit chabad.org. For more about the Seder, see this link about the Passover feast: http://christianity.about.com/od/biblefeastsandholidays/p/passoverfeast.htm.