Date: Jan 15, 2013 Author: Anne Plummer Source: The Daily Utah Chronicle (
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As retirement age for baby boomers grows near, a research group on campus prepares to educate family members about the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and preparing for medical appointments by creating a user-friendly application.
The app will allow family members to log in and create a profile in which they can document the characteristics, changes or history of their loved one and see where the individual is along the process. Users can also store information about their goals or find links answering other questions, such as changes in medication.
The researchers at the U's Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research and creators of the app hope to educate family members about the symptoms of the disease and prepare them for doctors' office visits.
Karen Mara, administrator for CACIR, said many Alzheimer's patients only see their general practitioners, who do not specialize in dementia. She said this could mean patients are not receiving the best care. Often, family members stay in the waiting room while the individual with potential Alzheimer's talks with the doctor, and the CACIR said this can be a problem when expressing changes or symptoms.
Other patients are not able to receive the necessary help because their family members are spread throughout the country. The researchers hope the app can be a communication device for all family members, whether they are close or far away from their loved one.
"I think in Utah [distance is] less of a problem," Mara said. "In Utah there tend to be more family members and they tend to be more involved."
The CACIR researchers also intend to help those who lack the access to medical care because of financial problems or those retiring in rural areas. The app can give information about Alzheimer's disease to those who might not be able to receive it otherwise.
Troy Andersen, social worker for the CACIR, said people are often diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease when the symptoms are mild. However, many people wait until a crisis happens with an individual with Alzheimer's to begin actively helping their loved one, he said.
In order to slow down the process of Alzheimer's disease, one should be socially, physically and intellectually active. These components are also vital in preventing other chronic conditions such as heart-related diseases, Andersen said.
"If we can't stop the disease, our goal is to prolong their quality of life and preserve their independence," Andersen said. "All of these things combined make a difference. If the family waits until there is a significantly difficult event, then we've wasted all that time to be really taking advantage."
Andersen said it is also important to complete legal documents and look over one's financial situation during the two- to three-year period after diagnosis.
