Is There Magic in a Pill? What's new with dementia?

Who’s out there in the medical world fighting to protect our loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia? I address this big question, and others, with my guest, Dr. Allen Power, a geriatrician and noted expert in providing good care for and protecting aging adults. In this episode, we look at the most recent push for FDA approval of Alzheimer’s drugs - those “magic pills” that we’re all hoping will save our parents from a fate we even fear for ourselves.  The most recent ones have some nasty side effects.  Why did the FDA review panel not want to approve the most publicized breakthrough (noted to have side effects of brain swelling and bleeding)?  What alternatives have been used for years that are known to have fewer side effects?  But maybe there are ways for our aging parents, who might have dementia or Alzheimer’s, to help us help them.  And:Can someone live well with dementia or Alzheimer’s?How can we determine if there are medication side effects that users can’t describe to us? How are our loved ones being treated or drugged by others when we don’t know about it?<br/>There’s a lot more in store in this episode of Eldercare Success.   Links: Dr. Allen PowerBook: Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-BeingHelp for Alzheimer's Caregivers CareManity websiteBook: How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, AfterFree: File-of-LifeEldercare Success on YouTube
<br/>Guest: G. Allen Power, MD is a renowned geriatrician, international educator, musician, composer, and author specializing in transformative care for older adults with changing cognitive abilities. He holds the Schlegel Chair in Aging and Dementia Innovation at the Waterloo Research Institute for Aging in Ontario and is a clinical associate professor at the University of Rochester, NY.Dr. Power is the author of "Dementia Beyond Drugs: Changing the Culture of Care," which won a 2010 Book of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, and "Dementia Beyond Disease: Enhancing Well-Being." In addition, he was honored as one of the "Five Leaders of Tomorrow" by Long-Term Living Magazine. His influential work has earned him recognition as one of the "Five Leaders of Tomorrow" by Long-Term Living Magazine.As a sought-after speaker throughout the world, and is a powerful advocate for person-centered dementia care.Host:  Nancy May, Author of How to Survive 911 Medical Emergencies, Step-by-Step Before, During, After!  is an expert