Residential care

• MONTREAL, Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Alithya Group Inc. (TSX: ALYA) ("Alithya") proudly joined Les Petits Rois Foundation for the inaugural opening of a new SMART house in Montreal that will serve as a residence for young adults with special needs.
• To meet the critical task at hand, Alithya developed 'connected mirrors' for the SMART home's kitchen and bathrooms to provide personalized guidance to the residents in conducting basic daily tasks.
• Their careful attention to our young people's needs and the creation of connected mirrors will truly improve the daily lives of our precious ones.
• The technology will bring positive change to the future of these young adults with special needs by helping them to be more autonomous every day."

• As the number of caregivers grow in the United States, Belmont Village Senior Living , a leading developer, owner and operator of senior living communities, recognizes the importance of supporting caregivers, especially their mental health, this National Caregivers Day, Feb. 16, 2024.
• “Of the nearly 48 million caregivers, 26% are caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, which can have a tremendous impact on a caregiver’s mental health,” said Joyce Mahoney, CTRS, APRS, Regional Vice President of Memory Care and Programming, Belmont Village Senior Living.
• It may seem overwhelming for caregivers to arrange time for themselves, so Belmont Village Senior Living has outlined tips and resources for caregivers.
• Prioritizing the physical and mental health of caregivers not only benefits the caregiver, but their loved one they are taking care of.

• FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wound malodors are a serious and common struggle for patients and caregivers.
• Unpleasant odors from chronic wounds are difficult to address, though.
• Cinesteam®'s odor-control dressing is a breakthrough medical device that offers a simple, elegant solution to the problem.
• Cinesteam® goes on top of the primary dressing, where it adsorbs smells, and diffusing its own pleasant odor.

• Approximately 34.2 million people in the United States provide unpaid assistance to adults age 50 or above, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance.
• Among them, about 15.7 million adult family caregivers care for someone with dementia.
• I am a licensed clinical social worker and an assistant professor of social work studying disparities in health and health care systems.

Challenges for family caregivers

• In my research focusing on East Asian family caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementia, I discovered that Chinese American and Korean American caregivers often encounter challenging situations.
• However, researchers are also finding that family caregivers feel more capable of managing these challenges when they can tap into formal services that offer practical guidance and insights for their situations, as well as assistance with some unique challenges involved with family caregiving.

The demographics of informal caregivers

• More than 6 in 10 family caregivers are women.
• While nearly half of care recipients live in their own homes, 1 in 3 live with their caregivers.
• These caregivers are typically older, retired or unemployed and have lower income than caregivers who live separately.

Juggling caregiving with everyday life

• Often, community-based organizations such as nonprofits that serve older adults offer a variety of in-home services and educational programs.
• These can help family caregivers manage or reduce the physical and emotional strains of their responsibilities.
• Research shows that those who are new to family caregiving often take care of their loved ones without any formal support initially.

Support for family caregivers

• There are numerous programs and services available for family caregivers and their loved ones, whether they reside at home or in a residential facility.
• For family caregivers of people with dementia, formal support services are particularly crucial to their ability to cope and navigate the challenges they face.

The role of Medicaid

• Medicaid, which targets low-income Americans, seniors, people with disabilities and a few select other groups, has certain income requirements.
• Determine the eligibility requirements first to find out whether your loved one qualifies for Medicaid.
• If so, contact your state’s Medicaid office to get more information about self-directed services and whether you can become a paid family caregiver.

Medicare might help

• Medicare may help pay for certain home health services if an older adult needs skilled services part time and is considered homebound.
• Family caregivers who join support groups tend to manage their stress more effectively and experience an overall better quality of life.

Kathy Lee has received funding from the Alzheimer's Association - New to the Field (AARG-NTF-20-678171).