Two medications may help stop Alzheimer's disease before it begins, and millions of people are already taking them, including Serge Kogan.

"I take statins to reduce my cholesterol and I take it every night."

That can help the heart, but now we're discovering the drugs may also protect the brain. While research has shown statins are 'not' effective in people who already have Alzheimer's, a new study finds the pills might help prevent it from starting, especially in patients at risk for a related...

Alzheimer's Curbed By Promising New Drug

A new drug that has completed phase 2 trials in the UK and Singapore is being hailed as a major breakthrough in the treatment of Alzheimer's, as it appeared to slow the progress of the disease by as much as 81 per cent over a year, compared to placebo. Methylthioninium chloride (MTC) blocks the accumulation of tau protein tangles inside brain cells, one of the principal characteristics of the disease that was originally discovered by Alois Alzheimer 100 years ago.

...

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care helps seniors live independently for as long as possible, given the limits of their medical condition. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care.

More specifically, home health care may include occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing. It may involve helping the elderly with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Or it may include assistance...

By Carole Moore, Scripps Howard News Service

Cash-challenged seniors who want to stay in their own homes have kept reverse mortgages high on the public radar. But not everyone thinks they're such a good idea.

In general, a reverse mortgage converts home equity into cash in several different ways, ranging from monthly payments to an equity line to one-time payouts -- or a combination. The amount you can borrow varies according to your age, the value of the home, current interest rates and loan fees.

...

The Medicare program is part of the Social Security Act. It was created in 1965 and is currently a $300 billion program. It is administered by the Social Security Administration and the Health Care Financing Administration. Individuals who are 65 years of age and who are eligible for Social Security benefits are automatically eligible for Medicare.

Medicare is a national entitlement program that provides health insurance for approximately 31.5 million people age 65 and over. Medicare is divided into two...

BE VERY CAREFUL.

Five Reasons You Should Think Twice Before Getting a Reverse Mortgage:

A reverse of a mortgage loan is secured by a house, but unlike a conventional mortgage that decreases over time, a reverse mortgage increases over time. Reverse mortgages are designed for older buildings that have a home with equity, and they want to unlock equity and turn it into money so they can use it for other purposes such as home repairs or to pay off other debts. With a reverse mortgage the...

WHAT IS HOSPICE CARE?

Hospice programs are available to help terminally ill individuals live their remaining days with dignity. These programs can assist the family (or other designated caregiver) in making the patient as comfortable as possible, and assistance is available around the clock, seven days a week.

Hospice is primarily a concept of care, not a specific place of care. Hospice care usually is provided in the patient's home. It also can be made available at a special hospice residence....

What is Respite Care?

Millions of Americans provide unpaid assistance each year to elderly family, friends, and neighbors to help them remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Sometimes these caregivers need time off to relax or take care of other responsibilities. This is where respite care can be helpful. It provides the -family caregivers with the break they need, and also ensures that their elderly loved one is still receiving the attention that he or she needs.

Respite...

Cash-challenged seniors who want to stay in their own homes have kept reverse mortgages high on the public radar. But not everyone thinks they're such a good idea.

In general, a reverse mortgage converts home equity into cash in several different ways, ranging from monthly payments to an equity line to one-time payouts – or a combination. The amount you can borrow varies according to your age, the value of the home, current interest rates and loan fees.

Reports suggest reverse mortgages can be...

Despite predictions for an ever-increasing need for nursing homes, many nursing home owners struggle to keep beds full and payments rolling in. Part of the reason may be an insistence on attracting and retaining private-pay patients. Many nursing home operators labor under the mistaken notion that Medi-Cal/Medicaid is for low-income clients, time-consuming and provides only partial payment.

Yet, consider the case of one southern California nursing home operator with 15 years experience who avoided Medi-Cal/Medicaid,...