Monthly Archives for January 2004

Documentary Explores World of Alzheimer’s Victims, Caregivers

Published in Pawtucket Times on January 26, 2004

Sally Weiss, my 80-year-old mother, has Alzheimer’s disease.

Over the past seven years, the progression of this disease was noticeable to me when I made my trips back home to Dallas, Texas.

However, my family, just like the tens of millions of families across the nation who have loved ones afflicted with this mental disorder, tries to understand and cope with the emotional social and financial impact of this devastating disease.

Last Wednesday, a hard-hitting, nationally broadcast PBS program, “The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s,” sought to bring more “insight, context, hope and help” to viewers who tuned in, hoping to better understand this frightening disorder.

The 90-minute documentary explores Alzheimer’s disease by weaving together the history and biology of the disease, the real-life experiences of three Alzheimer’s patients and their families who lives are touched by Alzheimer’s and the latest research findings that may lead to a cure.

Shame on you if you missed last week’s showing of “The Forgetting,” but you’re in luck, especially if you want a second chance to see the PBS program before it comes out on video. The Rhode Island PBS program affiliate, WSBE 36, has scheduled a rerun of this broadcast for Jan. 29 at 9:00 p.m. and again on Feb. 5 at 2:00 p.m.

The PBS documentary is based on David Shenk’s best-selling book, “The Forgetting.”

After overhearing a conversation in a restaurant about a man and his wife- a woman in her 50s afflicted with Alzheimer’s – he realized that this woman could not recognize her husband. By the time Shenk left the restaurant, he was horrified at the thought of his wife not even knowing who he was, being a stranger to her during the best years of their marriage. This thought ultimately propelled Shenk, a journalist and occasional National Public Radio commentator, to explore the mysteries of Alzheimer’s leading to the writing and publication of his 292-page book.

The PBS documentary warns that with the graying of our nation, we will see a growing number of person’s afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease which is considered  to be an age-related disordered.

By 2011, the first of the nation’s 76 million baby boomers will turn age 65, ultimately setting off a demographic time bomb, creating this Alzheimer’s epidemic.  When this occurs, Alzheimer’s may well become American’s biggest public health concern.

Using special animation, “The Forgetting” helps viewers better understand how Alzheimer’s begins, how it does damage and what kind of new medical treatments are being used to treat it.

“The Forgetting” also focuses on the real-life stories of three families, showing how the disease slowly impacts the family caregivers and the loved ones afflicted with Alzheimer’s.

“Like so many coping with this tragedy, the families who share their stories in  “The Forgetting” all have one major motivation in common – they want to let other people facing similar situations know that they are not alone, that there is help and that they too, can find the strength to face a  tragedy like Alzheimer’s with dignity and grace,” said Elizabeth Arledge, a respected film producer who created the PBS documentary, in a written statement.

“These families are drawing on reservoirs of strength and compassion to stay focused on seeing the person they love instead of the symptoms of the disease,” added Arledge.

Liz Morancy, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Rhode Island chapter, calls of Rhode Islanders to watch a Rhode Island PBS program. “The 13th State,” on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.

Scheduled one day before the re-airing of “The Forgetting,” the 30-minute local PBS program will feature a panel discussion about Alzheimer’s.

Panelists included Dr. Cynthia Holzer, of Roger Williams Hospital, along with 84-year-old Sterling Ivision, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and his daughter Kate Meleny.

“The Forgetting’ shows what a really hard, hard disease Alzheimer’s is,” said Morancy, “but by listening to Ivision, you will learn that he still drives and lives independently. People who have early-stage Alzheimer’s can still have a quality of life.”

Check out the Web site, www.pbs.org/theforgetting. This site will provide advice, resources, and chances for caregivers of Alzheimer’s victims to share emotions and insights. In addition, a downloadable viewer’s guide will provide practical information and answer questions.

Expanding Vaccinations Initiative Will Save State Money

Published in Pawtucket Times on January 5, 2004

During last year’s legislative session, the Ocean State Adult Immunization Coalition (OSAIC) approached the Rhode Island General Assembly for funding to promote the group’s efforts to get the word out about the importance of Rhode Island seniors getting influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations.

OSAIC’s message was quite simple – “Avoid a Hospital Stay: Get Your Flu Shot Now!”

The Providence-based nonprofit, a coalition of 40 agencies including hospitals, nursing facilities, vaccine manufacturers, medical societies, managed care groups, the R.I. Department of Health, the R.I. Health Care Association, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of R.I., call vaccinations a cost-effective way to prevent these unnecessary hospitalizations and deaths.

According OSAIC, pneumonia and influenza deaths together are considered the  sixth-leading cause of death in the nation. Since 1999, when this initiative began, there have been more than 300 deaths and 6,800 hospitalizations that were attributed to influenza and pneumococcal diseases in the Ocean State.

OSAIC stated that the cost of a flu shot is $ 15 and a pneumonia shot is $ 30.

On the other hand, the average length of stay for an older person with influenza is five days, costing $ 12,000. Treatment in a hospital for pneumonia lasts six days and costs $ 12,000l

At the conclusion of last year’s General Assembly session, lawmakers allocated $ 50,000 to OSAIC to push its many immunization initiatives. Charles Harris, owner of Harris Health Centers and an OSAIC executive board member, noted last year’s funding enabled his group to work closely with providers to create a system to identify vaccine recipients.

“We also were able to assist the state’s Health Department to expand the statewide vaccine record system,” he said.

OSAIC also worked with managed care providers to assist them in informing their beneficiaries through newsletters and reminders about the many benefits of flue and pneumonia vaccinates,” Harris added.

Furthermore, Harris said OSAIC reached out to the state’s media outlets to educate Ocean State seniors as to the importance of vaccine shots and the locations where they could get those shots. Meanwhile, an outreach program, utilizing both providers and pharmacists, also encouraged older Rhode Islanders to get their shots.

To get the  facts out, OSAIC senior volunteers even managed the nonprofit’s group’s flue hot line.

“Last year’s funding appropriation has even allowed us to begin our work this spring to urge seniors to get their pneumonia vaccines,” Harris noted.

“It also enabled OSAIC to bring its message into the state’s nursing facilities. Most nursing facility residents or staff who requested a shot got one, even with the flue vaccine shortage,” he said.

OSAIC is now posed to ratchet up its efforts to protect more of the state’s seniors. Look for the nonprofit group to push for making vaccinations a standard of care, Harris told All About Seniors.

“Rhode Island’s age 65 and over uninsured should receive these inoculations either free or at a nominal cost,” Harris said.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Stephen D. Alves, and Rep. Stephen M. Constantino (D-Providence), who serves as vice chair of the House Finance Committee, were key in getting OSAIC’s $ 50,000 funding allocation last year.

When the 2004 legislative session kicks off this columnist hopes that Sen. Alves and Rep. Costantino will again bring their passion for this preventative care issue to their respective committees and to the House and Senate floors during budget debates.

Even with a huge budget deficient looming, Gov. Don Carcieri and state lawmakers must see that preventative medicine is a worthy cost containment approach for reining in skyrocketing health care costs. Even with state dollars allocated up front, the savings will be ultimately realized down the road.

If Gov. Carcieri and state lawmakers choose to act “penny-wise” but pound-foolish” Rhode Islanders taxpayers will ultimately become the losers in the upcoming legislative session.