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It is a busy 2021, so far, with Avalon’s accelerated efforts to not only be one of the first senior living companies in *Texas to secure access to the coronavirus vaccine but one of the first to actually get the vaccine to their residents. Our new and established residents along with our staff of caregivers are now rolling up their sleeves to receive the Covid-19 inoculation. Avalon has a partnership with CVS Drug Stores which is supplying and administering the Pfizer vaccine that comes in two doses a few weeks apart. Medical personnel are coming to the community to provide the inoculation. Avalon’s first round of shots started December 29, 2020 and so far, according to Community Liaison, Holly Bagwell, everyone has tolerated it well. The second round of the vaccine will be given at the end of January or early February. Holly says, “Many families have expressed great enthusiasm for the rollout of the vaccine at Avalon.” For any family that has been considering a move for a loved one into Avalon, now is the time! Those who sign an agreement to secure their space at Avalon now and before the second dose of the vaccine on February 1st, will be included in this early senior living vaccine round. Reach out today to Holly Bagwell who will immediately get the process rolling. After both phases of the vaccine have been administered, at the recommendation of Health and Human Services, Avalon will continue the CDC’s Infectious Disease Protocol for preventative measures anyway. Typical screenings upon entry will stay in place and family visitations will still be allowed under these conditions: * outdoor visits (weather permitting) * visits with a designated family member who agrees to [...]

COVID-19 overshadowed much of the news around dementia related discoveries and advances in 2020. However, some important research and development did occur including important advancements in the early detection, control, and even in the treatment of dementia. Below is a brief summary of the pages (and pages and pages) of dementia news for 2020. Research News Medications Aducanumab While there are no medications to prevent or cure dementia yet, several new drugs are showing some promise results, including one called Aducanumab. It is now under FDA review (after some initial doubt re: its efficacy). The makers of Aducanumab provided additional evidence in 2020 that the drug can delay the onset of dementia by reducing aggregated amyloid beta – a protein that normally plays an essential role in memory loss later in life. If approved, Aducanumab will be the first therapy shown to slow dementia-related cognitive decline. Besides ongoing doubts about its efficacy, the therapy is also very pricey (about $50,000 per year per patient, not including imaging and other medical costs to monitor its effects) and its impact to Medicare funding. Early detection initiatives The PET scan is the gold-standard for detecting tau tangles, which are a pre-symptomatic predictor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  The tau proteins – are typically found in brain cells– is associated with multiple brain diseases. Researchers are developing faster, less expensive, and more widely-available alternative methods to detecting tau using blood or cerebrospinal fluid sampling and analysis. The newer methods can result in earlier disease detection which is important for patient care and treatment decision. Via blood and plasma-based biomarkers Several new blood-based biomarkers are in various stages of testing. These blood-based biomarkers are more accurate than previous technologies for early [...]

December - National Handwashing Awareness Month Nine months ago, many of us suddenly started standing over the sink with our hands full of suds singing a couple of rounds of the song Happy Birthday as we scrubbed.  National Handwashing Week has never found such notoriety! Little did most of us know that it takes place each year during the first full week of December. With record numbers of new Coronavirus cases and deaths spiking across the U.S., it’s more important than ever to recognize the critical role hand washing and learning to keep your hands away from your face play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. Let’s take a quick quiz to see what you already know (many months into a pandemic!) about hand washing hygiene. Handwashing Pop Quiz Which of the following (according to the CDC and the latest research) is the most effective way to prevent the spread of Coronavirus and other communicable diseases? Observing social distancing (at least six feet, no touching, cover coughs and sneezes). Washing your hands with soap and water frequently and correctly, following CDC guidelines. Using hand sanitizer frequently and correctly, following CDC guidelines. Answer: 2 Approximately ____ % of communicable diseases are believed to be transmitted by human hands? 25% 50% 80% 95% Answer: 3 The U.S. is currently experiencing which of the following that can be mitigated by regular hand washing? A novel influenza virus pandemic. A national measles outbreak. A novel coronavirus pandemic. All of the above. Answer: 3 Scrub is one of the 5 steps in proper hand washing. To be most effect you should scrub your hands for at least ___ seconds. 10 20 30 40 Answer: 2 The [...]

For the 2020 holidays, the CDC says it’s best to stay home and celebrate on your own or with the people you already live with. Hospital beds are more full now than they were in March and there aren’t enough nurses and technicians to operate the ventilators we have, so to avoid a third wave, we should all comply, especially if we have or live with someone who is at risk for developing complications from the virus. We have to be careful to avoid the third surge overwhelming our hospital system. So . . . What do we do instead? For Everybody This year, ideally, we celebrate in person only with people we already live with day-to-day. If you want to prepare a traditional meal, go ahead! But consider maybe just a turkey breast, or switch to baked chicken or start a new tradition for your family! Consider hosting or attending a virtual dinner. Watch your favorite sports (college basketball starts Thanksgiving week!). Watch the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving, and Disney Christmas parade (both of which have changed formats and made other changes to keep people safe during COVID). Watch your favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas movies from home. Instead of braving the unprotected crowds of Black Friday in person, shop Black Friday online to avoid the crowds and COVID exposure. See the sidebar for more ideas. For households or other groups with family members with dementia . . . It’s a curious year. Many of the aspects of celebrating the holidays that normally make people with dementia uncomfortable (large gatherings, conversations with strangers, being left alone in a crowd) are missing! Some advice still applies this year, though: Talk to family and friends (whether they’ll [...]