Should Persons with Alzheimer Disease be Included in Research on Comorbid Conditions?

Alzheimer patients suffer from numerous comorbid conditions such as femur fracture, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

In the most recent issue of the Hasting's Center journal IRB: Ethics & Human Research, Anji Wall argues that social justice requires including Alzheimer patients in clinical trials on comorbid medical conditions. The entire article, Including Persons with Alzheimer Disease in Research on Comorbid Conditions, is available for free download at:

 http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/587075

Caring About Long-Term Care: An Ethical Framework for Caregiving

In a 2007 report "Caring About Long Term Care: An Ethical Framework for Caregiving," Center for American Progress Visiting Fellow Lisa Eckenwiler discusses the importance of developing an ethical framework to deal with the defining issue of how the United States and other nations will address the needs of their aging populations and provide adequate care for the dependent elderly.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/07/pdf/caregiving_report.pdf

Non-pharmalogical interventions to prevent wandering in dementia

From the NHS Technology Assessment Programme, this is a systematic literature review of the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent wandering in dementia and evaluation of the ethical implications and acceptability of their use (Robinson) 124 pages, Volume 10, number 26

http://www.hta.ac.uk/ProjectData/1_project_record_published.asp?PjtId=1384&status=6

AT Dementia: Assistive Technology for People with Dementia

AT Dementia: a new on-line information resource of assistive technology for people with dementia. (Provided by Deborah Hutchings, Trent DSDC)

There is growing awareness of the use of assistive technologies (such as devices to support memory, communication and safety) in supporting and enabling people with dementia to live more independently.

Products range from simple stand alone devices such as calendar clocks that show the day, date and time, to telecare sensors (e.g. gas, flood and fall detectors) that automatically alert a community alarm centre when assistance is required.

However, many people with dementia, carers and professionals have had difficulties finding information about what is available and how it can be obtained and used.

AT Dementia is a new on-line information resource of assistive technology for people with dementia.

The resource has been developed by Trent DSDC with funding from the Department of Health.

The new website provides information on:
- the benefits and limitations of assistive technology with case study examples
- the ethical use of assistive technology
- how to obtain assistive technology
- funding and procurement of telecare
- searchable product database
- current research and new technologies in development

www.atdementia.org.uk