Aloha Allure

written by  Lydia Chan What is Alzheimer’s disease?  According to a study conducted recently at the University of California, Los Angeles, nearly 50 million Americans are dealing with the early stages leading to Alzheimer’s disease today. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder and the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. The majority of people with Alzheimer’s are not diagnosed until they are over the age of 65. Diagnosed before then, it generally referred to as early onset Alzheimer’s. While there is no cure for the disease, lifestyle changes and treatments can delay symptoms.  Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are mild during the early stages. The patient may experience some cognitive impairment such as short-term memory problems and difficulties with solving problems such as math equations. Other early indicators of Alzheimer’s include misplacing items and an inability to retrace steps. It ma...

A conversation about long-term care planning rarely ranks high on anyone’s “to-do” list, but because it often requires substantial financial resources, it’s not a discussion you should save for down the road. Anticipating, financing, and planning for long-term care can become quite an overwhelming proposition. These considerations may help to guide your strategy. How likely is it that you’ll need long-term care? A study found that one in five Americans needs help for a year or less, while one in seven adults may depend on extensive help with daily living for five or more years. But individual circumstances, including overall health, gender, and genetics, play a part, too.  Women, on average, live longer than men, and are more likely to require extensive help for longer periods of time. Lower-income people need more assistance than those with higher incomes. The older you are, the more likely you’ll need higher levels of care. Single people are also more likely to...