Did anyone see the today show segement on brain/memory health? What a crock!!!! A Doctor from the renowned Langhorne memory center at NYU actually said that exercise, eating right and keeping your brain active can actually prevent the disease. I cannot believe we're still hearing this from memory disorder professionals. My husband was physically very active, we ate (eat) heathy and he still got FTD at 58. BTW, he always did crossword puzzles with me. Why do these myths keep getting perpetuated? It truly undermines our situations. Maybe I'm just cranky tonight. Also the woman who wrote an article challenging Maria Shriver's statement that there is no national plan for helping families dealing with Alzheimers who then cites private/pubic partnerships by which she means LTC insurance offered by employers and then Medicaid. She cites her father who has paid $18K+ in LTC premiums but will receive $5,100/ month from LTC forever. What planet is she on? Many people are not offered LTC thru their employers, cannot qualify for LTC due to pre-exisiting conditions and if they have LTC it is not coverage for lfe. I cannot qualify for LTC due to debilitating arthritis and my DH's plan has a maximum lifetime benefit which equates to 5 years of ALF care (coverage offer thru employer). This type of information makes the public believe you can prevent the disease AND if you do get it you won't suffer financial devastation. That's one of the reasons the public doesn't take this disease seriously.
I didn't see the show, but what you have said about it is so true. Drives me NUTS!
Also, one thing you did not mention about LTC insurance - IT'S EXPENSIVE, and not everyone has the money to buy it. It's the reason we don't have it. We looked into it about 20 years ago, when Sid was healthy, and there was no way we could afford it.
Sound bytes, sound bytes. Appeal to the masses. Who cares about accuracy? The popular news media is renowned, among those who keep track, for being a purveyor of fiction and sensationalism.
Unfortunately, everyone doesn't know to be skeptical. There's one of the problems.