Today, there are over 5.3 million people in the United States 65 years of age or older who are living with dementia and that number is estimated to triple by 2050. It’s also the 6th leading cause of death among older adults. Valerie Gruss, PhD, RN, Clinical Associate Professor of Nursing and Director of ENGAGE-IL (Enhancement of Geriatric Care for All) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has been identified as an “Edge Runner” by the American Academy of Nursing for her work to help people with dementia and their families learn how to best manage the illness. She developed the Dementia Guide Expert App that provides information on dementia, its symptoms, how to diagnose it, treatment options, and, most importantly, how to manage the disease. The app includes links to other resources and services for both the person and their family caregivers.
I interviewed Dr. Gruss on HealthCetera in the Catskills recently to learn more about the app. Here is that interview:
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