Chad Pomeroy’s Post

A conversation that needs to be had. Honest and respectful conversations are the only way to improve services no matter what industry you are in.

This is an article that is worth your time to read. Let us know your thoughts!

Changing Aging is a reliable and significant source for our profession. This is a very informative blog post.

Dementia is currently the leading cause of death for women in Australia. One in four people aged 85+ are affected by dementia, 500,000 of us live with the disease and 1.6 million of us are carers. So it’s a topic that runs deep in the lives of so many Australians, including my family. My beautiful Mum was diagnosed with dementia (Alzheimers) in 2017. She’s in a sort of liminal space right now, caught between two worlds as the disease finds its way through the wormholes of her mind. Her dementia is winding the tape backwards, fast erasing her memories one by one: the highs of youth, the scars of loss, the best and worst of life’s moments - dementia simply wipes the score. So these days, Mum and I spend many hours in the half-light of broken conversations, thoughts cut short, the hanging pause of words unfound. I bring her fresh flowers and ripe fruit. We play the old songs, the big operas, Lloyd-Webber and Strauss, and hum along. We look at old photos or the TV or at the clouds, watch the sky change, see the trees sway: all the small things, all the small noticings now. Sometimes she is with me, sometimes she is not. I’ve had to learn to meet her anew, to begin again and again, to cherish the small moments we still have, in this slow letting go. There is currently no cure for dementia. But the Federal Government has just funded a national bio-medical technology incubator $50 million to develop commercial innovations to address dementia and cognitive decline - to hopefully fund a much-needed cure. Dr Chris Nave, Chief Executive of Brandon BioCatalyst, and Dr Kaele Stokes, Executive Director of Services, Advocacy and Research at Dementia Australia joined us on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently to discuss the alarming increase of dementia in Australia now - and the research and breakthrough innovations that are (hopefully) coming next. LISTEN: https://lnkd.in/gJkghqQu #abcnews #dementia #startups #biotech Brandon Capital #abc Andy Park ABC RN Drive

Chicago Beyond’s perspective, Healing-Centered Funding for Systems Change, shares five shifts funders can make to have a greater impact. One of the shifts is to widen our perspective from focusing on individual experiences to addressing systemic experiences. Taking this wider view led us to partner with our Leader in Residence, Jeanine Valrie Logan, whose approach to maternal health takes social and generational contexts into account. Visit the Stanford Social Innovation Review to read more about Healing-Centered Funding for Systems Change. https://lnkd.in/giKDCGyg

Understanding our colleagues in ER/PCP-to me potential solutions: Partnership with Interdisciplinary Team in Palliative Care/Hospice, Goals of Care discussions, realistic expectations, community/family/resource involvement.

The U.S. might be on the leading edge of developing new medicines and treatment modalities for everything from cancer to diabetes management. But in the pursuit of ever more advanced technologies, efficiencies, and moonshot therapeutics, our _human_ aspects of #healing and #caregiving have been sidelined and suppressed in our #healthsystem. If we re-centered what makes us human, could it make us well? My newest Substack thought piece (link in comments) explores the idea of #wholeness as a definition of healing for individual humans, and for the health system as a whole. Let me know what it sparks for you in the comments!

Yesterday, I lost my godmother to her long battle with Alzheimer's disease. I've also lost my mother and both grandmothers to complications from Alzheimer's. Beyond our family, Alzheimer's has touched numerous friends and extended family members. In Louisiana alone, 94,700 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's, with over 200,000 caregivers dedicating 363 million hours of unpaid care. Orleans Parish bears the highest Alzheimer's rate in the state, at 15.4%. The Alzheimer's Association® stands at the frontline of the battle against Alzheimer's disease. Established in 1980 by dedicated family caregivers and research enthusiasts, the Association's mission encompasses three critical areas: care, support, and research. The Alzheimer's Association operates a 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900), where experts provide confidential support and information in over 200 languages. Their website, alz.org, serves as a valuable resource for those living with Alzheimer's, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Support groups and educational programs run both online and in communities nationwide, ensuring accessibility for all. In addition to my Board position with the Alzheimer's Association Louisiana Chapter, I now serve as an Advocate for the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM. Through AIM, the Association assembles and empowers advocates from across the nation to engage with elected officials. They've championed crucial legislation like the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, playing a pivotal role in increasing Alzheimer’s and dementia research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to over $3.7 billion annually. Advocacy efforts extend to the protection of individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia through initiatives like the Promoting Alzheimer’s Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act. #AlzheimersAwareness #EndAlzheimers #CaregiversSupport #AlzheimersResearch #AlzAssociation #MemoryLoss #DementiaCare #FightAlzheimers #CaregiverResources #AlzSupportGroups #HealthcareSupport #ResearchFunding #AlzheimersHelpline #EndAlz #AIM #advocacy

Join me in advocating with the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) and its crucial mission in Louisiana and across the nation! As someone who has experienced the profound impact of Alzheimer's firsthand, I'm dedicated to championing change and support for those affected by this disease. AIM, in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association® and dedicated volunteers, tirelessly fights for increased research funding and bipartisan policies that directly impact individuals living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. The numbers speak volumes: with over 6 million Americans currently grappling with Alzheimer’s and more than 11.5 million unpaid caregivers, the urgency for action is undeniable. In Louisiana alone, 92,000 individuals aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's, along with staggering numbers of family caregivers providing invaluable but often overlooked support. The financial toll is immense, with billions attributed to unpaid care and the strain on state Medicaid. These statistics underscore the pressing need for a comprehensive public health approach to alleviate the burden on families and enhance the quality of life for those navigating cognitive impairment. By joining forces with AIM and advocates nationwide, we aim to push policymakers to prioritize Alzheimer’s as a national concern. Let’s work together to make a difference and bring hope to those impacted by this relentless disease. Here's more about the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM): https://alzimpact.org Alzheimer's Association Louisiana Chapter #AIMforAlzheimers #EndAlz #AlzheimersAdvocacy #LouisianaAlzheimersStats