It's Never Over

By Karen M.

A year ago today was the last time I heard my husband say my name coherently. It was a year ago I sat with him and wondered how much longer I could go on. I thought about him struggling to speak, shuffling as he walked, wearing a catheter and briefs, starting to have trouble feeding himself and selfishly I was worried about finances and impacts on me and the kids and wondered how long it would be before Alzheimer’s Disease eventually took him. I figured I still had lots of time.

I found out the heartbreaking answer just a few days later when I got the call he was “actively passing”.

I have learned so much in the past year. I have learned about friendships. I have learned about empathy and kindness and I have also learned about selflessness and selfishness. I have learned about the kind of loss you think you understand until you actually live it. I have felt an emptiness inside of me that I didn’t know could exist or was possible. I felt a perpetual sadness that there is nothing in this world to compare to or which can lighten. The only relief is sleep, but then you wake up. Guilt is so ingrained in me I can’t remember a time it wasn’t part of my being. I have felt helpless as I watched my kids mourn their father. I have buried my husband and yet I still cry for him, long for him, ache for him and miss him. Terribly. I thought I had cried as much as possible before he died. I was wrong. My eyes now have dark eyelids and seem to be constantly swollen.

Yes, a year ago I was struggling to be a caregiver and a mother and somehow keep myself sane. Now I am struggling to recall all of the memories I am terrified of losing and a few I should probably forget. And now I face the challenge of a future alone, without Jim and starting all over. It is like being fresh out of college and trying to decide a path that will best lead me forward to whatever my future holds. My passion is Alzheimer’s Advocacy and education. That is what I do best and I what I want to do. It just doesn’t pay all the bills.

I look at photos and watch videos. I see our love and our excitement together. I see our hopefulness in a future laid out before us. I see Jim as the disease progresses and it all triggers the same feelings that crept in each time he showed how much he was changing. So I stop looking and I stop watching. Then I start to feel a void. A new guilt. Trying to move on. Trying to stop the pain and misery. And I go back to the darkness. There are good moments. The kids and some friends have made sure of this. But there is always that nagging feeling that something just isn’t as it is supposed to be. Something always seems to be missing….

And yet, we were lucky. Most Alzheimer’s patients aren’t able to communicate so late in the game. They usually can’t remember the loved ones who visit or care for them. A year ago Jim said my name. He knew his name. He still wanted to watch the kids play ball (another regret which equals guilt: not taking him because I was worried about the cold….if I had only known) and he could still hug me and tell me he loved me. He loved me. To have had someone intimately know you and still love you with the intensity and the depth that man did me is something you just don’t get over. It is rare, it is special and I cannot express my sorrow for no longer having that kind of support and unwavering adoration. It only comes along once in a lifetime and there have been moments I wonder what I have to look forward to. It seems it will all be a wash from here on out. Yes, we were so lucky in so many ways. The support from our community. The friends who rallied round. The strength we gave each other. But here I am a year later and I am just as lost as I was on that fateful day I got that dreaded call.

I have the kids to watch grow and to parent and to comfort along the way. But what am I supposed to say as they watch their friends interact with their Dads and my children don’t have one? They had a great one and he wanted nothing more than to live long enough to be there for their childhoods and young adult lives. That was the one thing that would make him tear up and cry. Losing his children. Them losing him. Jim was such an amazing man and even better father, it is such a loss for them on so many, many levels. I can only fill in so much. He was so handy and smart and funny and witty and dropped everything to do something with them. They are sadly missing out.

I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t keep him from falling victim to this terrible death. I know it wasn’t my fault, but as anyone who has cared for and loved someone who has lost a battle to a disease they fought against with all their being, there is guilt which never strays far away. And there is guilt for not knowing what was just around the corner. And guilt for losing patience. And guilt for not fulfilling bucket lists and guilt for worrying about the wrong things and not having the right conversation at the right time and not being ready and not knowing that the very conversation you are recording and taking for granted would be the last. For falling asleep when you should have been awake, even if it was 4 am. For letting go but wanting deep down inside to hold on forever. Being in a hurry to get home to fix dinner, or do the laundry or relax….there is plenty of time later. But then you don’t really feel like it and there are few dinners that are made and even fewer that taste good. There is no more relaxing and now you only do laundry for three. And you only cook for three. You only travel as three and only need three tickets for a show. And you now have all the “guy” chores to do and the last thing you ever feel like doing is getting out of bed and doing any of it. When you finally decide you want to do something, either the kids have plans with friends or your friends have plans with their husbands. I haven’t braved a movie solo or dinner alone. It will happen, I just haven’t yet. I will. I know I will. I have to. One day soon. It is my life. My new normal. I can go hiking by myself and travel unescorted and do whatever I want to do, just sans a partner. It takes some getting used to and I haven’t quite wrapped my head around it yet. But I will.

Mourning is a process. A long, slow process. No matter how much you want to get over it, how much time you had to prepare, how ready you thought you would be….the heart and mind aren’t always simpatico and they both run at their own leisure.

A year ago I could go visit Jim. And bring his laundry home to wash. And the kids could come with me and see him, talk to him, tell him about their day and what they were doing. They could play catch with him or sit outside in the rocking chairs. We could see his smile and know he was still with us. Even if it wasn’t the life he wanted. Even if is wasn’t quite the same Jim. And then I know I am so very selfish for wishing another day with him. I really don’t want that because he didn’t. I want the old Jim. Before the disease. The one I fell in love with. But the sick Jim, the one who left me once and for all, he taught me more than anyone ever has. He taught me grace and acceptance and tenacity and patience and the real meaning of love. He showed me each and every day. I am forever a changed woman and forever grateful.

So now I am alone with the kids and no longer have the worry of his care. Or what is coming around the bend. Or what his wishes might be. Or when will it all be over. It is never over. Alzheimer’s takes them, but leaves us with the loss and pain that sticks around for a long, long time.

Dementia Signage for the Home

FINDING STRENGTH IN CAREGIVING BY KAMARIA MOORE

Guest blogger: Kamaria Moore

Hi everyone,


My name is Kamaria Moore and I am the primary caregiver for my mother, Mary. She was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers at 58, when I was 28. She is now 59 years old and I’m 31. My mom was previously living independently in a three-story family home, but recently has been hospitalized. Doctors have been unable to determine her diagnosis, so we’re in a state of limbo where we don’t really know how long she will be there and what her functioning capacity will be afterwards. I am spending as much time with her as I can at the hospital, and I take care of all health care, living logistics, and fiscal responsibilities.


My husband and I just got married on May 7th and celebrated our honeymoon in Puerto Rico. I work for the state of Massachusetts. As difficult as it was not having my mother to assist with wedding planning, it was even more difficult not having her at my wedding because of her sudden hospitalization. The juxtaposition of one of the happiest days of my life with serious concern over my mother’s health was incredibly difficult for me, but we still managed to have an awesome time and showed her all sorts of pictures and videos afterwards.The Massachusetts/New Hampshire Alzheimer’s Association chapter has been incredibly helpful to me, and was instrumental in helping me line up initial supports when we received the diagnosis. One example was a support group for young people whose parents have early onset. I attended this group pretty regularly for about a year, but I often felt like I shouldn’t say anything because my experience was so different from everyone’s. I was the only person of color, and most people’s parents had either a husband or wife to assist in the caregiving. Because of this, their experience was mostly about enjoying their role as caregiver, and being able to enjoy the time spent with their parent. While I appreciated everyone’s shared experience, I felt like I couldn’t honestly express the difficulties I had with being a caregiver. This feeling led me to want to share my own story, which led me to this profile.


During this time, I have recognized my own strength. I have cared for both my parents off and on since 2007, and during this time have been able to obtain and keep full time employment, maintain healthy relationships with friends and family, purchase a home and get married. I am becoming someone who can balance life really well, including balancing care for mom with care for self. I’m strong enough to be there for her and know that it is ok to want my own life, although it is still something I struggle with often. I have learned that it’s okay to maintain my own life and happiness in order to be the best caregiver possible.


I’ve been able to use resources to fill in the gaps. My mom has really found a place in church so my cousins take her and it gives me a break. I’ve learned through caregiving that my strengths are logistics, so I take care of those, and my family takes care of providing her a social and emotional output. She attends an elder service day program which provides her with social interaction and support. She still maintains a few hobbies, including coloring which she is really proud to show off!


If there’s anything I hope comes from this profile, it’s that someone out there sees it and sees a reflection of themselves and their stories in it, and for just a second feels a little bit better.

  Dementia Signage for the Home

Letter From Vivian on Mother's Day

Hi, just wanted to let you know how Mom is doing, and say Happy Mother's Day. Many of you have told me this would not be easy, and boy you are so right. I look at Mom with such sadness and pity, and wish I could do more for her to make her pain go away.

Think of Mom when you say you can’t find anything to wear. It is sad for someone who had enough clothes to wear for the next 10 years and never wear the same thing twice. Now she is not able to dress herself. She was putting them on backwards or inside out. I was wondering why she didn't want to get out of her PJs, but watched her one morning,. She didn't know what to do with the clothes she had in her hands.

She wants to wear the same thing over and over again, because it is less painful to pick out something else. Now I dress her and make her look pretty. The next time you dress yourself and find something to wear, just be glad you know what to do with it and where it goes.

Think of Mom, the next time you take a nice warm bath and are enjoying it. Appreciate the fact that you’re not afraid of the water, that it feels so good to get nice and clean, and that you can get out of the tub on your own in privacy. (And that you can bathe alone.) The only time I enjoyed taking a shower with someone was when it was in a passionate moment and cleanliness was not the only thing on my mind.

My girlfriend, Jeannie, has helped me gather a lot of her clothes to donate to the people in need and to a church. We have filled 30 trash bags, and she still has more. I cried the first time I did it, but it gets easier now knowing that someone can use them. I cried, too, because I can’t fit in any of her things. She is so tiny, and I am so big.

The next time you go into a room and forget why you went there, think of Mom. She does it all the time, now! The only problem is that when we retrace our steps, we usually remember why;she doesn't.

She had more shoes than Imelda Marcos and can't wear them anymore because she can't walk without losing her balance. She sometimes sneaks in her room and puts on a pair of heels and just stands there, afraid to move. She has fallen a couple of times, but luckily she has not hurt herself. I don't know anyone that has feet small enough to wear them. If you know of someone let me know. Think of Mom the next time you put on your favorite pair of shoes and really enjoy how good they make you feel.

She is going blind in one eye, and the doctor is constantly testing her to see if she will need surgery for glaucoma. She looks for a new pair of glasses, but the ones she has are brand new. I look at her eyes, and they are so sad. She tries to cry, but her tear ducts are dry, and so no tears will come. I cry for her and have enough for the both of us. But she never sees me cry.

Think of Mom the next time you're at a dance and see a senior lady sitting and waiting to be asked. She is probably remembering when she was young like you, and burned up the floor at a ballroom somewhere, listening to a great big band, entering in jitterbug contests, a marathon, in her best dress that she can no longer fit into or is in the back in her closet of memories. Ask her to dance and give her a thrill again. It only takes the length of a song to make her happy. Mom used to go the old Sweets Ballroom in Oakland, Calif., and that is where she met my dad.

Mom asks me everyday if she can help me do something. I wish she could. She wants to wash dishes, but doesn’t know what the soap is for. If you come to my house, and you happen to see a dirty dish or glass in the cupboard, just take it out quietly and put it in the dishwasher for me for I missed that one.

Think of Mom when you want to go for a walk and then put it off because of one excuse or another. She never drove a car and loved to walk. She used to walk all over Hayward instead of taking the bus. She never asked anyone for a ride. Now she can’t walk anywhere without the aid of a walker or holding on to a wall.

Think of Mom when you remember the good times you had with your friends and family and can still laugh at the funny things you did with them, and you can still remember who they are. Even the bad, can be blessing, if you can remember it.

Enjoy the next book or magazine you read, and can remember it a day or two from now how much you liked it and how it enriched your life. Mom loves the magazines that she gets and reads the same ones over and over again. She enjoys them every time she reads them because to her, they are new stories. She’ll pick up the book ten minutes from now, and will read the same thing again. It does save money. I just hide them, and then in a week change them again.

I quit telling her or talking about the people that have died in the family because she goes through the loss each time. She still wants to visit her sister who has passed. She wants to visit her friend that died many years ago in Pennsylvania, too.

Enjoy your home and be thankful that you don’t have a mean daughter taking care of you. She keeps asking to go home because she has visited us too long. And her dog must be missing her. Your heart is where your home is, and I have broken her heart.

I hug her a lot, especially when I lose my cool and get angry because I think she doesn't want to behave. It is sad how our roles are reversed. Funny, I always wanted a child, and now I have one — and a defiant one at that. I still can’t tell when she is Mom or when ALZ takes over.

Please don't feel sorry for Mom or me. This is a choice she made; not talking to me about what to do if and when this was going to happen or preparing for her care. What would make me happy is to tell you, not to put your children through this. If at all possible, prepare yourself for when the time comes, if you are fortunate enough and foolishly want to live forever but your mind and body doesn’t want to do the same.

Write memories down or tell your children stories about yourself or your family, before you get too old and don’t remember the stories correctly. Even if your children aren’t interested now, maybe your grandchildren will want to know. Everyone has a story and yours is unique. Mom talks to people now, and tells stories about herself, but gets confused about whom she is talking about.

Mom still knows who I am, but I know that soon she won’t recognize me. Some Moms make bad choices, but who hasn’t. We live with the choices that we make. Who is to say what a good Mom is? It is up to the individual. If you are lucky enough to be a Mom (or Dad), be the best you can be. Maybe you are, only your children know. If you still have the chance, and think you need to do better, do it before it is too late. You don’t get another life to make it right.

If you have a Mom and she is healthy, be thankful if she can take care of herself. If she is ill or in a rest or convalescent home, don’t pass up the opportunity to visit and laugh with her. There might come a time when you will no longer have the chance. Hug her real tight and tell her how much you love her.

If you lost your Mom too soon, I am sorry. I just hope you had a chance to enjoy her when she was here.

I hope you miss her as much as I miss mine.

  Dementia Signage for the Home

I Miss My Sister

By Virginia F.

My older (by one year) sister, Lucyann, now 60, was diagnosed when she was 58. She was a well-liked (by peers and students) professor, a great daughter and the best sister anyone could have. She cared for my dad during the last 10 years of his life, while she was still teaching and/or working at the university, until his death about four years ago.

During the last three years, we started to notice that she was angry a lot, particularly with my Mom, for whom she had absolutely no patience. She would not go to work and claimed headaches and/or migraines. She took a lot of naps and always went to bed early. She would spend a lot of time watching TV, the same happy-ending movies or tv shows, over and over. She was a great baker, but her cakes were definitely not the same. When she stopped paying her bills, we realized something was very wrong and we convinced her to see a psychologist. To make a long story short, the psychologist ordered a lot of tests and referred her to a neurologist, and there it was -- FTD. She retired from work and applied for Social Security Disability, which was granted about 9 months later. She cannot live with my mother, and my mother cannot live alone, so we had to separate them.

My Mom lives with my brother because she cannot live by herself anymore. Social Security is not enough to cover my Mom’s bills, so we are selling her house to pay for her care. Lucy has reached the stage in which she cannot be alone either, so she spends time in Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Massachusetts where some of my siblings and I care for her. We are still figuring her out. Her diet has changed -- sweets, soda, pizza and hot dogs have become her favorite foods – so she has gained weight and we had to upgrade her wardrobe. We never know when she will agree to exercise (mainly walk), but she will always agree to go shopping or to the movies. She has lost empathy and there are absolutely no filters, especially between brain and mouth. There is no secret she is able to keep.

I miss her phone calls, advice, hugs... I miss talking to her. I can’t figure out what she is thinking when she is staring into space, and I think that she is actually unable to tell me. I hope she is somewhat happy. I hope she feels safe and cared for. I hope she feels how much we love her.

  Dementia Signage for the Home

Tips for Caregivers – Communication Techniques

“It’s not always what you say but how you say it.”

• Speak slowly and clearly
• Be aware of body language
• Use visual cues
• Approach from front
• Address by name
• Meet at eye level
• Short questions, one at a time
• Break down tasks into one step at a time
• Repeat using same wording, if that doesn’t work, rephrase
• Avoid negative statements (don’t use “don’t”)
• Allow adequate time for response
• Utilize humor
• Keep talking even if nonverbal

Communication is hard because person cannot remember things, can’t find words, difficulty understanding what is said, difficulty paying attention, remembering steps, blocking out background noise, being sensitive to touch, or tone or loudness of voice.

To Help Make Communication Easier:

• Make eye contact
• Call the person by name
• Be aware of your tone and how loud your voice is
• How you look at the person
• Body language
• Encourage 2-way communication as long as possible
• Gentle touching
• Try distracting/redirecting if communication creates problems
• Be open and agreeable even if the person is difficult to understand
• Let them make some decisions and stay involved
• Speak at eye level
• Offer simple step-by-step instructions
• Repeat instructions and allow more time for response
• Don’t talk about the person as if he or she isn’t there
• Don’t use “baby talk” or a “baby voice”
• Ask yes or no questions
• If they make a mistake say, “let’s try it this way”
• Say “please do this” instead of “don’t”
• Limit choices – do you want chicken or beef?
• Instead of asking if they’re hungry say, “dinner is ready”
• Try not to say “don’t you remember?” or “remember when”
• Use visual cues

  Dementia Signage for the Home

Sibling Relationships: Resolving Issues While Caring for Parents

Issues between brothers and sisters often seem to come to a head when a parent suddenly needs care. While siblings who have always had a healthy relationship generally find ways to work through their disagreements, many who never truly got along can find themselves frustrated, hurt and even completely estranged from one another in the end. In either scenario, objective, professional advice can be helpful for those families who are working towards conflict resolution at a time when everyone should be cooperating.

 Christine M. Valentin, a Licensed Clinical Social worker in New York and New Jersey, provided AgingCare.com with some helpful suggestions for putting an end to family feuds. Valentin owns a private counseling practice where she works with adults who are experiencing anxiety and depression related to work, relationships and family. She also specializes in counseling people who are caring for loved ones with certain medical conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prior to opening her practice, she worked with older adults and family caregivers for many years at non-profit organizations like the Jewish Association Serving the Aging, Mount Sinai's Caregiving Program, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.  CBB: Why does dysfunction seem to be so common in caregiving families?  CV: While I'm not aware of statistics that actually confirm it is widespread, I would say that some form of "family dysfunction" during the caregiving journey is almost inevitable. Caring for a loved one is a complex task that often entails making myriad decisions while also juggling financial constraints, paperwork and planning, and emotional responses. Caring for a parent in itself can be physically and emotionally demanding, and adding numerous opinions and personalities to the mix can multiply the complexities involved. This is particularly true if everyone is not on the same page regarding the care they think their parent(s) should receive.  CBB: Do you think caregiving is usually an instigating factor, or does this situation simply exacerbate a familial rift that was already present?  CV: In my experience, a family rift, dislike for one another's personality, or disapproval of each other's lifestyle choices is generally present before the caregiving duties arise. The experience tends to highlight or remind families of past conflicts and rivalries, which, in many cases, can no longer be skimmed over or avoided.  For example, a family may have always known that “Tom was Dad's favorite.” While this preferential treatment may have been accepted and politely ignored for decades, it can cause problems between the siblings, especially if Dad should begin to shower Tom with praise regardless of his contributions, while ignoring how other siblings are helping out.  CBB: Are there any common dynamics amongst caregivers that you have seen that you can comment on?  CV: A common situation that arises is when one sibling carries more responsibilities than the other(s). This typically occurs due to the primary caregiver's physical proximity to the parent, the flexibility of their schedule (whether real or perceived), and sociocultural norms and expectations within the family.  The reality is, whenever there is more than one person involved in caring for a parent, there are likely to be differing opinions on what needs to be managed, who should be handling what tasks, and when and how to intervene. If a sibling is not helping to provide hands-on care, financial assistance, emotional support or some other contribution, the sole caregiver often ends up feeling resentful, burnt out and lonely.  Common complications I have witnessed in sibling dynamics include:

• Being upset with a sibling because they are not helping out enough
• The primary caregiver not advocating for themselves or taking a stand with an older sibling because it goes against the established family dynamic
• Allowing social and cultural beliefs to dictate what roles each sibling will play in caregiving, such as the oldest male child not needing to help out as much, while the youngest female child absorbs most of the hands-on work
• Factors like childhood experiences and parenting style

How the family members interact with one another as well as each one’s current life responsibilities (career, children, relationship status, financial situation, etc.) can also have a significant impact on the level of frustration and dysfunction they experience.  Denial can cause emotional stress to spill over into how family members work and communicate with one another as well. Regardless of whether a parent simply needs help with meals and housework or they are suffering from advancing dementia, this “role reversal” forces family members to come to terms with their loved one’s mortality. This can be particularly painful for some to accept, and it is not unusual for individuals to react by lashing out and blocking or refusing to accept appropriate treatments or increasing levels of care.  CBB: How can siblings try to see one another’s perspectives or achieve better communication and understanding?  CV: There are many ways this can happen. Each one, however, is dependent on the siblings’ willingness and openness to address the issues they are facing. I suggest that family members:

• Be open to hearing one another's feelings about the caregiving situation.
• Be honest with yourself and each other when discussing the concerns each of you have about your parent(s) and their mortality.
• Focus on really listening to one another’s feelings without minimizing or discounting them.
• Respect each other’s personal opinions and points of view and be mindful of any biases or ill feelings that may be influencing your judgement and attitude.
• Be realistic about who your family members are and what they are capable of when it comes to participating in providing care.
• Recognize your limitations. Sometimes knowing when to stop trying to make someone understand is just as important as educating your sibling and advocating for them to be involved.
• Set goals for productive solutions like compromise and/or forgiveness, not “being right.”
• Have an experienced, non-partial person attend to help facilitate these discussions. Better communication and understanding can often result from having a neutral party mediate and offer an outsider’s perspective. This person can be an impartial friend, a clergy member, social worker, geriatric care manager or a mental health professional.

 CBB: What professional/therapeutic services or tactics might help mend or at least mitigate a sibling dispute?  CV: A good first step to take is to have a family meeting. Do not include the care recipient at the first meeting, but do include a trained, experienced mental health professional. Doing so can help the family gain a better understanding of everyone's feelings about the situation, as well as their expectations. It is during such consultations that families are able to hear each other out rather than letting their emotions get the best of them and closing themselves off from productive conversation. Families can also experience a sense of relief when their emotions are validated and normalized and they obtain access to helpful resources. Realizing they are not alone in how they feel and that other families experience similar issues can reduce stress and be very cathartic. Becoming aware of caring strategies to implement and potential community resources and tools they can utilize within the home can also help to lessen the burden on the family and help them arrive at a realistic solution. Sharing thoughts and resources in support groups can be especially beneficial and productive in these ways as well.  Ultimately, the goal of a family meeting is to gain a better understanding of and greater appreciation for each other's views, improve communication, and learn about strategies and tools to help with the responsibilities at hand. In some cases, having the care recipient join a subsequent session with the family can also help implement services or care plans that the family is having difficulty with. Any resistance the family may be getting from their loved one can usually be addressed during these meetings as well. If a family therapy approach is not successful, one-on-one counseling may help you learn how to deal with difficult siblings and other relatives in a healthy and productive manner.  CBB: Is there a point in time when family members must accept their differences and simply walk away?  CV: Absolutely! The point when this occurs is different for everyone since factors like history of sibling conflict, history of attempts at reconciling, and expectations of one another need to be taken into consideration. Generally speaking, siblings should detach when they feel they have made every possible effort to settle their differences and believe that the stress of getting a sibling to be on board outweighs any benefits they might bring to the table. This is a common solution for people who have narcissistic or needy siblings who use bullying, guilt and manipulation to get their way. While this can be hard to do for various reasons, it is often the best option in order to eliminate unnecessary sources of stress while caregiving.  Many people associate detachment with abandonment or feel it is a choice that indicates a lack of compassion or dedication to their loved ones. However, detaching from a family member does not mean you no longer love them or do not care about their wellbeing. Instead, you choose to create a healthy distance between the two of you, which will provide you with a buffer against their negativity, drama and other destructive tendencies.  Your sibling is responsible for their own behavior, and you are responsible for deciding how you will let their words and actions affect you. Firmly setting boundaries with your sibling is a way of taking back control over your life. This could consist of a reduction in communication, or an all-out no contact approach. Accepting that there are certain things you are incapable of changing and limiting your interactions with unhealthy, unyielding individuals will allow you to focus on your own wellbeing and providing top-notch care for your parent(s).  A healthy detachment allows you to continue caring about a sibling without enabling their bad behavior, expecting anything in return or allowing their conduct to have any impact on yours. We naturally seek approval from our family members, but this should not be the driving force behind your actions when it comes to caregiving or any other responsibilities in life.  

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7 Best FDA Approved Health Apps — An Update

 

As the mobile health industry continues to rapidly expand with no signs of slowing down, FDA regulation of health apps has evolved too.

Today, there are more than 100,000 mobile health apps on the market for Apple and android devices, with mobile health revenues projected to jump to $26 billion by 2017, according to Mobile Health Economics.

In February 2015, the FDA announced plans to review mobile medical apps that interpret data and act like medical devices. (We include examples of companies the FDA warned about this at the end of this post.)

The agency is basically making a call on the safety and effectiveness of certain apps. “Some mobile apps carry minimal risks to consumer or patients, but others can carry significant risks if they do not operate correctly. The FDA’s tailored policy protects patients while encouraging innovation,” said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., Director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in a statement.

The agency does not intend to regulate apps that track a person’s daily steps, enable patients to refill prescriptions or search medical references. Nor will they oversee the mobile devices, such as iPhones and tablets, which can run medical apps.

It’s important to know which apps are worth your precious time and money. Therefore, PYP updated our popular 2013 list of the best FDA approved health apps and devices:


AirStrip ONEAirStrip ONE evolved from a diagnostic aid that delivers patient data from medical devices, electronic medical records and patient monitors to clinicians – to a platform that enables mobile interoperability. AirStrip Technologies’ platform intends to connect clinicians with patient data and with other providers to share data and promote care collaboration.


AliveCor
AliveCor Mobile ECG turns your smartphone into an electrocardiogram by snapping on the back of an iPhone. To take cardiac measurements, a person presses the device against the skin over the heart. A new feature allows people to keep a digital journal and track their symptoms, activity and diet.


Diabetes Manager
This device captures blood-glucose information and transmits it in real-time. WellDoc’s system offers a personalized coach to help patients manage their medication and treatment. WellDoc now calls its device BlueStar, and offers a commercial model that also engages a healthcare team in the management of type 2 diabetes.


iExaminerWelch Allyn designed its iExaminer app and ophthalmoscope to help with detection of conditions like glaucoma or retinopathy of prematurity. The ophthalmoscope connects to an iPhone 4 or 4S and allows providers to store the pictures to a patient file or email and print them.


Mobile MIM
The first medical app ever offered through iTunes, MIM Software designed the Mobile MIM to share images from radiation oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroimaging and cardiac imaging. The company intends this health app to enhance physician access to image scans to help them consult with peers on challenging cases, reduce image distribution delays and share images with referring physicians, partner institutions and patients.


ResolutionMDResolutionMD diagnostic medical imaging software from Calgary Scientific allows providers to securely access patient images and reports across a single practice or large enterprise healthcare system. Providers can securely review and collaborate from web and mobile devices without downloading any sensitive data.


Triton iPad App
In March 2015, the FDA cleared the Triton iPad App for estimating blood loss during surgery. This app takes a photo of a blood collection container using an iPad camera, and then analyzes it in the cloud. In 2012, the FDA cleared the Pixel app, also from Gauss Surgical. Pixel estimates blood loss during surgery by scanning blood filled sponges in an operating room.

So there you have our recommendations for the most useful, not to mention coolest, FDA-approved health apps on the market for physicians.

Apps the FDA Snagged in the Past

In 2013, the FDA sent an official warning letter to Biosense Technologies Private Limited about their uChek Urine Analyzer. Although the app connects a smartphone to FDA cleared reagent strips, because it allows a phone to analyze the results, it’s considered a medical device.

The FDA might also block importation of a mobile device if a company doesn’t first secure 501(k) clearance. This was the case for EPI Mobile Health Solutions of Singapore, whose Bluetooth-enabled mobile ECG device the FDA prevented from entering the U.S. for nearly one year.

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