Hearing Loss Linked to Nearly One-third of Dementia Cases in Older Adults- What it Means

A recent article, "Hearing loss linked to nearly one-third of dementia cases in older adults" from McKnights, references a study published on April 17, 2025, in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Let’s break down the study’s claims, assess its implications, and explore actionable steps for seniors and their families.

Analysis of the Study

The study, conducted on 2,946 older adults with a mean age of 75, found that nearly one-third (32%) of dementia cases at a "population level" could be attributed to hearing loss, as measured through audiometric testing. This figure is derived from the population attributable fraction (PAF), a statistical measure estimating the proportion of a disease (dementia, in this case) that might be prevented if a specific risk factor (hearing loss) were eliminated. 

Notably, the study found no significant association between self-reported hearing loss and dementia risk—only audiometrically confirmed hearing loss showed this link. The association was stronger in women, those over 75, and white individuals.

Does Hearing Loss "Cause" Dementia, or Contribute to Faster Onset?

The study does not claim that hearing loss directly causes dementia. Instead, it highlights a correlation, suggesting that hearing loss may contribute to dementia risk at a population level. The article and related sources  emphasize that if the relationship is causal, addressing hearing loss could potentially delay or prevent up to 32% of dementia cases. However, causality is not proven here. Several mechanisms are proposed to explain the link:

• Cognitive Load Hypothesis: Hearing loss forces the brain to expend more energy on processing sounds, leaving fewer resources for memory and cognitive functions, potentially accelerating cognitive decline.

• Social Isolation: Hearing loss can lead to social withdrawal, which is a known risk factor for dementia due to reduced cognitive stimulation.

• Brain Atrophy: Some research suggests hearing loss may cause faster brain shrinkage in areas related to memory and cognition.

The study’s language—“could be attributed to”—indicates an association, not causation. It aligns with prior research, such as the 2020 Lancet Commission on Dementia, which identified hearing loss as one of 12 modifiable risk factors, estimating it contributes to about 8% of global dementia cases.  Similarly, isolation has been associated with a 28% higher risk of developing dementia over nine years, regardless of race or ethnicity, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society This new study’s higher estimate (32%) reflects a focus on older adults with clinically significant hearing loss, but it doesn’t confirm that hearing loss directly triggers dementia. Instead, it suggests hearing loss might accelerate the onset or progression of dementia symptoms in those already at risk.

Limitations and Critical Examination

• Correlation vs. Causation: The study relies on observational data, which cannot establish causality. Other factors, like shared underlying causes (e.g., vascular issues affecting both hearing and cognition), might explain the link.

• Self-Reported vs. Audiometric Data: The lack of association with self-reported hearing loss raises questions. It could mean many older adults are unaware of their hearing loss, or that self-reports are unreliable, potentially skewing the perceived impact.

• Demographic Bias: The stronger link in women, white individuals, and those over 75 might reflect demographic differences in the study population rather than universal truths. For example, women tend to live longer, increasing their dementia risk overall.

• Interventional Evidence: While the study suggests treating hearing loss might delay dementia, it doesn’t provide direct evidence. Related research, like the 2023 ACHIEVE study, found that hearing aids slowed cognitive decline by 48% in high-risk older adults over three years, but this also isn’t definitive proof of dementia prevention.

• Meaning of "Population Level" Relationship: When a study finds a correlation "at a population level," it means the relationship between two variables (e.g., hearing loss and dementia) is observed across a large group of people, typically representing a broad population. This correlation reflects a general trend or pattern in the data when averaged over the entire group, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to every individual within that population. For example, a study might find that higher coffee consumption is correlated with increased anxiety at a population level, meaning this trend holds true when looking at the group as a whole.

• Meaning of "Individual Level" Relationship: The alternative is finding a correlation "at an individual level," where the relationship between variables is examined for specific individuals rather than the group. This approach looks at how changes in one variable correspond to changes in another for each person. For instance, a study might track an individual’s coffee intake and anxiety levels over time to see if they rise and fall together for that person.

Comparison:

• Population-level correlations are generally more reliable for understanding broad trends because they are based on larger sample sizes, which reduce the impact of outliers and individual variability. They’re useful for making generalizations about a group, but they can mask individual differences. For example, a population-level correlation might show that smoking increases lung cancer risk, but some individuals who smoke might never develop cancer due to other factors like genetics.
• Individual-level correlations can be less reliable for generalizing because they’re based on fewer data points (just one person or a small group) and are more susceptible to noise, such as random fluctuations in the data or unaccounted variables. However, they’re more precise for understanding a specific person’s experience, which can be critical in personalized medicine or tailored interventions.
• Merits of Both:  In short, population-level correlations are more reliable for broad insights but less precise for individuals, while individual-level correlations are more specific but less generalizable. The choice depends on the study’s goal—general trends versus personalized understanding.

What the Study Actually Tells Us

The study tells us that hearing loss, when confirmed through objective testing, is strongly associated with dementia risk in older adults, particularly those over 75. It estimates that addressing hearing loss could theoretically reduce population-level dementia risk by 32%, but this is a hypothetical projection, not a guaranteed outcome. The findings underscore hearing loss as a significant, modifiable risk factor, but they don’t confirm it as a direct cause of dementia. Instead, hearing loss likely interacts with other risk factors, potentially hastening the appearance of dementia symptoms in vulnerable individuals.  In making individual health decisions, it is just one of several variable that may factor in health care decisions.

Actionable Steps for Seniors

Based on the study’s findings, seniors can take proactive steps to potentially reduce their dementia risk:

• Get Regular Hearing Tests: Since the study found a link only with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss, seniors should prioritize objective hearing assessments, especially if they’re over 60, as one-third of this age group experiences hearing loss. Regular testing can catch issues early.

• Use Hearing Aids if Needed: If hearing loss is detected, using hearing aids may help. The ACHIEVE study suggests hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in high-risk individuals. Even if they don’t prevent dementia, they can improve quality of life by enhancing communication and reducing social isolation.

• Stay Socially Engaged: Hearing loss can lead to isolation, a known dementia risk factor. Seniors should maintain social connections, whether through community activities, day centers, or family interactions, to keep their brains active.

• Monitor Overall Health: Hearing loss is one of many modifiable risk factors for dementia. Seniors should also address other risks, like high cholesterol, physical inactivity, and depression, as outlined in the 2024 Lancet Commission Report, which identifies 14 such factors (action items for all 14 risk factors are outlined at the end of this article).

• Advocate for Accessibility: Hearing aids can be expensive, and access varies. Seniors should explore subsidies or programs that make hearing aids more affordable, as equitable access is crucial for widespread impact.

How Family Members Can Help

Family members can play a critical role in supporting seniors to act on this information:

• Encourage Hearing Tests: Family members can gently encourage seniors to get their hearing checked, especially if they notice signs like difficulty following conversations or frequent misunderstandings. Offering to accompany them to appointments can make the process less daunting.

• Support Hearing Aid Adoption: If hearing aids are recommended, families can help seniors adjust to them. This might involve researching affordable options, assisting with fittings, or providing emotional support, as some seniors may resist using hearing aids due to stigma or discomfort.

• Facilitate Social Interaction: Families can help combat isolation by organizing regular visits, outings, or activities that keep seniors engaged. For example, involving them in family events or community programs can provide cognitive stimulation.

• Monitor for Cognitive Changes: Since hearing loss may accelerate dementia symptoms, families should watch for early signs of cognitive decline, like memory lapses or difficulty with tasks. If noticed, they can encourage cognitive screening, as suggested by related research on falls and dementia risk.

• Advocate for Holistic Care: Families can ensure seniors see healthcare providers who take a comprehensive approach, addressing hearing loss alongside other dementia risk factors like diet, exercise, and mental health.

Conclusion

While the study highlights an important link, it’s worth questioning the narrative that hearing loss is a primary driver of dementia. The 32% PAF figure is striking, but it’s a population-level estimate, not a personal risk prediction. Other factors, like genetics or socioeconomic barriers to healthcare, might play larger roles for some individuals. Additionally, the focus on hearing loss shouldn’t overshadow other modifiable risks—like vision loss, isolation, or smoking—which also appear to contribute to dementia rates. Seniors and families should view hearing loss as one piece of a larger puzzle, addressing it within a broader strategy for brain health.

In summary, the study suggests hearing loss is a significant risk factor that may hasten dementia onset, but it doesn’t prove causation. Seniors should prioritize hearing tests and interventions like hearing aids, while families can support them through encouragement, social engagement, and advocacy for comprehensive care. This approach can potentially delay cognitive decline, though it’s not a guaranteed shield against dementia.

The 14 Risk Factors identified by Lancet

1. Ensure good quality education is available for all and encourage cognitively stimulating activities in midlife to protect cognition.
2. Make hearing aids accessible for people with hearing loss and decrease harmful noise exposure to reduce hearing loss.
3. Treat depression effectively.
4. Encourage use of helmets and head protection in contact sports and on bicycles.
5. Encourage exercise because people who participate in sport and exercise are less likely to develop dementia.
6. Reduce cigarette smoking through education, price control, and preventing smoking in public places and make smoking cessation advice accessible.
7. Prevent or reduce hypertension and maintain systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or less from age 40 years.
8. Detect and treat high LDL cholesterol from midlife.
9. Maintain a healthy weight and treat obesity as early as possible, which also helps to prevent diabetes.
10. Reduce high alcohol consumption through price control and increased awareness of levels and risks of overconsumption.
11. Prioritize age-friendly and supportive community environments and housing and reduce social isolation by facilitating participation in activities and living with others.
12. Make screening and treatment for vision loss accessible for all.
13. Reduce exposure to air pollution.
14. Considerations for People with  Dementia:

• Interventions after diagnosis help people to live well with dementia, including planning for the future. Multicomponent coping interventions for family carers and managing neuropsychiatric symptoms are important and should be person-centred.
• Neuropsychiatric symptoms should be treated, and clear evidence exists that care-coordinated multicomponent interventions are helpful. Activity interventions also reduce neuropsychiatric symptoms and are important to maintain enjoyment and purpose for people with dementia. There is no evidence for exercise as an intervention for neuropsychiatric symptoms.
• Cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine should be provided for people with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. These drugs are cheap, with relatively few side-effects; attenuate cognitive deterioration to a modest extent, with good evidence of a long-term effect; and are available in most high-income countries, although less so in low-income and middle-income countries.
• There is progress in and hope for disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease, with some trials of amyloid-β-targeting antibodies showing modest efficacy in reducing deterioration after 18 months of treatment. However, effects are small and drugs have been trialled in people with mild disease and people with few other illnesses. These treatments have been licensed in some countries but have notable side-effects, with few data about long-term effects. The expense of these treatments and the precautions that must be taken, which have resource implications for staff, scanning, and specialist blood testing, could limit their use and be challenging for health systems. We recommend that full information is shared broadly about the unknown long-term effects, the absence of data about the effects in people with multimorbidity, and the scale of efficacy and side-effects, particularly for APOE ε4 genotype carriers. We recommend that people on amyloid-β-targeting antibodies are carefully monitored.
• Cerebrospinal fluid or blood biomarkers should be used clinically only in people with dementia or cognitive impairment to help to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Biomarkers are only validated in largely White populations, limiting generalizability and raising health equity concerns.
• People with dementia who become acutely physically unwell and need to be admitted to hospital deteriorate faster cognitively than others with dementia. It is important to protect physical health and ensure that people have help if needed to ensure that they eat and drink enough and can take medication.
• COVID-19 exposed the vulnerability of people with dementia. We need to learn from this pandemic and also protect people with dementia as their lives and wellbeing, and that of their families, have been valued less than that of people without dementia.

Protecting Seniors From Alzheimer’s Cure Scams

The following is a reprint, for the reader's convenience, of an article published in  Today's Caregiver.  I thought it a timely topic since there is recent discussion of possible approval of a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, which will be addressed in a future blog post:  

Alzheimer’s disease is the health condition that many fear the most. That concern can prompt us to eat well, exercise, get regular health checkups and follow our doctors’ recommendations. However, for some older adults, the fear of the disease leads to wasting money on Alzheimer’s cure scams that at best do nothing and at worst may cause harm.

Alzheimer’s Cure Scams 

Alzheimer’s disease is the health condition that many fear the most. That concern can prompt us to eat well, exercise, get regular health checkups and follow our doctors’ recommendations. However, for some older adults, the fear of the disease leads to wasting money on Alzheimer’s cure scams that at best do nothing and at worst may cause harm.

Alzheimer's and dementia treatment scams are big business. Some manufacturers know that seniors fear Alzheimer’s and have money to spend. Seniors are also uniquely vulnerable to scams. As we age, our brains can change in ways that make us less aware when something important is happening nearby and reduce our ability to read social cues. Researchers say those brain changes can make us more vulnerable to scammers.

The good news is that the FDA is cracking down on companies that prey on people’s desperation for an Alzheimer’s cure. Earlier this year, the agency acted against makers of 58 products that claimed to treat the disease but didn’t have FDA approval or proof that they worked.

The bad news is there are still unproven products out there being sold to seniors and their family members who are desperate for some sense of hope. The FDA says in some cases, they can interact with prescription medications and harm the people who take them.

How to Protect Your Parents From Alzheimer’s Cure Scams

How can you tell if an Alzheimer’s treatment or dementia supplement is worthwhile? Here’s a checklist based on tips from the Alzheimer’s Association and the FDA.

• Does the product appear on the FDA’s Flickr account? The agency has a photo stream of products that have made unproven Alzheimer’s claims. The photos include close-ups of the products’ labels and packaging.
• Does the product claim to cure Alzheimer’s or dementia? Again, the FDA notes that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.
• Does the product claim to reverse dementia symptoms? The FDA says there’s no product or FDA-approved treatment that can stop or reverse Alzheimer’s symptoms.
• Does the product say it can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by a specific amount? The FDA says there’s no proof to back up such claims.
• Some products are marketed with vague language that is misleading, scientists say. Look for these types of statements:
• Does the product claim to be a “scientific breakthrough?” That’s a general term that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
• Does the product claim to help with lots of illnesses, not only Alzheimer’s? The FDA says you should “steer clear” of products that made broad, vague health claims.
• Does the product mention results in the lab or in animals? Those results don’t prove the treatment will help people.
• Does the product say it “may” help with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia? That means the product may or may not, and your parents may be better off saving their money.

Finally, remember that dietary supplements marketed to Alzheimer’s patients may seem legitimate because they’re available at the drugstore, but the evidence may not support dementia claims. Check the Alzheimer’s Association list of commonly recommended supplements like Omega-3 fatty acids and Ginkgo biloba to learn what they can and can’t do.

If you go through the checklist and you’re still not sure if a product is legitimate, ask their doctor. Your parent’s doctor knows which treatments and over-the-counter supplements may be helpful for your parent’s overall health. They also know which might interfere with their medications and which would be a waste of money.

Other Ways to Combat Alzheimer’s Scams

If you think your parent participated in any Alzheimer’s scams or if you suspect a product is a scam, you can report it to the FDA. Use the online form for reporting unlawful sales of medical products on the internet. You can also file a complaint with the attorney general in the state where your parents live. If your parents have taken a supplement that harmed them, you can report it to the Department of Health and Human Services. Of course, encourage your parent to talk about it with their doctor.

As with all issues concerning a senior for whom you are a caregiver, communication, and reinforcement of the message is important. My wife and I would find alternate ways of communicating a message, such as telling the senior a cautionary tale about another senior.  Being creative makes directed conversations more natural (less "preachy") and reinforces a message without emcouraging resistance.     

 

New Tool Predicts Life Expectancy of Dementia Patients

According to McKnight's Long-term Care News, nursing homes may soon have access to a newly developed tool that can accurately predict the life expectancy of dementia patients. 

Care providers are well aware of the importance of discussing the future with patients and their families and considering the needs and wishes of patients toward the end of life. Clinical guidelines also recommend incorporating information on patients’ life expectancy into clinical decisions.  Clinicians, however, encounter several barriers in this process. One of the barriers for the incorporation of patient’s life expectancy in clinical decisions is the uncertainty in predicting the actual survival probabilities. Another barrier is the difficulty of discussing prognosis with the patient. 

Researchers believe the tool could help patients and care providers better communicate about the disease and risk of death, and develop future care plans as it progresses. Timely communication about patients’ survival prognosis may enhance advance care planning and shared decision-making in dementia. 

Nearly 48% of residents in nursing homes have a diagnosis Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  “In those cases, a tool like this can be an incentive to start such a conversation, which should be held before there are too many cognitive obstacles. This conversation could be about where someone would prefer to live, at home or in other accommodation, or anything else that needs planning,” said Sara Garcia-Ptacek, a researcher at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. 

The tool uses four characteristics to predict life expectancy: sex, age, cognitive ability and comorbidity factors. Investigators tested the tool using data from more than 50,000 patients who were diagnosed with dementia between 2007 and 2015. 

Researchers found that that the tool was able to predict three-year survival following a dementia diagnoses with “good accuracy.” It also found that patients who were older, male and had lower cognitive function at diagnoses were more likely to die during that time frame.

According to the study, the observed average survival time was just more than 5 years, with 81 years being the average age for diagnosis of dementia. In comparison, the average 80-year-old person in Sweden has a life expectancy of 9 years. This average is based on the general Swedish population, which includes a significant proportion of persons with dementia, so it should be noted that average survival for persons who do not develop dementia would be expected to be even longer. The author's noted that their results are "very similar to previously reported numbers from a UK population study and fit with our current knowledge of the detrimental effect of dementia on life expectancy." 

The full citation for the original research reports is, "Survival time tool to guide care planning in people with dementia," Miriam L. Haaksma, Maria Eriksdotter, Debora Rizzuto, Jeannie-Marie S. Leoutsakos, Marcel G.M. Olde Rikkert, René J.F. Melis, Sara Garcia-Ptacek, Neurology (Dec. 2019,10.1212/WNL.0000000000008745;DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008745). 

You May Soon be Able to Test Yourself for Dementia

ID 133050929 © Nikki  Zalewski | Dreamstime.com

A new tool being developed by British researchers lets people test themselves for dementia. The new tool is promising and shows some initial success. 

The test, called “Test Your Memory,” or TYM for short, is a simple questionnaire that people can take and complete on their own. In initial trials, it is reportedly faster and more accurate than other current tests.  Researchers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge note that it has only been tried in one clinical setting, and many further studies are needed to conclusively prove  the test's efficacy. Also, the results of the questionnaire, while generally perceived as accurate and a good indicator of dementia risk, still need to be interpreted by a professional, according to the research team.

In the first trial, 540 healthy people aged 18 to 95 completed the questionnaire. As a control, researchers also asked 139 people with confirmed cases of either Alzheimer’s disease or mild dementia to take the test. The healthy cohort took about five minutes to complete the test, scoring an average of 47 points out of 50. Those with Alzheimer’s disease scored an average of 33 points, and took longer to complete to test. The exam comprises a series of word recall, verbal fluency and sentence copying questions. Interpretations of the results of the test identified 93% of those with Alzheimer’s, compared to 52% identified by the more commonly used mini-mental state examination.

Doctors at Addenbrooke note that, while the test can be an important part of identifying and diagnosis Alzheimer’s and dementia, physician evaluations and patient histories is nonetheless important. McKnight's Long-term Care News reported the existence of the test, but test results are scheduled for future publication in an upcoming issue of BMJ. 

New Alzheimer’s Vaccine Could Cut Cases In Half

Scientists at the University of Texas, Southwestern have created a DNA vaccine for Alzheimer’s.

It’s thought that the formulation could decrease cases by half.

The vaccine utilizes DNA from Alzheimer’s proteins, from which the immune system learns to fight the compounds and prevent them from collecting in the brain.

The researchers believe human trials are finally in sight.

Dr. Roger Rosenberg, Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at UTS (and also the organization’s founder), said the breakthrough is the result of many years of trial-and-error:

“[It’s] the culmination of a decade of research that has repeatedly demonstrated that this vaccine can effectively and safely target in animal models what we think may cause Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops the disease. 1 in 3 senior citizens die with it or another form of dementia. 5.7 million Americans currently suffer from the terrible condition, for which there are noted risk factors but very little treatment. By 2050, that number is expected to reach nearly 14 million.

Alzheimer's Association Launches Program to Connect Dementia Care Experts with Assisted Living Communities

According to an Alzheimer's Association press release, the Association is launching an innovative pilot program aimed at enhancing the care people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia receive in assisted living facilities. Modeled after Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) – a “telementoring” program that uses videoconferencing technology to share information – the new pilot will connect dementia care experts with leaders from assisted living communities across the country. The six-month program will combine bi-weekly presentations with interactive case studies to help enhance person-centered, high quality dementia care in community-based settings.  Go here to see a video describing how Project Echo® works. 

“The Alzheimer’s Association is excited about leveraging the ECHO model™,” said Morgan Daven, senior director, health systems, Alzheimer’s Association. “It allows us to create an ongoing dialogue between dementia care experts and those on the front lines providing care to individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Project ECHO provides not only an opportunity for dementia experts to share their insights, but also a forum to explore real case studies from the field to better address the common challenges facing communities providing dementia care.”

Project ECHO, developed by the University of New Mexico in 2003, was first used to train primary care clinicians in rural communities to treat patients with hepatitis C. Subsequent studies found that hepatitis C care provided by Project ECHO trained community providers resulted in outcomes equal to those provided by specialists at a university. Since then, the model has been used to educate providers and improve care for other complex conditions, including: HIV, tuberculosis, chronic pain, endocrinology and behavioral health disorders. This will be one of the first models used to improve quality dementia care in long-term and community-based settings.

“The ECHO model has a proven track record of success,” Daven said.  “It will enable us to disseminate the latest and greatest research and recommendations for dementia care to communities in a timely and efficient manner. Communities will be able to use this information to improve care for people living with dementia. Ultimately, we would like to expand this pilot program across the country.

The six-month pilot program will consist of 12 sixty-minute sessions. Designed specifically for leaders and staff from assisted living communities, the sessions will examine content areas put forth in the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations released earlier this year. The recommendations, developed by dementia care experts, emphasize person-centered care and are based on a comprehensive review of current evidence, best practice, and expert opinion. Key topics addressed in the sessions, include: 

• Fundamentals of person-centered dementia care
• Detection and diagnosis for nonphysicians
• Person-centered assessment and care planning
• Co-morbidities and medical management for nonphysicians
• Information, education and support needs of individuals living with dementia and caregivers
• Evidence-based nonpharmacological practices
• Progressive support for activities of daily living
• Building and supporting the workforce
• Supportive and therapeutic environments
• Interventions for transitions in care
• Evaluating person-centered practices

The Alzheimer’s Association is partnering with the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) to evaluate the initial pilot. NYAM created the first-ever evaluation toolkit and resource guide for users of the ECHO model in 2016. The evaluation will assess key areas including process, impact and sustainability. The Alzheimer’s Association will use the evaluation to inform and enhance future offerings of the program.

In addition to having ongoing engagement with dementia care leaders, pilot participants will have open access to resources provided during the program and will receive a certificate upon completion. Sixteen assisted-living facilities are participating in the initial pilot, they include: Affinity Living Group (Ahoskie House), Brandywine Living (Pennington), Brightview Senior Living (Canton), Brookdale Senior Living (Westlake, Ohio Clare Bridge Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program), The Chelsea at Tinton Falls, Forest Hills of DC/Forest Side Memory Care, Genesis Healthcare (Granite Ledges of Concord), Juniper Communities (Brookline’s Wellspring Memory Care Community), The Kendal Corporation (The Admiral at the Lake), HCR Manor Care (Arden Courts of Winter Springs), Senior Lifestyle (Liberty Heights), Senior Resource Group (Maravilla Santa Barbara), Senior Star (Dublin Assisted Living and Memory Support), Silverado (Kingwood Memory Care Community), St. Paul Elder Services Inc., and Sunrise Senior Living (Brighton Gardens of St. Charles).

The pilot program is offered free of charge to participants. Individual donors Bill and Susan Thomas and Robert and Jill Thomas are funding the assisted living pilot program.  

A companion pilot aimed at health care providers is also being launched. It will focus on resources and information relevant to clinical practice and is aimed at helping primary care clinicians not specialized in dementia care, better diagnose, care and support individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

New Law Helps Prevent Wandering of Impaired Adults and Children; Provides Aid Locating the Lost

Congress recently passed bipartisan legislation to help families locate missing loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, autism and related conditions.  Kevin and Avonte’s Law (S. 2070), named in honor of two boys with autism who perished after wandering from safety, also supports training for caregivers to prevent and respond to instances of wandering. In response to the massive search and tragic death of Avonte Oquendo in New York City, Lori McIlwain, co-founder of the National Autism Association, assisted Senator Schumer’s office in drafting legislation that would help to prevent similar cases in the future. 

The following press release was sent from the Senate Judiciary Committee:

“The feeling of dread and helplessness families must experience when a loved one with Alzheimer’s or autism goes missing is unimaginable. But when communities are empowered to lend a hand, these terrifying situations can have positive endings and even be prevented altogether. This bill, named for two boys – one from Jefferson, Iowa, and one from New York City, improves access to technologies that advance the search for missing children.  It also expands specialized training for caregivers and first responders to help prevent wandering by vulnerable individuals. I’m grateful for all of those who worked together to get this important bill on the books to honor Kevin and Avonte and prevent future tragedies,” Grassley said.

“Families and caregivers should have the support they need to keep their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, autism, and other developmental disabilities safe. This legislation will help to educate and train caregivers to prevent wandering and provide our law enforcement officers with the tools they need to help recover missing loved ones,” Klobuchar said.
“I’m pleased Kevin and Avonte’s Law will become law so we can help save lives and give families a greater peace of mind. This legislation has a deep personal meaning for me, as I was a caregiver for my grandmother during her battle with Alzheimer’s disease. I want to thank Chairman Grassley for his tireless efforts to support this law that will help families and caregivers reunite with loved ones who wander and disappear. Kevin and Avonte’s Law will truly make a difference in preventing tragedies,” Tillis said.

“Making voluntary tracking devices available to vulnerable children with autism or adults with Alzheimer’s who are at risk of wandering will help put countless families at ease. After Avonte Oquendo ran away from his school and went missing, I learned just how prevalent wandering is among children with autism and other development disorders. I am proud to have continued to speak up for those who cannot and to have co-authored this important bill, which will help Avonte Oquendo’s memory live on, while helping to prevent other children and teens with autism from going missing,” Schumer said.

Information on the introduction of this legislation is available here, a bill summary can be found here, and full text of the legislation can be found here.