July 1st kicks off National Make Difference to Children Month, an annual month-long celebration started in 2006 to spotlight the importance of guiding, helping, and supporting children as they grow and navigate the many challenges of life. This month raises awareness about the vulnerabilities children can face without the right people in their lives to guide them. 

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Since June celebrates Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, Golden Apple’s June

blog post will focus on Alzheimer’s dementia and its affects on the brain. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases (Alzheimer’s Association). Despite this, the development of Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging.

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Ryan White, a child born with hemophilia, was 13 years old when he was diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDs. He contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion in December 1984. At that time, little was known about AIDS, and there were few medical therapies available. Ryan’s doctors gave him six months to live. 

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Obesity is far more than a cosmetic concern. Obesity is a complex disease that occurs when a person develops an excess amount of body fat. Obesity differs from being overweight, which is defined by having a weight that is higher than what is considered healthy for a given height. 

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In part 2 of Golden Apple’s dementia series, we will focus on frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), often referred to as frontotemporal dementia. FTD is the result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. As a result of this damage, people may experience several symptoms, including emotional problems, difficulty communicating, unusual behaviors, difficulty with work, or trouble with walking. 

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What is the "sandwich generation", and why are they so important?

The population trend in the United States can be described as a growing generation of elderly adults who need help with personal care juxtaposed against a generation of spirited, young adults who are struggling to obtain independence and financial security. Who is caught in the middle of these two seemingly opposite points on the generational spectrum? You guessed it - the sandwich generation. 

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We have all heard of dementia, but what, exactly, is it? Do all older adults get dementia? Let's explore the answers to those questions and more in today's post.

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We live in an era where the dangers of smoking cigarettes are well-known and publicized.  We should be thankful for that because, just a few short decades prior, it was not this way. My mom and dad grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, a time when many people - including doctors - did not believe that there was a link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. 

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Service dogs (SDs), emotional support animals (ESAs), and therapy animals play powerful roles in human health and welfare. What defines a service animal? What defines an emotional support animal? What about therapy animals? These questions will be answered in the following paragraphs.

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In 1989, October was first declared as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. October is a time to acknowledge those who have survived domestic abuse and ensure that they have a voice. As such, it would be remiss of me not to discuss this sensitive topic.

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