Author Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 6 out of 10 adult Americans are living with at least one chronic illness, which includes conditions like Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and severe depression. While a chronic illness significantly impacts the individual, it can also be challenging for the people supporting them. Here are 5️⃣ things caregivers should keep in mind: 🗣️ Talk about it: Initiate conversations about the illness, even if it feels uncomfortable. It’s okay to feel awkward, but breaking the ice is crucial for open and honest communication. 👂 Be an active listener: Allow the person to express their needs, concerns, and experiences without judgment. Listen to understand. 🫴 Offer to help: Avoid making any assumptions by directly asking how you can support them, practically and emotionally. 🫂 Show compassion through action: Actions speak louder than words, and small gestures can make a big difference. ❤️ Prioritize self-care: Caring for someone else is important, but don't forget to take care of yourself to avoid burning out. If you’re finding it difficult to be present, understanding, or supportive of a loved one living with a chronic illness, please reach out. We’re here to help. Source: Katie Couric Media. Link in comments. #caregivers #caringforcaregivers #mentalhealth #seriousmentalillness

New research suggests insufficient and excessive sleep are both linked to an increased risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Too little sleep (less than 6 hours) disrupts the brain's ability to clear waste products like amyloid beta, which is linked to Alzheimer's. ️ Too much sleep (more than 9 hours) might be a sign of underlying issues like mental health conditions, physical health problems, or early signs of dementia. “Some of the first areas in the brain affected by Alzheimer’s are those that help regulate sleep and circadian rhythms,” reports The New York Times. “As a result, people who develop the condition may experience sleep problems even before they show signs of memory loss or other symptoms.” If you’ve noticed any dramatic changes in a loved one’s sleep patterns, it might warrant a doctor's visit. Learn more at the link below. #dementia #brainhealth #sleephealth #sleepdisruption https://lnkd.in/dhyPtMkK

For Alzheimer's treatments to be most effective, early detection is critical. Researchers at Boston University developed a new AI tool with a 78.5% accuracy rate in predicting Alzheimer's disease in people with mild cognitive impairment. This non-invasive method analyzes speech patterns to predict the disease, offering a more accessible screening option compared to traditional methods. Even though further research is needed on using this method for Alzheimer's detection, it's still promising to see a new tool that can potentially revolutionize screening, catch Alzheimer's earlier, and improve patient outcomes. #alzheimers #dementia #MCI #AI #healthcare https://lnkd.in/eGEC2Cjc

At Author Health, we understand the power of truly listening. It’s why we take the time to really understand every patient's unique life story. We listen closely to uncover the root causes of health concerns and create care plans that are personalized and effective. We're passionate about helping people achieve their best health, because we know it can be life-changing. Seeing our patients thrive is what motivates us every day. #behavioralhealthcare #behavioralhealth #patientcenteredcare #personalizedcare

New research suggests there are two key steps in the brain's natural cleaning process: pushing waste into surrounding fluids and then moving it out via the bloodstream and lymphatic system. During sleep, slow electrical waves in the brain act like pumps, pushing waste-filled brain fluids towards the surface for removal. This waste – which includes amyloid beta, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease – is then absorbed into the bloodstream and eliminated by the body.️ Although further research is needed, this new understanding of the brain's waste-clearance system could potentially pave the way for new therapies and treatments to prevent or slow neurodegenerative diseases. Learn more via NPR. #alzheimers #dementia #brainhealth https://lnkd.in/e4RY_6ys

As the daughter of a father who lived with dementia, Cornelia Channing learned many lessons. Perhaps the most important was learning that even in challenging times, there's still joy to be found. From her own experience, she offers actionable advice for people affected by dementia. 1️⃣ Humor is powerful. Finding humor and joy in the day-to-day moments, however small, can be helpful for both patients and caregivers. Even when communication is difficult, laughter can still be a great way to connect. 2️⃣ Don't be afraid to get creative. When traditional communication isn’t working, find new ways to connect like using nonverbal cues, reminiscing about shared memories, or even listening to music together. The most important part is to be patient and focus on creating a positive experience. 3️⃣ Focus on the present. Dementia steals the future, but it doesn't have to steal the present. Cherish the simple and precious moments together. Thank you, Cornelia, for sharing your story. If you’re a caregiver and need any support navigating the challenges of dementia, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help. #dementia #dementiacaregiving #caregiversupport #caringforcaregivers #brainhealth https://lnkd.in/g6sVqxbU

One year ago, Author Health announced our mission to transform health care for people living with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorders (SUD), and dementia. Thanks to the dedication of our team and the support of our partner primary care organizations, we've quickly expanded our reach beyond our initial launch and now serve Medicare Advantage patients across Florida and Texas. I'm so incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished in just one year, and there's also more work to be done. Approximately one in four Medicare recipients have a mental illness, and 40% of people in the U.S. over age 50 with serious mental illness report a lack of access to care. Author Health was born from an urgent need to address this gap and fundamentally shift how our health care system prioritizes behavioral health and preventive services. Our person-centered approach and team-based model is successfully addressing the needs of this patient population and making a significant impact on their lives. As we embark on this next chapter, our team is energized and committed to continue increasing access to high-quality mental healthcare for older adults and other vulnerable populations, and improving their health outcomes. Congratulations to the entire Author Health team on this milestone anniversary and an amazing year changing thousands of lives! #behavioralhealth #mentalhealth #valuebasedcare #vbc

We're excited to officially welcome our newest team members who share our passion for making a difference in behavioral healthcare. We're thrilled to have these amazing folks join our team! Want to be part of our growth story? We're hiring. Check out our open roles. https://lnkd.in/eVRQDgvr #behavioralhealth #mentalhealth #hiring #MHBestPlaces

Across Florida, more than 580,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, and more than 840,000 Floridians are caregivers. Earlier this month we had the opportunity to officially kick off our partnership with the Alzheimer's Association, Florida Region and connect with the broader Palm Beach community. The best opportunity for effective care, management, and treatment is early detection and diagnosis. We’re incredibly proud to partner with the Alzheimer's Association® and make a difference in the lives of thousands of Floridians. #endalz #alzheimers #dementia #dementiacare #brainhealth

✍ 🧠 Ian Chiang (Partner, Flare Capital Partners) and Alexa Morse (Flare Scholar, Class of 2022) teamed up to share their thoughts with Slice of Healthcare in a recent article, "The Next Phase Of Behavioral Health Evolution: Rise Of Behavioral Health-Focused Infrastructure-As-A-Service Innovators" It's no mystery the behavioral health space is rampant with unmet care needs across many underserved populations. Whether you know that from a first-hand experience as a patient finding it difficult to access care or by following the abundance of research & data that's been shared on the space, we have collectively seen the challenges this sector continues to face. Speaking of the data, let's look at a few stats pulled from the report: 1️⃣ Nearly 20% of US adults reported experiencing a mental illness in 2022, with over half of those adults not receiving treatment. Even among youth in the US, about 15% have reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year, with 60% not receiving any treatment. 2️⃣ According to HRSA, there are over 6,400 designated mental healthcare professional shortage areas across the United States, and nearly 8,000 mental health practitioners are needed to remove these designations. 3️⃣ Mental and behavioral health has ranked as the #1 clinical indication by venture funding between 2018 and Q1 – Q3 2023, according to Rock Health. In this article, Ian and Alexa unpack the landscape of emerging innovators tackling these issues across the Behavioral Health-Focused Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) market — from provider staffing platforms to novel biomarkers & monitoring tools to patient engagement & outreach startups. Check out the full article below to read Ian and Alexa's thoughts on how they expect these categories to evolve in the future. Thank you, Slice of Healthcare, for the publication! P.S. A special shoutout to our Flare Capital colleagues, Ben Hall (SVP of Product & Technology, Author Health), Danish M. (Founding Partner, GreyMatter), Katherine Hobbs, MD MPH (CEO, Author Health), Nicoletta “Nicki” Tessler, Psy.D., M.B.A. (CEO & Co-Founder, BeMe Health) for their contributions to the article! 🌟 👉 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gKtw_JcD