Alzheimer's Care for Our Retired Military Officers

Loved ones are in the care of one of the foremost teams in Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia care: Dr. Donald Royall, Research Director at Freedom House, and his exceptional team. Working with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Dr. Royall has developed behavioral modification therapies that have become a world-wide resource for Alzheimer's Care for more than a decade.

The Freedom House Team has sponsored studies on normal aging and Alzheimer's (AD), and drug studies directed at the treatment of AD vascular dementia and "Mild Cognitive Impairment," in partnership with the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. The Freedom House Study has followed 600 AFV residents for five years now, examining frailty, level of care and nursing home placement. These benchmarks will lead to interventions and therapies that hold the hope of greater and longer independence for patients. These therapies can then be shared with the world.

With lovely private residences and garden color, Freedom House exemplifies the approach pioneered at Air Force Village: integrating health care into a neighborhood environment. It's the antithesis of a nursing home: Freedom House is a joyous place, where pets are welcome and children play with grown-ups. Bringing the Employee Day Care Center into Freedom House is just one of the innovations Dr. Royall has established at Freedom House, enriching the lives of seniors and kids alike.

Key Findings from Recent Freedom House Research:

• Cognitive functions are more important than physical health to independence.
• Tests as simple as drawing a clock can accurately predict future health status and independence, far into the future.