I'm sitting here remembering the way back when. Way back when I didn't know anything about Alzheimer's. Remembering how I stayed up until 1, 2, 3 AM reading everything I could find that might help me care for my mother, Dotty.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Back in those days Dotty would get up at 7 or 7:30 in the morning, and still be up at 11 PM. So I had to do my research in the early AM.
My very first decision was that I needed to take my then 88 year old mother into the gym for some real exercise. Dotty had never been in the gym in her life.
Short version. Time to go the gym Dotty. Dotty says, I'm not going to the GD gym. Dotty in the car on the way to the gym, I'm not getting out of the car when we get there. Dotty on the way into the gym, I'll go in but I am not going to do anything. This along with some choice curse words and the usual, kiss my ass.
By the time we were into the gym, Dotty wouldn't talk to me, she wouldn't look at me, and was meaner than a junkyard dog (this did change over time).
On the way out of the gym, Dotty would be standing up taller, walking more confidently, and would be smiling. As it turned out, this was not the cure. But, the effect of the gym usually lasted a few hours before the hellishness of it all set back in. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed life during those few hours.
It didn't stop there. I became more and more determined to find the way(s) to turn those few hours into an entire day. It wasn't easy, it took years, but I did it. You can too.
I slowly but surely became convinced about how you go about doing good caregiving.
Now I am becoming convinced that while you can't stop Alzheimer's, can't prevent Alzheimer's, you can delay the onset of Alzheimer's.
Who knows, maybe you delay Alzheimer's and get lucky -- you die before it gets bad because you are older when AD strikes hard. Don't cringe at me. This is reality right now.
Pay attention to the research below, it might make a difference in your life.
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Lifelong brain-stimulating habits linked to lower Alzheimer’s protein levels
A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, provides even more reason for people to read a book or do a puzzle, and to make such activities a lifetime habit.
Brain scans revealed that people with no symptoms of Alzheimer’s who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities throughout their lives had fewer deposits of beta-amyloid, a destructive protein that is the hallmark of the disease.
While previous research has suggested that engaging in mentally stimulating activities – such as reading, writing and playing games – may help stave off Alzheimer’s later in life, this new study identifies the biological target at play. This discovery could guide future research into effective prevention strategies.
“These findings point to a new way of thinking about how cognitive engagement throughout life affects the brain,” said study principal investigator Dr. William Jagust, a professor with joint appointments at UC Berkeley’s Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, the School of Public Health and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “Rather than simply providing resistance to Alzheimer’s, brain-stimulating activities may affect a primary pathological process in the disease. This suggests that cognitive therapies could have significant disease-modifying treatment benefits if applied early enough, before symptoms appear.”
An estimated 5.4 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, but the numbers are growing as baby boomers age. Between 2000 and 2008, deaths from Alzheimer’s increased 66 percent, making it the sixth-leading killer in the country. There is currently no cure, but a draft of the first-ever National Alzheimer’s Plan, released this week, revealed that the U.S. government is aiming for effective Alzheimer’s treatments by 2025.
The new study, to be published Monday, Jan. 23, in the Archives of Neurology, puts the spotlight on amyloid – protein fibers folded into tangled plaques that accumulate in the brain. Beta-amyloid is considered the top suspect in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, so finding a way to reduce its development has become a major new direction of research.
The researchers note that the buildup of amyloid can also be influenced by genes and aging – one-third of people age 60 and over have some amyloid deposits in their brain – but how much reading and writing one does is under each individual’s control.
“This is the first time cognitive activity level has been related to amyloid buildup in the brain,” said study lead author Susan Landau, research scientist at the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and the Berkeley Lab. “Amyloid probably starts accumulating many years before symptoms appear. So it’s possible that by the time you have symptoms of Alzheimer’s, like memory problems, there is little that can be done to stop disease progression. The time for intervention may be much sooner, which is why we’re trying to identify whether lifestyle factors might be related to the earliest possible changes.”
The researchers asked 65 healthy, cognitively normal adults aged 60 and over (average age was 76) to rate how frequently they participated in such mentally engaging activities as going to the library, reading books or newspapers, and writing letters or email. The questions focused on various points in life from age 6 to the present.
The participants took part in extensive neuropsychological testing to assess memory and other cognitive functions, and received positron emission tomography (PET) scans at the Berkeley Lab using a new tracer called Pittsburgh Compound B that was developed to visualize amyloid. The results of the brain scans of healthy older individuals with various levels of lifetime cognitive activity were compared with those of 10 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 11 healthy people in their 20s.
The researchers found a significant association between higher levels of cognitive activity over a lifetime and lower levels of beta-amyloid in the PET scans. They analyzed the impact of other factors such as memory function, physical activity, self-rated memory ability, level of education and gender, and found that lifelong cognitive engagement was independently linked to amyloid deposition.
Notably, the researchers did not find a strong connection between amyloid deposition and levels of current cognitive activity alone.
“What our data suggests is that a whole lifetime of engaging in these activities has a bigger effect than being cognitively active just in older age,” said Landau.
The researchers are careful to point out that the study does not negate the benefits of kicking up brain activity in later years.
“There is no downside to cognitive activity. It can only be beneficial, even if for reasons other than reducing amyloid in the brain, including social stimulation and empowerment,” said Jagust. “And actually, cognitive activity late in life may well turn out to be beneficial for reducing amyloid. We just haven’t found that connection yet.”
Other study authors include researchers from UC San Francisco’s Memory and Aging Center and Department of Neurology, and Rush University Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago.
The National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer’s Association helped support this research.
(Pope and Laura)Our 12 year old granddaughter, Laura ask her mother if it was strange that she couldn't talk about her feelings, but she could write a story about her feelings ..... Here's the sweet story she wrote about David (her Pope).LOVE On one summer day, Anna Grace was walking to her favorite spot by the creek. When she got there, she sat under the old willow tree, which has been there for over 20 years. Anna was thinking, ever since her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, things were hard for the family.She was only three when her grandfather was diagnosed. She didn't understand it. She didn't get it. Now that she was twelve, the memories she has of him, were slipping away very slowly. As she was thinking, she saw a little wooden box.She went over to pick it up. As she did, she was aware of a tiny little voice, ever so small, calling, "Help me!" As she opened it, a boy stood up. He was five inches tall and one and a fourth wide. He had dirty blonde hair, blue eyes; he was wearing an orange t-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. "Hello, my name is Jason, what's yours?" he asked. "Anna Grace, " she said, recovering from her shock. "What are you?" Anna asked. "I'm a nymph," Jason said proudly. "Really? I've always read that nymphs.....well, look different.""Well, you can't always believe what you read, should you?" Jason asked a bit hurt. "Now, since you saved me from that wood thing..." "A box," Anna corrected...."whatever.""Would you like to make a wish?" Jason asked. "Yes, I would please" Anna said excitedly. "I wish that my grandfather didn't have Alzheimer's and that my mom won't get it and there will be no such thing as Alzheimer's!" Anna cried.Jason snapped his fingers, and it happened just like that. "Did it work?" Anna asked. "Yes," Jason said. Now, the healing of memories will take a day or so. When you ask him a question his mind should be working as if it had never stopped. Now then, off I go. Good bye Miss Anna Grace. See you next time. And just like that he vanished.(Laura) Anna ran to her house. The next day, when her mother, father, and she arrived at her grandparent's house, Anna asked everyone to follow her to grandfather's couch. She asked, "Grandfather, what is 5 x 5?" Mother looked astonished at the question, but grandfather simply said, "25". Now everyone was astonished. Then, Anna asked the question that has been nagging her for years, "Do you know us?" "Of course I do silly; you're my granddaughter, daughter, and son in law, and wife. Why are you asking me all of these questions Anna?" There were tears in mother's and grandmother's eyes. "It's a long story" Anna replied. (Pope and Laura after a swim)Oh, how I wish this were true! However, I do know that one day he will be whole again. All things sad will be gone.
A huge charade ensued – all of my mother’s experience of managing the checking account remained the same: receiving the bills into her home, and sitting down to write the checks. There was one important difference.
By Pamela R. Kelley
Alzheimer's Reading Room
My mother always kept the checkbook and ran the household accounts while she raised her family and through my parents’ retirement years. She continued to manage her money after my father died. As Alzheimer’s claimed its terrible price, she continued to control her checkbook with my sister’s assistance.
Editor Note: Lately we have been discussing crimes being perpetrated on persons living with Alzheimer's and dementia. This is a simple ingenious solution to the problem of check writing.
My sister was added as a signatory to my mother's checking account, given a financial power of attorney (POA), and took over the task of supervising the account.
Then, her anxiety over my mother’s financial vulnerability skyrocketed. She noticed things like the increasing number of checks voided out because of errors Mom made in writing out the sum.
There were suspect purchases.
Checks were written out of sequence.
Mom studied and worried and perseverated over that checking account throughout the mild stage and into the moderate of her disease. She captured my sister in ceaseless conversations about her money. She spoke to me on the phone for hours about her frustration with my sister’s intrusion into her financial privacy.
Our family eventually arrived at a solution to the problems surrounding Mom’s money obsession. Rather than staggering from one problem or battle to the next, a depleting process that occupied far too many months, the phony checkbook was born.
My sister took a box of checks from a closed account, checks bearing my mother’s name, address, and proper bank. Only the account number differed, and the sequence of checks. She substituted the dummy checks for the negotiable ones, and started a new register with my mother’s accurate current balance.
Immediately, this accomplished one important benefit. The checkbook wars between my sister and my mother ended. Now, my sister could pay the bills, reconcile the account, and keep Mom’s financial house in order – all offsite and online at my sister’s house rather than at my mother’s kitchen table.
A huge charade ensued – all of my mother’s experience of managing the checking account remained the same: receiving the bills into her home, sitting down with my sister to write the checks and enter them into the register, recording her Social Security and other deposits.
The difference was that my sister was no longer striving for accuracy. She could relax into the charade and simply be with my mother through the process, validating Mom’s decisions and actions rather than “correcting” them.
The reduced conflict was beneficial to Mom, and the lessened stress was a boon to my sister. Perseverating over money and the checkbook was much less noticeable in our daily phone calls. This simple decision – to substitute checks from a dormant account for the real McCoys – eliminated a trigger for upsets.
When my mother moved across the country to live with me, her faux checkbook came along. We continue the practice my sister established without deviation. There are fewer entries now; she’s not running a household any longer. Yet every month there are regular deposits recorded, and checks written. My mother accepts the fact that Alaska stores won’t take her “out-of-town checks” and doesn’t try to tender them. Instead, she uses cash or lets me pay. If it’s the latter, she writes me a reimbursement check from her phony account. It pleases her that she continues to control her own checking account.
The only problem we’ve had with this system occurred in the first month Mom lived with us. She’d written me a dummy check to reimburse me for an expense. I left the check on my working table, only to be discovered by my husband – a kind soul who works hard in a financial institution. He saved me the effort of having to deposit the check, taking it with him one day. I received the call from the bank later, informing me that this check wasn’t legal tender. I’d overlooked sharing the chronicle of the fake checking account with him!
My mother continues to benefit from her familiar role of controlling her own money, even though she doesn’t. She concedes that she needs my help with this. She magnanimously says,
“Honey, you can look at my book any time you want.”She’s secure. Her accessible money is safe. And there is an armistice in the checkbook war.
Pamela R. Kelley is the full-time caregiver for her mother, after serving as her long-distance caregiver for more than four years. Before her caregiving role took primacy, Ms. Kelley directed an American Bar Association-approved paralegal education program at the University of Alaska Anchorage from within UAA's Justice Center. As she transitioned to full-time caregiving, she prepared a resource manual and presented lectures on long-distance caregiving to her UAA colleagues. Over the years, she has published many articles on topics as varied as cyber-stalking and antitrust law. Ms. Kelley lives, works and writes in Anchorage, Alaska. More Insight and Advice for Caregivers
Follow You, Follow Me: A Young Family's Journey With Young-Onset Alzheimer's Disease
We all know that money does NOT buy happiness, but it DOES give you PEACE OF MIND so that you can:- Have health insurance- pay for car repairs- go to the dentist- provide heat, electrical and water to your home (and hope for no major problems)- keep the refrigerator stocked- buy medicine- make sure your children have winter jacketsAlzheimer's Disease stripped my family of a second income. I am not a single mom by choice, I don't get alimony or death benefits. I struggle each and every day just to take care of the basics. Unless you are independantly wealthy, caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's can bring you near Bankruptcy. I've never had so little in the 11 years since Mike was diagnosed and I am scared. I've instilled in my children to always "do the right thing", yet it can become a heavy load to bear when you see so many people not doing what's right, getting praise. I'm not talking friends and acquaintences. Cast of Jersey Shore - all they do is get drunk, have sex with whomever they want, and complain about work, yet they make thousands and thousands of dollars in the process.The Kardashians - one of them was on LIVE today complaining (seriously complaining)about being disappointed that she missed out on her fairy tale life. Serisouly, what exactly do those Kardashian's do that they deserve all the money they make??I don't want to be bitter, really I don't and I've gotten this far without jumping on that soapbox, but when I see my kids miss out on the basics and they have sacrificed SO MUCH and do SO MUCH more than those people ever will, I can't help but feel bitter.I feel defeated, I feel let down my our system (we had a bad experience with Social Services and Medicaid last week. We're still waiting for problems from that) and I am exhausted. I know I have some great readers and all I ask is that you say some prayers for us. I can't remember ever being this bad off and I DO BELIEVE in the pwoer of prayer.God bless you all for your love and support.
The draft describes itself as a framework structured around five ambitious goals:
Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer's Disease by 2025.
Optimize Care Quality and Efficiency.
Expand Patient and Family Support.
Enhance Public Awareness and Engagement.
Track Progress and Drive Improvement.
I have a first important question. Where is the money coming from to finance this ambitious plan?
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It is not unusual for a family to go broke while caring for a person living with Alzheimer's. This usually means Medicaid. Where is the money coming from to fund Medicaid for Alzheimer's patients? Correct me if I am wrong. Aren't we in the process of cutting funding for Medicare and Medicaid?
Does the committee know how many spouses exhaust all their savings, sell or lose their home, and end up "dead stone broke" themselves while caring for a person living with Alzheimer's?
Are we expecting them to go homeless and live under a bridge or in a tent city? Any actual plan to address this issue?
We need a real plan to keep persons living with Alzheimer's at home without bankrupting their spouses or families. Should we wait until 2025 to do this?
How did the committee arrive at the target date 2025 to "Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease"? Ouija board? Dart board? Where is the money coming from? If we can do it by 2025, what would it take to do it by 2020?
The webinar is open to readers of the Alzheimer's Reading Room, and anyone can attend via their computer.
If all goes well, you will be able to ask a question. Previously we published a podcast, The Plan to End Alzheimer's Disease by 2020. We obtained this podcast from Dr Rudy Tanzi. Rudy is a host of the webinar.
If you are little angry, and if you are looking for some answers, I suggest you attend the Cure Alzheimer's Fund webinar, and try to put in your two cents in the form of a question about treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's
Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The blog contains more than 3,261 articles with more than 402,100 links on the Internet. Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Sheri may have to ban bagels from her house permanently. Sheri stopped buying them about 4 months ago because of Bob's shall we say over use of them. She bought them for the first time last week and "Al" fell right back into eating three or so at a time, and that was after having eaten dinner 30 minutes before the bagels. :(
Mary in the garden, 2011My mom, she love the New England Patriots; they won a lot, she loves winning. She would be giddy while watching them play when she was of sound mind. Today, she isn't mentally capable to enjoy her favorite sport, American Football.I'm not a big football fan. I can take it or leave it. I don't hate it. If I had the choice to watch an episode of "Chopped" or football, I'd choose "Chopped."I visited my mom today. I restocked all her favorite treats and drinks. We went for a walk. She talked to her baby and it made my heart smile.My visit with mom was pleasant. When I was leaving, I told her I was off to work at the phone company."Ok, Dear. What time will you be home?" She asked. A question she always asked me back when I did work as an Operator. Mom remembers me working all night as an Operator."I'll be home on Tuesday at 10:30 in the morning." I answered."Ok. That's good. But why so long?" She replied"Ma! You saw the snow. There are lots of emergencies." I answered as though it was 1983 when I did work as a telephone operator for the phone company."Ok. Bring me cookies. I like those cookies you make." She said with a sweet tone in her voice.I love it when my mother shows herself.My drive home was uneventful.I arrived home.My husband was watching the game. The Patriots were fighting for a chance for a spot in the Super Bowl 2012. The Ravens were fighting for the win. I believed they were going to take it. We needed a Hail Mary.It was the end of the 3rd quarter when I sat down with a glass of wine. The Pats were winning.The Pats were losing.Fumbles.Turnovers.Interceptions."OH SHIT!"I started to feel my heart racing.The Pats MUST WIN!My closest friend, my "pen pal" from 3rd grade who now lives in San Francisco, is a 49er's fan. The 49er's had won their game and were off to the Super Bowl; who ever won the game I was watching would be the opponents. I wanted Corrine's and my teams to go head to head in the biggest game of the year, the Super Bowl! Tonight, I am the reason the Pats won. I used a Hail Mary. You are welcome, New England Patriots. I saw the look of aww on your faces.The Baltimore Ravens were giving the Pats a run for their money. I prayed out loud. I didn't care that my husband was sitting next to me, looking at me like I was a loon. I apologized to Mary for using her for such a frivolous request, but this needed to be an exception. I prayed with my heart and soul."Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the lord is with you. Blessed art though, among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, Pray for our sins, now and at the hour of our death. Amen." "Mary, I am sorry I am pray for a miracle to win this football game, but please make him miss that punt. Please Mary.... I want to have a Mayor's Bet with Corinne."Voila!The rookie for the Ravens seemed to magically choke. He missed the field goal! I saw the faces on the team that believed that they had already won. A punt that should not have been missed... did Mary goose him? Hmmmm. Yay, Mary!It was over.The Patriots won!Thank you Mary.So...Corinne...Mayor's Bet...IF the 49er's win, I will send you a bunch of live New England Lobster.WHEN the Patriots win, you send Brian and me a case of fine wine... we like it dry.Deal?
I learned that prejudice is a function of fear. I also learned that most of the agitation evidenced by Alzheimer’s patients is rooted in fear and misunderstanding.
By Max Wallack
Alzheimer's Reading Room
This past week we celebrated Martin Luther King Day. I made of point of delivering puzzles to three nursing facilities in honor of what this day has come to symbolize.
I have also applied for a college scholarship, the Martin Luther King Scholarship, which is a full college scholarship that Boston University grants to students who get good grades, but also serve society, while respecting individual differences.
Dr. Martin Luther King said,
“We may have all come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now.”
You may be wondering, by now, what any of this has to do with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia. Well, since I have been thinking about these matters all week, I have a story about Great Grams that I would like to share.
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In July of 2006, we took a family trip to Hawaii, including Great Grams. I have written about many aspects of this trip previously, but I don’t think I have ever shared the events at the airport in Honolulu as we waited for our return flight home.
As a reminder, Great Grams was about 94 at the time, and she had moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.
My family had arrived early for the flight home. We were all quite tired, since many of the events in Honolulu had involved significant episodes with Great Grams.
Suddenly, Great Grams looked up and noticed several Black individuals sitting in the same boarding area. She became very upset and clearly announced that she would not be getting on the flight that had Black people on it.
My family, including myself, was entirely taken by surprise. In fact, we were shocked beyond belief. Great Grams had lived her whole life in integrated neighborhoods. She raised her family in a Boston Housing Authority apartment. Various races were certainly nothing new to her, and we had NEVER heard her express any prejudice previously.
We weren’t sure how to handle this situation. Great Grams would always perseverate; she continued to be adamant that she was not getting on that plane. We knew reasoning would not work.
After trying various solutions, we tried something that worked. We got up and changed our seats so that we were not facing the African American individuals. Sure enough, within a few minutes, Great Grams forgot all about them.
Then, something happened that made the whole incident more vivid in my memory. Some of the young African American children from this family were running around the boarding area, playing happily. Now, many of you may remember that Great Grams loved children.
Great Grams called the children over to her and began playing with them. She commented on how cute and smart they were. She was so happy! She enjoyed playing with those children for most of an hour.
Now, I think back about how much Great Grams’s dementia taught me about prejudice. She clearly demonstrated to me that prejudice is fear in its very basic state. Great Grams had never previously exhibited prejudice, but she was a very, very fearful individual.
She was fearful of these individuals that appeared different from herself. Yet, she was very loving to the children, whom she didn’t fear.
Great Grams clearly taught me an important life lesson that day when I was ten. I learned that prejudice is a function of fear. I also learned that most of the agitation evidenced by Alzheimer’s patients is rooted in fear and misunderstanding.
This is true today for the many people in our society that shun Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Is this a case of prejudice based in fear?
Are some siblings and children of Alzheimer’s patients fearful of what they don’t understand?
Is it because Alzheimer’s patients appear different sometimes?
Do people turn away because they afraid that they may be looking at their own future? Are they afraid they won’t be capable of doing the job of the full-time caregiver, so they just don’t try at all?
Can we look deeper and see the person that is “still there?” Can we find that happy child that is still within them?
If we can overcome our fears, we will find that there remains something in there that can still be of value not only to them but to ourselves.
We all need to do this because, with the impending tsunami of Alzheimer’s disease,
we will soon all be “in the same boat".
Max Wallack is a student at Boston University Academy. His great grandmother, Gertrude, suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Max is the founder of PUZZLES TO REMEMBER. PTR is a project that provides puzzles to nursing homes and veterans institutions that care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients.
We cannot let these foxes be the spokespersons for us. We cannot let them spend all our money on bench/cure research and relatively little on psychosocial research. We cannot let them decide for us who should be the focus of their efforts and who can be ignored.
By Richard Taylor
Richard Taylor
Life can be awful. Now it has gotten worse! (Paraphrase of Woody Allen’s words and view of life)
On Watching and Hearing the Wisdom of the new Federal Committee to write a plan to plan to write a plan (now to write a draft of a plan to plan to write a plan) of how the Federal Government should lead/fund/Create the efforts of a few to “create a world without Alzheimer’s on or just before or after January 1, 2025."
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I spent the last few days watching the self-anointed leaders of the Alzheimer’s crisis take a step backwards from their own promise (a plan to write a plan) and produce a framework of a plan to write a plan). And then spend a day telling each other the framework is not enough.
Finally I had to turn it off. Enough was/is enough.
I commit to spend the remainder of my public life pointing out the fallacies, half-truths, myths, and stigmas these folks are creating and reinforcing out of one side of their mouths, while out of the other side comes their promise to undo what they persist in creating. Of course they can still suck through a straw in the middle of their mouths your support, donations, and prayers. And they can occasionally burp out a false hope or two every so often.
We cannot let these foxes be the spokespersons for us. We cannot let them spend all our money on bench/cure research and relatively little on psychosocial research. We cannot let them decide for us who should be the focus of their efforts and who can be ignored.
It's time for the chickens stand up and crow, to walk around a pick/peck. To be seen and heard.
Myths, half-truths, lies, and hoaxes are what we use as stand-ins to avoid thinking about specific individuals. True we demonize some, we lionize others. We take pity on some, and worship others. Yet everyone is someone, distinctly different and fundamentally alike as you and I are with each other. But it is easier, safer to think of classes of human beings - by sex, race, ethnicity, disease groups, etc.
If we continue to buy the lie that Alzheimer’s Disease is sole cause of the public health crisis we are dooming more than another generation to feel “left out” of the dementia discussion, of the dementia research, of the dementia support (such as it is) provided by organizations and governments.
This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
If we continue to but the hoaxes, half-truths and myths promoted by organizations and researchers that all that is need is 13 more years, lots and lots more money spent quicker, and a committee or two to watch over the assured progress we are dooming the rest of the dementia community (those with a diagnosis of probably Alzheimer’s) to a life much emptier of quality, meaning, and joy while we wait for the clouds to part and the cure pill to come tumbling down on January 1, 2025.
This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
What are we goanna do for/about the increasingly bad state of life for 10 million Americans now living with some form of dementia, and 10 more millions of their care partners? What are the research priorities? Finding answers to today’s human problems, or making up a date when there will no longer be tomorrow’s problems.
Let us stop watching this happen. There is no plan, there is no science, and there is no growing consensus outside of a relatively small group of researchers, to find a cure on or near January 1, 2025.
Let us stand up and speak out. These emperors of Alzheimer’s are not the leaders who will address the dementia public health crisis.
They stand naked together and lacking little to no support from their scientific colleagues most of whom admit we are not even close to understanding Alzheimer’s/Dementia. Remember the findings of the NIH just last year?
Now comes a committee of the one eye (bench research) to proclaim “war on Alzheimer’s.” They even tell us the date the war will be over, if only we sacrifice the quality of life of those with it, so we can concentrate our energy, donations, money, prayers of finding a cure pill so no one else will ever get it and we can finally after all who now have it die, live in a world without Alzheimer’s (but of course still filled with the other fifty or so forms of dementia).
This is wrong, wrong, wrong.
They are declaring war, to the neglect of those who in whose name they want us to fight/donate. This war, as most wars comes down to power, influence, fame, and money. Though pure of motive in most of their minds and hearts, they have simply come to believe their own hoaxes, lies, half-truths, and stigmas. These in their twisted minds justify the war.
They justify neglecting those in whose name the war is fraught, and write them off as collateral and relatively inexpensive casualties. This war is about opening up nursing home beds, saving Medicare, reducing the federal deficit. For these are the reasons/evidence they advance to justify the war.
And, yes, there are occasional warnings of “this could happen to you if you don’t do and support what we ask/need. And who is the enemy? What is the enemy? Dementia? Alzheimer’s Disease? Stigmas and hoaxes? The symptoms of the poor, suffering, soulless, dying twice barely human beings who are living with the symptoms?
Be careful not to wound them while you shoot at their symptoms. Be careful not to demonize them with your neglect of their humanity, your weapons of war which may or may not slow down, reverse, eliminate, and/or destroy the symptoms – but then again the last 15 weapons (pills) we have developed have all failed, leaving broken hearts, broken half promises, crushed hopes in the minds and hearts of care partners and their partners
.
Please, please - For your own sake, the sakes of your family, and the rest of the world – stand up and speak out. We are quickly falling further and further behind in the race they created to capture the hearts, minds, and money of politicians and citizens.
They first redefine the dementia crises with the words “The Alzheimer’s Crises.” And then they convinced others with power that they are suddenly smart enough to this time for sure truly claim the cure is just 13 years away with absolute certainty.
We all whispered to each other about how wrong this was. Wrote blogs, created petitions, made presentations to each other, fired off an occasional broad side via emails, and then we all went to bed.
They have stayed up all night, running focus groups, reinforcing fears and stigmas, lobbying for 20 years for something that was “soon to come, light at the end of the tunnel, supported by breakthroughs. Claiming, now they know what to do, how to do it, they just lack a few pennies to support their efforts.
Now they spread false hopes, reinforce stigmas, state wishes as facts – all while under the all-knowing eyes of the Executive and Legislative branches of our government.
What is each of us going to do about out this? What are some of us going to do about this? What should all of us do about this?
My caregiver that stays with my husband, Jim, when I have to be away from home told me that Jim always wants to answer the telephone while she's here. If she tries to get it, he gets angry. Occasionally strange charities call wanting donations. So, I told her to take the phone off the hook while I'm gone from now on. If she and I need to talk, we'll use our cell phones.
I still haven't decided how to solve the door problem. When anyone rings the doorbell, he invites them right into the house! Any suggestions?
Please add your advice and suggestions in the Add New Comment box under this article.
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I had the same problem that Betty is describing with the telephone. Dotty would get all confused, and often bent out of shape, when someone called and started asking her question or for money. Sometimes she would answer the phone and take a message for me. Even if she wrote it down, she would put it in an illogical place and I wouldn't see it. Ever been asked this? Why didn't you call me back?
Sometimes when I would answer the phone and tell someone we are not interested, Dotty would get bent out of shape. She would often conclude, I was up to something. Something like putting her away in a "home."
To solve this problem, the first thing I did was reduce the number of phones from five to two. One is behind my computer, the other one is in my bedroom. At first Dotty couldn't understand why we didn't get any calls. After a while she got use to it. Dotty can't her the phone ring, and she can't grab it before I get to it. Result, she no longer "gets bent out of shape". With the phone you can use this approach, out of sight, out of mind.
The next thing I did was enter our phone number into the National Do Not Call Registry. To register your phone number go here. It works and is very effective. You will stop getting calls from sales people.
You can also file a complaint, or get additional information here.
I would try disabling the doorbell and would ask friends to call before they come over. A note on the door about "no solicitation" might also help.
Sheri did it, yesterday she climbed upon that mechanical walking gadget and for 30 minutes separated her thoughts from life. This morning of course, her knees are aching and she is trying to convince herself it will be worth it.
You choose. Stress, frustration, anger, -- or -- feeling good about yourself when you accomplish your mission.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
July, 2010
A few days ago I was watching a short video made by a television station about an Alzheimer's caregiver and her mother.
They shot the video in the home of the family.
Basically, the video showed the older daughter caring for her mother who had Alzheimer's disease.
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The video was very well done. I found myself feeling an entire range of emotions as I watched. I was very happy to see that the daughter was very caring. I was also saddened as I watched and saw the feelings of sadness and frustration on the face of the daughter from time to time. Alzheimer's does that. It brings out feelings and emotions sometimes in waves.
There was one scene where the daughter wanted the mother to get up out of her chair and go to bed. The mother shook her head no, and when prompted to get up said NO. NO World.
The daughter then reached down and tried to grab her mother by the arm and pull her up. This was not in any mean, or rough way. The mother recoiled and pulled her arm away.
This reminded me that sudden movements really don't work well with my mother. Also, getting into a situation where she is digging in her heals on something is not a good thing.
You don't want to bring out the "hardheadedness" in someone with Alzheimer's. This leads to the hard NO. The NO -- where the Alzheimer's patients shows you "who is the boss".
I learned that nonverbal communication often works best with someone who has Alzheimer's disease.
Here is the way I approach similar situations.
I'll say to my mother time to get up. Often she says NO, I don't want to. I say "its time." Rule number one here, less words are better when delivering a follow-up to the word NO.
Always try and use the fewest words possible. Not "you need to get up", or "you know blah blah blah", or "if you don't blah blah blah". Skip the blah blah blah. Its too much information and can make you seem "bossy".
I say "its time". Then I hold my palm out, palm facing my mother so she can see it. At the same time, I am offering her my hand. That is the position.
If she doesn't look at my palm, I wiggle it a little bit until she looks. No words. Just the palm.
Palm open signifies a few things nonverbally. The obvious -- take my hand. The less obvious but powerful nonverbal communication -- I am receptive to you, I like you. That is right. When a person is talking to you and they open their palms out toward you -- they like you, they are receptive to you.
Point counterpoint. When a person turns their palms out they like you. Lets compare this to when a person folds their arms across their chest, what does this tell you?
It tells you they are not receptive to what you are saying, they don't like what you are saying, and it is making them uptight. The exact opposite of the offering of the palm, the crossed arms mean they are "closing you off".
Back to mom, the open palm, and offer of my hand.
When I offer the palm of my hand and stand there silent and waiting it sometimes seems like I might be standing there for a very long time.
In situations like this, time takes on a different dimension. So standing there for 20 to 30 seconds, holding your palm out might seem like an eternity. If you are not aware of this "time dimension" it is easy to get stressed or to start reacting with your mouth. Persons with Alzheimer's react to stimuli slowly, in this case the offering of the palm.
Alzheimer's World is a slow motion world.
Should it be a surprise that a person with Alzheimer's moves and reacts slowly? I don't think so. Should you allow this slow motion world to turn you "Topsy Turvy" all the time? I don't think so. But I bet it does.
You can't hurry in Alzheimer's World. You have to slow down and learn to take a few deep breaths.
Like I said, Alzheimer's World is a slow motion world and this requires you, the Alzheimer's caregiver, to learn to operate at a new speed and to learn a new kind of patience.
It isn't easy. You have to practice -- over and over and over. Or, you can continue doing the same thing over and over -- go ahead bang your head against the wall.
You can't hurry love by the way. So when you are practicing patience and the offering of the palm just think of it as another way of saying -- I love you.
You choose. Stress, frustration, anger, -- or -- feeling good about yourself when you accomplish your mission.
Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The blog contains more than 3,261 articles with more than 402,100 links on the Internet. Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.
Sheri made a silly mistake today. Bob has always made brownies, the boxed kind. Bob made some today... simple box mix . 2 eggs 1/4 cup of water 2/3 cup oil and mix. Only Sheri is not sure what "Al" did it was more like a cake batter... so Sheri thought " It's okay, it will be salvageable" Nope, what ever "Al" did it is way to soupy. Chocolate soup anyone? I know maybe "Al" will want to dip some potato wedges in it like at New Years. :)
“What America Thinks,” conducted by Harris Interactive, found that most people are not preparing for the strong possibility that they or their family members will develop Alzheimer’s, despite significant fear of the disease.
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When asked which of five major diseases they fear most, Alzheimer’s disease was second (31%) behind cancer (41%), but far ahead of heart disease (8%), stroke (8%) and diabetes (6%).
The survey was conducted by telephone with 1,007 adults in September 2010; it follows similar research from 2006, the year of the 20th MetLife Foundation awards presentation.
The current study found:
44 percent of adults have family members or friends with Alzheimer’s disease.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of adults are extremely or very concerned that they may someday provide care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, an increase from 18% in 2006.
Only 18 percent of adults say they have made any plans for the possibility of getting Alzheimer’s disease, compared to 12 percent in 2006. Fewer than half of all adults claim to have talked to their families about Alzheimer’s disease (41%).
Thirty-three percent have considered what care options would be available to them in the event of AD; 44 percent have designated who would take care of them. Slightly more than one in five (21%) adults claims to have made any financial arrangement for the possibility of AD onset.
Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an X Wall Street executive turned full time Alzheimer's caregiver. The blog contains more than 3,310 articles with more than 397,100 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.
It is amazing the interest it (Life Map) creates with most of the Carers.
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Jocelyn Delaney wrote:
Jocelyn Delaney
As I mentioned in a previous post, Paul has a Life Map on his wall, along with lots of other photos.
The Life Map shows the names of our children, his siblings, major events in his life, the schools he went to. It is very well done.
I provided the information but the Home that he is in filled it out and provided relevant pictures, even to a flag of Papua New Guinea where we spent 2 years as volunteers back in the 80's.
It is amazing the interest it creates with 'most' of the Carers. It also makes them realise that Paul has led an interesting life and has not always been the way he is now.Sounds like a very good idea to me. Thanks Jocelyn.
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This is a bit different than the Life Map Jocelyn is describing.
Step One:
Gather magazines and catalogues.
Step Two:
Go through the magazines and catalogues and pull out images, words and phrases that speak to you or evoke feelings.
Step Three:
Cut out these images and words.
Step Four:
Place your words and images on a large board in an way that feels right to you.
Step Five:
Paste the images on the board.
Step Six:
Review your Life Map and ask yourself the following questions:
What have I learned about myself from looking at my Life Map?
Do I see any patterns?
Does anything on my Life Map surprise me?
If I knew that all of the images and this Life Map would come in to my life, would I be OK with that?
Who do I need to become in order to fulfill the intentions on my Life Map?
Based on my Life Map, what quality will I commit to developing this year?
A long time ago Dad made me a lovely pine jewelry box. The sides were all dove tailed together. The lid had a beaded edge. The surface was shaved and sanded smooth. It was my jewelry box for many years.After Dad died his body was cremated. His ashes were returned to us in an over-sized waxed paper take-out container, wire handle and everything, like a gallon size serving of General Tsao's Chicken. I thought Dad's remains were better suited to my jewelry box.My brother transferred the ashes and glued the lid closed. He later told me about all the wonderful things he found in there. (I'll spare you the details.) Dad's ashes and my jewelry box are forever together in the family plot. While cleaning out Mom's house I found another wooden box that my father had made. This one was similar to my jewelry box, but was not completed. It still needed more sanding and finishing. When I opened up the unfinished box I saw a note. In Mom's handwriting it said "For my ashes." Yikes!This was the only possession of Mom's where she indicated how she wanted it to be passed along. I had asked her for many years to put labels on her furniture. If she knew that one of the grandchildren wanted this rocking chair or if that cousin wanted that dresser then she'd better label it. How else would I know? I didn't want to be in the middle of family squabbles about furniture. But she never labeled anything. While cleaning out Mom's house I found a little blue gift box, the kind of box that might have held a scented candle. It was heavy and rattled. When I opened it up I spilled some of the contents on me and the floor. These were Dad's ashes. What were they doing here? I guess Mom had set aside some before we interred the rest. This little blue box is now on my bookcase beside the AMC White Mountain Guide and the little gold box of cat's ashes. ...and to dust you shall return
Sheri is fascinated by the fact that sometimes Bob can articulate the problems he sees in his demented friends at "work" without any insight to the reality that he is in fact behaving the exact same way.
I watch the moon on these crisp and clear winter nights as it wanes and waxes just as I have watched it during all of the seasons. For me, though, it is most beautiful during the fall when it appears to be closer to the earth than at any other time. In reality it isn’t, it just looks that way.
The Harvest Moon as they refer to its splendor is almost frightening when it’s full, appearing bigger than life, as it peeks up over the hills east from where we live. For years, at first sighting whether by me or Ken one would nudge the other excitedly saying, “Oh, look at the moon. It’s so magnificent!” It was as though if we didn’t stop what we were doing and look right then and there the other would miss it all together – as if neither of us had ever seen the moon before.
It’s understandable why the ancients of long ago were frightened of what they saw in the skies; why they had moon gods and superstitions, worshipping and fearing what they could not comprehend. The moon itself with its many changes would be awesome enough, but imagine what terror was evoked when something unknown changed the appearance of their moon.
Ken and I have property in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where we were able to spend some wonderful times several years ago before Alzheimer’s spread its destruction across his brain. A lunar eclipse had been announced, but because of fog we wouldn’t be able to see it in the San Francisco Bay Area. Not to matter, we had already planned to spend those days on the property and looked forward to the heavenly show.
Taking our folding chairs and flashlights from the trailer we walked up to the top of the hill as darkness fell and the telling hour approached. Facing eastward we waited longer than we had expected to see some sign of the moon. Nothing was happening. Had the fog followed us to the foothills? Looking straight up, directly overhead, we found the heavens filled with bright, sparkling stars and yet there was no moon. Had the universe canceled the show? Finally common sense prevailed and we stood up and moved to the right of where we had been sitting. There it was in all of its celestial glory: the lunar eclipse. Much to our chagrin we had been sitting behind a tree – a distant tree – but a tree nonetheless that reached skyward into the blackness just enough to block our vision.
“Wow!” was the word, spectacular beyond description. We had lived so many years under hazy skies and city lights such sights had long eluded us. We spoke of the Indians who had lived here so many years before and wondered what they thought of such a phenomenal happening. It would have been beyond frightening without knowledge, and having only mystical beliefs they could know little of their moon-god and that Mother Earth could produce a shadow.
I wonder if it would frighten Ken if he saw an eclipse tonight, or is his thinking so far gone that even the moon itself is unknown to him. I wonder if he remembers the sun or the stars, the heavens or the universe. Does he grasp feeling heat or cold, light or darkness – even day or night? Would he know of things once held dear to his heart: the ocean’s roar, the cry of a gull, the wind coming in from the sea, the feel of damp sand beneath his bare feet or the wetness of a lacy edged wave spilling over his toes? I wonder if he remembers our four seasons with the moon.
It was under a spring moon that we met, falling in love among the stars and moon of summer, a solitaire diamond offered in the brilliance of fall’s golden moon, and we married as winter’s pale moon slipped away behind storm-leaden clouds.
We looked out from our window into a gray day watching the rain and wind banter with the last few leaves hanging on skeletal trees in a nearby grove, and I thought of my new husband while promising me, “I’ll remember you in winter.” And now I look up at the soft moon remembering him – us — January. Perhaps, somewhere deep in Ken’s lost mind and crippled neurons a memory flickers – and then again — perhaps not — but more importantly I want him to know deep in his soul that he knew love and is loved – still. Happy Anniversary Ken. January 21.
Resveratrol is derived from plants and is found in highest levels in red wine and the skin of red grapes. A recent study reported that monthly and weekly consumption of red wine is associated with a lower risk of dementia.
Alzheimer's Reading Room
There is compelling evidence that caloric restriction can improve overall health by activating a class of enzymes known as Sirtuins.
Resveratrol is a substance found in some plants that directly activates sirtuins, mimicking the effects of caloric restriction and may affect regulatory pathways of diseases of aging, including Alzheimer's disease (AD).
In this study, people with AD will be given either Resveratrol or placebo for 12 months to determine whether daily resveratrol therapy is beneficial in delaying or altering the deterioration of memory and daily functioning.
Subjects age 50 and above with a diagnosis of probable AD may qualify for participation in this study. A small group of 15 participants will be asked to take part in a more detailed 24-hour Pharmacokinetic (PK) sub-study that will measure resveratrol levels over a 24 hour period.
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This Phase 2 clinical trial is currently scheduled to open in April. There are only 120 available slots.
Right now, there is no location listed for Delray Beach. There are 26 locations listed around the United States. See the list of locations here.
If the clinical trial were available, I would be calling right now to see if they were taking appointments. This is what you should do if you are interested.
This double blind, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted at approximately 26 Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) clinical centers.
One hundred twenty (120) patients with mild to moderate dementia due to probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) will be randomly assigned to treatment (1:1) with resveratrol starting at 500 mg once daily or matching placebo, increasing at 13 week intervals to a maximum of 1 gram twice daily (divided into two 500 mg capsules taken orally) taken with or without food.
Participants will be treated for 52 weeks, and will undergo venous blood draws for biomarker analysis at Baseline and at 52 weeks; participants will also undergo two lumbar punctures for biomarker analyses of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at Baseline and at Week 52.
Participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure rate of whole-brain and regional atrophy at Screening, Week 13 and Week 52 visits. Randomization will be stratified by site.
For monitoring of potential toxicities of the study drug - particularly nephrotoxicity - subjects will undergo physical examination, neurological examination, adverse event review, blood chemistries to include blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine (Cr), pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses for resveratrol and its metabolites, and urinalysis every 6-7 weeks during the study. Clinical, Cognitive and Functional effects of resveratrol and insulin and glucose metabolism will also be assessed.
A subgroup of approximately 15 subjects enrolled will be randomized 4:1 (N = 15, 12 treated + 3 placebo) for more detailed 24-hour PK analysis. For these individuals, blood samples will be collected at 15 different time points. Measurements will include levels of resveratrol and its major metabolites (sulfated- and glucuronidated-resveratrol). These subjects will complete the detailed PK with each dosage step. This 24-hour PK sampling in the subgroup will occur after the first dose following Baseline, after the first dose at each dose increment (Weeks 13, 26 and 39), and after the final dose (Week 52).
Enrollment will be restricted to individuals who are able to abstain from ingesting large quantities of resveratrol-containing foods (including red wine). 1-2 glasses of red wine or red grape juice and 1 serving of red grapes daily is acceptable. Subjects must also be able to abstain from ingesting herbal/natural preparations or dietary supplements containing resveratrol.
Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The blog contains more than 3,261 articles with more than 402,100 links on the Internet. Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
Wandering. It's one of the biggest problems with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It endangers the person with Alzheimer's disease. And it also causes major stress for caregivers.
Alzheimer's Reading Room
This is a good idea and does look interesting.
However, at the risk of being a jerk, those people in the video didn't remind me of Dotty and me. They are so well dressed and happy. Do they remind you of you? Maybe Ward and June Cleaver?
On the other hand, I must admit, as hokey as this video is, I did find myself smiling and feeling happy near the end. I have to figure they did a good job on the video. Your thoughts?
Breadcrumb is designed to "meet the specific needs of families dealing with the Alzheimer's disease and the serious, life-threatening issue of wandering- which, experts say, occurs in 60% of cases of Alzheimer's disease at some point during the disease progression."
Alzheimer's Foundation of America and Breadcrumb Introduce State-of-the-Art GPS Locator Device to Help Track Wanderers
Directly addressing the major—and life-threatening—issue of wandering among individuals with Alzheimer's disease, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) and Breadcrumb L.L.C. today announced the roll-out of a state-of-the-art locator device and caregiver-friendly monitoring system. This innovative new tracking device is designed specifically for the dementia population and aimed at immediately and precisely pinpointing a person's whereabouts.
The partners are scheduled to launch the Breadcrumb BC300 GPS Locating Device (QVC Item #V31691) on QVC January 20 at 1 p.m. (ET). It will be the first Alzheimer's-specific product offered through the leading multimedia retailer. The system is complete with an adapter, charging station, USB cable, rechargeable batteries, attachment bands, and an instructional DVD.
As one of the smallest, most-lightweight and highly affordable tracking devices on the market, the BC300 is strapped comfortably around a person's ankle with a heavy-duty band. Designed with the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mind, including memory loss, confusion and other cognitive loss, the device is not dependent on the user's activation.
Utilizing a global positioning system (GPS) and cellular technology that receives signals from satellites, the device continuously maps a person's precise location and provides a "breadcrumb trail" of the exact route. Caregivers can access the wearer's real-time whereabouts around-the-clock on a Google map via an Internet-connected computer and/or smartphones.
The BC300 system works by setting up a virtual fence, or geofence, around a person's residence and/or other locations, such as a relative's home or an adult day center, and sends an alert when the wearer leaves that zone.
Using a protocol developed in collaboration with AFA, experienced operators at Breadcrumb's customer care center will also have the ability to obtain vital information about wearers, monitor the system 24/7 and alert up to five designated caregivers or others via phone, e-mail or text when a person has become lost. Local authorities will be notified when necessary.
According to experts, every person with dementia who can walk is at risk of becoming lost and faces a 61 percent risk of death if not found within the first 24 hours.
"The BC300 is an exciting, proactive solution to one of the most challenging behaviors among people with Alzheimer's disease," said Eric J. Hall, AFA's president and CEO. "Its unique features are designed specifically for this vulnerable population, to serve as a virtual 'watchdog' for caregivers and help protect the safety of loved ones. It's all about quality of care and ultimately quality of life for potential wanderers and caregivers."
According to Sam Mancuso, Breadcrumb's CEO, the device relies on technology that Breadcrumb developed and effectively utilizes for other types of situations, including war zones overseas. Breadcrumb and AFA have been working together on tailoring it for Alzheimer's disease for more than two years.
"This breakthrough device advances our technology and practically applies it for individuals with Alzheimer's disease. This powerful combination of technology and customer care marks a new generation of locator systems that offers peace of mind to families," Mancuso said.
AFA and Breadcrumb are unveiling the locator as the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is skyrocketing, fueled by the large number of baby boomers who are turning 65 each day and, as a result, are facing a higher risk of the brain disease. Advanced age is the greatest known risk factor.
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America, based in New York, is a national nonprofit organization that unites more than 1,600 member organizations nationwide with the goal of providing optimal care and services to individuals with dementia, their caregivers and families. Its services include counseling and referrals by licensed social workers via a toll-free hot line, e-mail, Skype and live chat; educational materials; a free quarterly magazine for caregivers; and professional training. For more information about AFA, call toll-free 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.
Breadcrumb LLC, Southfield, MI, is a global leader in Location Based Services (LBS) that specializes in providing locating and wireless services to address four industry vertical markets: Alzheimer's and dementia wandering solution, senior phones with mobile personal emergency response and SOS protection, smartphone family locator app, and security and corporate location services for executive protection, global workforce and asset tracking. Its services include 24/7 customer care offerings. For more information about Breadcrumb, call toll-free 888-708-3604 or visit www.breadcrumbgps.com.
I often marvel at the strong attachment Alzheimer's caregivers have with each other. They start to stick to each other like glue. This stickiness is a result of the strong aroma that each Alzheimer's caregiver emits.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Alzheimer's caregivers are different. We are.
Alzheimer's caregivers change. We change as we come to understand the importance of our mission. We grow emotionally, and we evolve.
I believe Alzheimer's caregiver receive a call. The reason behind the call is often elusive, hard to understand, and difficult to discover.
Why me? Why Alzheimer's?
Regardless, the majority of us answer the call. We are the ONE.
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The reason for this call varies by person.
Maybe it is as simple as learning how to be patient. Or maybe its more complex, like learning how to love.
Each Alzheimer's caregiver has a starting point. Some Alzheimer's caregivers rise to the task at hand as seamlessly as the sun coming up in the morning. Some come kicking and screaming -- lamenting their own sad and uncertain fate.
In most cases, I learned that Alzheimer's caregivers have a strong and deep desire to care.
It is my belief that "the deep" is embedded within each of us. It is there and awaiting the call to action.
I watch, right here on this blog, as each person rises to the occasion. This happens, for the most part, regardless of starting point.
Alzheimer's caregivers develop a strong attachment with each other. We understand. We know what it is like to live the life of an Alzheimer's caregivers.
I often marvel at the strong attachment Alzheimer's caregivers have with each other. They start to stick to each other like glue. This stickiness is a result of the strong aroma that each Alzheimer's caregiver emits.
An aura.
The aroma of care.
This strong attachment is evidenced each and every day on the Alzheimer's Reading Room. We need each other.
Here is something else I learned. Alzheimer's caregivers are admired and respected.
In order to become an effective Alzheimer's caregiver you must allow this strong and "deep desire within" to come to the surface. To rise up, and out of you, from deep inside.
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Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. The blog contains more than 3,261 articles with more than 402,100 links on the Internet. Bob lives in Delray Beach, FL.
Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room
