CareGiver Reading Room

Links for 2012-01-27 [Digg]

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The Best Alzheimer's Caregiver Tool of Them All, Harvey
It’s our intimate knowledge of our loved one’s traits that lead us sometimes to dismiss ideas others offer for ways to enhance daily living with Alzheimer’s in the house. After all, we know what they’re like. That’s how I explain my long delay in trying one of those repeating parrots, like Pete and Harvey. I had listened to the amazing interplay between Dotty and Harvey, and I’d watched the video clips. But I put the idea on the back burner because it simply didn’t seem like something my mother, Audrey, would enjoy.

Links for 2012-01-26 [Digg]

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

NY Times -- The Alzheimer's Reading Room
Bob DeMarco blogs about the day-to-day experiences of caring for his mother with Alzheimer's in the Alzheimer's Reading Room.
Alzheimer's and the Thyroid Revisited
Experiencing forgetfulness, weight gain, depression, dry skin, intolerance to cold, muscle aches, or fatigue? You could be suffering from hypothyroidism.....

Links for 2012-01-24 [Digg]

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Thoughts From a Person with Dementia -- Can You See ME?
I am sitting here with my eyes open, though you speak as if I am not here. I am here! Can't you see me? I AM still in here! More....

Links for 2012-01-23 [Digg]

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents – And Ourselves
The ten pages of resource materials at the end are pure gold.

Links for 2012-01-22 [Digg]

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Bill O'Brien Statement on the Passing of Joe Paterno
There are no words to express my respect for him as a man and as a coach.

Links for 2012-01-21 [Digg]

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

Resveratrol for Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trial
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.

Links for 2012-01-20 [Digg]

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 PST

The Sweet Aroma of Alzheimer's Care
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?
Dr OZ The Most Revolutionary Show Ever? An Alzheimer's Breakthrough?
Are nitrosamines a root cause of Alzheimer’s? Did you kown that nitrosamines contaminate many processed foods, including fish, cheeses, hotdogs, ground beef, smoked meats like bacon, smoked turkey and ham, and beer? Laboratory experiments are showing that limited exposures to nitrosamines (the type found in food) can cause Alzheimer’s-type brain degeneration, dementia, diabetes, fatty liver disease and obesity. Could your diet cause Alzheimer’s? Learn the revolutionary new breakthrough that may help you prevent or even reverse this disease as seen on the Dr Oz show.

Maria Shriver : A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:39:00 +0000

This is important to families that have been touched by Alzheimer's disease.

Amplify’d from www.alzheimersreadingroom.com

A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's is an in-depth look at women and Alzheimer's with Maria Shriver and Ann O'Leary (Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress)....

Alzheimer’s is an epidemic. Every minute or so someone in this country will develop Alzheimer’s. Millions of people already have been formally diagnosed. Millions more are undiagnosed—or diagnosed with some form of dementia that could actually be Alzheimer’s. And with the 78 million baby boomers now moving into their later years, the cost of Alzheimer’s to American society is expected to be $20 trillion between now and the year 2050. That’s right—$20 trillion.

There’s no doubt about it. We are in the midst of a national emergency, and we’re woefully unprepared.

I am please to say that Maria Shriver described herself as an Alzheimer's Activist in the video below. Nothing is going to change if we sit back. We all need to become activists in the effort to increase research funding and care funding for Alzheimer's disease.

Watch the Video at the Alzheimer's Reading Room

White House Conference on the Challenge of Alzheimer's Disease in the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:32:00 +0000

The information contained in the video is valuable and important. This presentation leaves no doubt that Alzheimer's disease is a threat to our citizens, and a threat to the financial well being of our nation.

From the White House Blog:

The Obama Administration is committed to strengthening our nation’s response to Alzheimer's disease and this meeting was a serious effort to better understand the challenges and opportunities available to us.

For more information on Alzheimer's disease visit the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Reading, Engaging, and Communicating with an Alzheimer's Patient (Podcast)

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:20:00 +0000

By Bob DeMarco

Take the extra step. Walk the extra yard. Engage. Keep on living. Don’t be afraid to try things. Do things that you have always done together. Don’t let anyone discourage you or get in your way.

Make your own parade and have fun.

Click the button above to listen. If you don't see the podcast button go here. You are welcome to comment, share or embed this podcast.

If you would like to hear my Alzheimer's patient, Dotty, read and interact with me -- go here.

More About the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Alzheimer's Caregivers Advice and Insight (20 articles)

Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)

Alzheimer's Disease Statistics

What is Alzheimer's?

Alzheimer's and Driving

Alzheimer's Caregiving Dealing with Behavior

Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,690 articles with more than 70,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Dotty Wakes Up Tired but in a Good Mood (Audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:10:00 +0000

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Front Row

My name is Bob DeMarco, I am an Alzheimer's caregiver. My mother Dorothy, now 94 years old, has Alzheimer's disease.

Listen to Dotty in the morning.

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

The Alzheimer's Action Plan

300 Tips for Making Life Easier

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,810 articles with more than 88,600 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Alzheimer's World -- Nonverbal Communication and the Dimensions of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:13:00 +0000

By Bob DeMarco

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.

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.

Alzheimer's 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 all warm and fuzzy inside when you accomplish your mission.

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

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Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)

Communicating in Alzheimer's World

Is it Really Alzheimer's or Something Else?

Ten Symptoms of Early Stage Alzheimer's

Ten Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer’s Patient

Communications in Alzheimer's World

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:56:00 +0000

The most important part of the equation is understanding that something has to change and that something is you.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

In order to communicate effectively with someone suffering from Alzheimer's you need to learn an entirely new way to communicate. Sound easy? It isn't.

We all develop certain patterns of communication over the course of our life. This is the way we communicate.

Most of you probably know a family filled with hot blooded Italians. You might observe them fighting or arguing all the time. You might also notice that they do this, and then almost immediately they shrug it off, acting as if nothing had happen. I suspect this kind of behavior goes across ethnic boundaries.

During the course of your life, you might have learned to correct someone when they say something that is not true. Or, correct them when they get their facts mixed up.

If someone says something mean to you it is likely that you get angry. It wouldn't be unusual for a person to respond to meanness by saying something mean or nasty. You would probably end up apologizing for your behavior and this would defuse the conflict and bad feelings. Make things all better.

You learned all these communication behaviors over the course of your entire life. They are embedded in your personality.

Then Alzheimer's disease comes into your life.

Alzheimer's is a brand new World. It is not your world, and even though you live part of your life in this world, if you had a choice you wouldn't.

When you are the ONE you don't have the choice of leaving Alzheimer's world and going to another place. The reality is clear. You are going to spend years, maybe many years of your life, where a certain fraction of your time -- minutes, hours and days -- are spent in Alzheimer's world.

Many of the communication skills and behaviors that you learned in the world outside Alzheimer's world won't work in Alzheimer's world. In fact, the same communication skills and behaviors that allowed you to make sense of the world around you over the course of your life, will make your life in Alzheimer's world worse.

In order to communicate effectively in Alzheimer's world you need to change. The first thing you need to do is start listening. Listen to the person when they repeat themselves or say something mean. Look at their face. In what context are they repeating themselves? Is it when they sit in a certain chair? At a certain time or period during the day? Pay very close attention to the time of day, or the day of the week that these behaviors are occurring. See if you can discern a pattern.

If you can start anticipating the behavior of someone suffering from Alzheimer's then you will soon learn that when the behavior happens it won't seem so disconcerting.

When you finally learn to anticipate certain behaviors, to anticipate behaviors, you might find that instead of driving you crazy these behaviors might in fact become another part of your day.

Your day in Alzheimer's world.

This is only one example. The point today is simple. Once you come to a realization that there is a new world called Alzheimer's world you might finally be able to accept it as part of your life.

Once you accept Alzheimer's world as part of your life, you'll start to have a very different view of the behaviors. You will expect and anticipate these behaviors. Alzheimer's behavior will become a natural part of your life. Not a foreign part of your life.

Understanding that something needs to change is a first step. Understanding that the person suffering from Alzheimer's disease can't and won't change is one part of the equation.

The most important part of the equation is understanding that something has to change and that something is you.

Change is always difficult. In this case made more difficult by the fact that you have been communicating in a certain way over your entire life.

Please note. You won't be changing the way you communicate with family and friends. You will be changing the way you communicate with the person suffering from Alzheimer's disease. You'll need to learn to swith gears. To move seemlessly from world to world.

This won't be easy. But if, if you do it you will change your own life and in a way that you could have never expected.

I suggest you take the time to read these two articles:

Communicating in Alzheimer's World
Alzheimer's World -- Two Circles Trying to Intersect

I'll be writing more about communication in Alzheimer's World in the weeks ahead. I'll make specific suggestions to help you reach the intersection that exists between you and the person suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

It is while in this intersection that life for both parties improves.

More About the Alzheimer's Reading Room Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (Tests)

Alzheimer's Statistics

What is Alzheimer's? What are the Eight Types of Dementia?

Alzheimer's Caregiving --Advice and Insight

Conquering Urinary Incontinence

Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients

The Alzheimer's Action Plan

300 Tips for Making Life Easier

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,400 articles with more than 9,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Ten Caregiver Tips for Communicating with an Alzheimer's Patient

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:47:00 +0000

Do not argue with them. It gets you nowhere......

By Carole Larkin
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Ever feel like your loved one is ignoring you or that you just weren’t getting through to your loved one? Try some of these tips to see if they help.

Tips for communicating with a mid-stage (or later) Alzheimer’s patient.

Make eye contact. Always approach them face-to-face and make eye contact. Use their name if you need to. It is vital that they actually see you and that their attention is focused on you. Read their eyes. Always approach from the front as approaching and speaking from the side or from behind can startle them.
Be at their level. Move your head to be at the same level as their head. Bend your knees or sit down to reach their level. Do not stand or hover over them – it is intimidating and scary. They can’t focus on you and what you are saying if they are focused on their fear.
Tell them what you are going to do before you do it. Particularly if you are going to touch them. They need to know what is coming first so that they don’t think that you are grabbing them.
Speak calmly. Always speak in a calm manner with an upbeat tone of voice, even if you don’t feel that way. If you sound angry or agitated, they will often mirror that feeling back to you and then some.
Speak slowly. Speak at one half of your normal speed when talking to them. Take a breath between each sentence. They can not process words as fast as non-diseased people can. Give them a chance to catch up to your words.
Speak in short sentences. Speak in short direct sentences with only one idea to a sentence. Usually they can only focus on only one idea at a time.
Only ask one question at a time. Let them answer it before you ask another question. You can ask who, what, where and when, but NOT why. Why is too complicated. They will try to answer, fail and get frustrated.
Don’t say “remember”. Many times they will not be able to do so, and you are just pointing out to them their shortcomings. That is insulting, and can cause anger and/or embarrassment.
Turn negatives into positives. For example say “Let’s go here” instead of “Don’t go there”. Be inclusive and don’t talking down to them as if they were a child. Respect the fact that they are an adult, and treat them as such.
Do not argue with them. It gets you nowhere. Instead, validate their feelings, by saying” I see that you are angry (sad, upset, etc…). It lets them know that they are not alone and then redirect them into another thought. For example “It sounds like you miss your mother (husband, father, etc…). You love them very much, don’t you? Tell me about the time…” Then ask for one of their favorite stories about that person).

Carole Larkin MAG, CMC, DCP, EICS is a geriatric care manager who specializes in helping families with Alzheimer’s and related dementias issues. She also trains caregivers in home care companies, assisted livings, memory care communities, and nursing homes in dementia specific techniques for best care of dementia sufferers. Her company, ThirdAge Services LLC, is located in Dallas, TX.

More About the Alzheimer's Reading Room

The Alzheimer's Action Plan

300 Tips for Making Life Easier

About Alzheimer's Reading Room

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:58:00 +0000

At the Alzheimer's Reading Room, we discuss solutions to common problems that Alzheimer's caregivers face each day. These include issues like: communication, wandering, incontinence, hygiene, eating disorders, and what to expect as the disease progresses. We provide specific insight, advice, and solutions based on real life experience.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room

I started the Alzheimer’s Reading Room to keep track of the thousands of articles and many books I was reading about Alzheimer's disease.

I soon realized that Alzheimer's caregivers are often thrust into their role with little or no experience, training, or education about Alzheimer's disease. As a result, they are often overwhelmed and suffer from feelings of helplessness. Forty percent of Alzheimer's caregivers suffer from depression.

Soon after I started the blog, I began to receive emails from Alzheimer's caregivers all over the world. First an email here and there, and now thousands of emails.

It finally occurred to me that I could help the ten million Alzheimer’s Caregivers worldwide by personalizing my own experience and sharing the information I was acquiring.

In other words, instead of throwing the vast amounts of information that is available about Alzheimer's on to the blog willy nilly -- to make the information useful so it could be used in the real world by caregivers.

Once I realized that most caregivers experiences the same problems, I was able to make the blog more useful to our audience.

At its core the Alzheimer's Reading Room is about advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease.

______________________________________
As I gained experience in caring for my mother, I decided to start writing more about the success we were having in fighting Alzheimer’s disease. I learned that the more I let her do the more she could do. I learned that there were solutions to the problems that face Alzheimer's caregivers each day.

I did have one major advantage -- I am a full time Alzheimer's caregiver.

I found when I started to write about the "real world" experience of Alzheimer's on this blog, more people started to find me. Readers started to tell family, friends, support group members, and other interested parties about the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room is growing fast. As it grows, so does the collective brain of the blog.

Our readers include some of the world's top scientists, clinicians, doctors, nurses,and professionals in the field. But mostly, the readers are caregivers searching for answers, insight and advice.

At the Alzheimer's Reading Room, we bring solutions to common problems that Alzheimer's caregivers face each day. These include issues like: communication, wandering, incontinence, hygiene, eating disorders, and what to expect in the days and years ahead. We try to suggest solutions to issues and problems.

We use real life examples to make the information meaningful.

We encourage every single reader to comment or to share their experiences with us. On this blog we learn from each other. We learn that we are not alone.

On this blog we try to bring hope and strength to the millions of families that live in the front row fighting Alzheimer's disease each day.

Facts

The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one blog on the Internet for current information, news, advice and insight into Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room is ranked #5 in the Living/Health category of Technorati.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room contains more than 1,200 articles and 9,200 links on the Internet.

Articles from the Alzheimer's Reading Room have been syndicated on Reuters, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, Time Warner, Chicago Sun Times, Houston Chronicle, Livestrong, Cox News, and Palm Beach Post (to name a few).

More than 327 news sites and blogs link to the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room was started by Bob DeMarco.

After caring for his mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's, Bob realized there was a need for useful, high quality information that could be used by Alzheimer’s caregivers to care for their loved one.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room has more than 2,000 subscribers and is growing fast.

Go to the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Wall Streeter One Day: Alzheimers Caregiver the Next

Go here to learn more about Bob DeMarco.

Bob DeMarco is the editor of the Alzheimer's Reading Room and an Alzheimer's caregiver. Bob has written more than 1,200 articles with more than 9,220 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

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noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:28:00 +0000

In my little world here in Delray Beach, Florida I have learned a harsh lesson -- it is very difficult to diagnose mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and probable Alzheimer's. Here are some simple tests for Alzheimer's and dementia that could be helpful......

Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Editor

I knew something was wrong with my mother. I knew it. When I would mention some of my concerns to family and friends they would usually conclude -- she is getting old. When it first started to really bother me my mother was 86 years old.

Her friends that saw her everyday would tell me she is doing great. Her doctor of six years didn't see a problem.

Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email

I did know her behavior was undergoing subtle changes. She talked about money incessantly, she complained about being bored incessantly. She started scrapping her feet on the ground. She said things that lead me to believe she was feeling insecure, maybe fear -- these were very different than what I heard her saying in the past.

After my mother was diagnosed with dementia her friends refused to believe both the diagnosis and me. When she would talk to family and friends that lived far away they would usually say --she sounds great.

She did sound great. She could still drive, go to the store, and play bingo. What they didn't see was how her behavior would often turn erratic. I invited all of them to come live in the front row for a few days -- they passed.

____________________________
The time came when I decided to come and spend some extended time with my mother and try to find out what was happening. At the time, you could put everything I knew about Alzheimer's and dementia in a thimble.

It took a few months before I finally started to understand the problem. It took four doctors to get to the bottom of the problem. None of the people that were seeing my mother on a daily basis saw a problem.

People in an early stage of dementia are very good at disguising the problem. They can laugh and change the conversation when you ask them questions about memory, or the ability to go here and go there. For me, it was the changes in behavior, the meanness, and the inability to walk more than a block that tipped me off.

____________________________
If a person suffering from dementia gets lost or starts having problems driving, you will never hear about it. The last thing an elderly person wants to do is lose their independence. One of the biggest symbols of independence is the drivers license. Trying to get that drivers license is like trying to get a steak out of the mouth of a bull dog.

____________________________
After I had been hear a couple of years, I learned some interesting things about my mothers behavior.

She drove her car over a concrete abutment, through a hedge and hit a tree. She then drove the car around some trees, over a sidewalk, over the lawn, and put the care in her condominium parking space. She didn't tell me, my brother, or my sister.

When I first learned about this her friends were laughing telling the story. They were impressed by the fact that she actually got the car back into her space. They did not see it as an indication that maybe she shouldn't be driving -- or worse.

Her friends, still friends, also forgot to mention that they stopped inviting my mother to their lunch time outings to restaurants because she constantly complained about money. When I asked them years later, when I first learned about this, if she had always done this -- they said no. In other words, her behavior had clearly changed but it had no impact on their view of her health.

____________________________
If you live far away from your parent and they are over 80, there is a good chance you could end up in the same situation I found myself in six years ago.

Here are few things you can try to spot mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's or dementia at an early stage.

To continue reading -- go here.

Alzheimer's Reading for Caregivers

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:46:00 +0000

These are a few of the popular articles from the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

Articles include information on: Testing Your Memory for Alzheimer's, Wandering, Aricept, Namenda, Dimebon, Dementia, Caregiving, Wii, Alzheimer's Facts and Figures, Walmart as a Caregiver Tool, and more.

Caring for Our Parents (Book Review)

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:57:00 +0000

This is a serious book by an accomplished journalist, writer--Howard Gleckman.

'If you are a Boomer, you should buy this book and put it on the coffee table. You will need it in the future to take care of yourself. The notes section of this book, alone, is worth the purchase price. The 22 pages of notes come in the form of a bibliography that you will be referring to over and over in the years ahead.

Caring for Our Parents is chock full of information and example that you, and I, will need as we age'. --Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Caring for Our Parents: Inspiring Stories of Families Seeking New Solutions to America's Most Urgent Health Crisis

To continue reading go here.

100 Million Adults Touched by Alzheimer's

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Thu, 07 May 2009 03:22:00 +0000

HBO Alzheimer's Project / Harris Interactive Census

Read more on this topic.

Alzheimer's Reading Room: 100 Million Adults Touched by Alzheimer's

The Alzheimer's Project -- Caregivers

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:58:00 +0000

By now most of you have heard about the HBO Documentary--The Alzheimer's Project.

I wanted to remind you that part four is entitled "Caregivers". Caregivers airs for the first time on Tuesday, May 12 at 7 PM.

“Caregivers” is a collection of five family portraits that illustrate caring for the different stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

I was actually interviewed as a candidate for the show. One interesting aspect of the interview was that they found me via this blog.

I am really looking forward to watching all four parts. I'll be most interested to see how they handle the segment focused on Caregivers.

I am really looking forward to a show that really shows what it is like to live Alzheimer's from the Front Row. Will this be the one?

HBO usually does a great job. So, my expectations are very high. You are all invited to come here and discuss your reactions and feelings about each segment.

Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email

Bob DeMarco is a citizen journalist, blogger, and Caregiver. In addition to being an experienced writer he taught at the University of Georgia , was an Associate Director and Limited Partner at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and a mentor. Bob currently resides in Delray Beach, FL where he cares for his mother, Dorothy, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. He has written more than 500 articles with more than 11,000 links to his work on the Internet. His content has been syndicated on Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Pluck, Blog Critics, and a growing list of newspaper websites. Bob is actively seeking syndication and writing assignments.

Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)

Wii a Useful Tool for Alzheimer's Caregivers

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:48:00 +0000

Back in May I wrote about Wii Fit suggesting it would be an excellent tool for older people and those suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

The game satisfies two needs: social interaction and exercise.

Recently, I am reading articles about how Wii is being adopted by Senior centers and assisted living facilities all across the country. The game of choice seems to be bowling. Wii bowling provides moderate exercise and allows groups to get together much like they would at a bowling alley.

Ninetendo offers hundreds of games that can be played with Wii. You can exercise your body and even exercise your brain with Wii Brain Academy.

The Wii game My Fitness Coach would be particularly effective for both the person suffering from Alzheimer's and their caregiver. I know from personal experience with my mother that exercise is both necessary and important. I have written here many times about the immediate positive effect exercise has on my mother.

Dear Caregiver, you could use this tool to improve socialization by inviting friends and neighbors over to play along with you.

Friends and family of caregivers, Wii is a great gift. Perhaps you could consider "chipping in" and purchasing this for a loving caregiver or suffering family member.

Don't get detered by the name of the game. If you are older you can sit in a chair while doing the majority of the exercises. When my mother attends the Silver Sneakers program at Gold's gym she sits for most of the exercises. Keep in mind, my mother is 92 years old and suffers from Alzheimer's.

My Fitness Coach is like having a personal trainer right in your home. You can get coaching on 500 exercises including strength training, cardio fitness, and flexibility training. The game includes includes nine diiferent environments and music. If this sounds intimidating you can always go with Wii Fit. Wii Fit is less rigorous, contains hundreds of exercises, and also has a Body Mass Module. Wii Fit uses the Wii Balance Board.

I believe Wii is a wonderful tool that can be used by caregivers to satisfy personal and caregiving needs. Wii could improve your day. There are hundreds of games--so you can have fun. Both you and the person you are caring for will benefit.

What is Wii
Wii Sports (includes: Tennis, Baseball, Golf, Bowling and Boxing)
Wii Big Brain Academy
Wii Play inlcudes: The shooting gallery, Mii-matching game, billiards, air hockey, tank battles, table tennis rally, Mii poses and a cow-riding race)
Wii FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Exercise may improve function in dementia patients

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Organized exercise designed to increase strength, flexibility, mobility and coordination may improve overall physical function among nursing home patients with Alzheimer's disease, researchers report.

Alzheimer's disease patients who have physically deteriorated are less able to perform activities of daily life, which, in turn, affects their quality of life. Despite the well-known physical benefits obtained from exercise, Professor Alejandro Lucia and colleagues in Spain found comparatively little research has focused on exercise training among patients with Alzheimer's disease.

To address this, Lucia, of the Universidad Europea De Madrid, and collaborators compared the outcomes of 16 Alzheimer's disease patients who were randomly assigned to receive normal care involving no programed exercise or to a12-week exercise program as part of their nursing home care.

Each group consisted of five women and three men of similar functional capacity at the start of the study. Participants' average age was 73 years in the normal care group and 76 years in the exercise group, the investigators report in the International Journal of Sports Medicine.

Exercise sessions, held 3 days each week, included 75 minutes of warm-up and cool-down stretching, inside walking, joint mobility activities, elastic exercise-band resistance training, and coordination exercises using foam balls.

Lucia's team reports the exercise group had significant improvements in measures of upper and lower body strength and flexibility; agility and balance; walking abilities; and endurance. Exercise participants also showed greater ability to independently perform activities of daily living such as rising from a chair, transferring from bed to chair, bathing, or dressing.

By contrast, the normal care group showed no changes over the 12-week period.

These findings show that shorter duration exercise programs "are sufficient to induce significant improvements in patients' functional performance and independence," the investigators state. Adherence to the training program was nearly 100 percent, they add.

While more evidence of efficacy is needed from larger study populations, Lucia and colleagues suggest similar programs could be included in the overall nursing home care of Alzheimer's disease patients.

SOURCE: International Journal of Sports Medicine, October 2008.

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Bob DeMarco is a citizen journalist, blogger, and Caregiver. In addition to being an experienced writer he taught at the University of Georgia , was an Associate Director and Limited Partner at Bear Stearns, the CEO of IP Group, and a mentor. Bob currently resides in Delray Beach, FL where he cares for his mother, Dorothy, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. He has written more than 500 articles with more than 11,000 links to his work on the Internet. His content has been syndicated on Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, Pluck, Blog Critics, and a growing list of newspaper websites. Bob is actively seeking syndication and writing assignments.

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Kindle 2: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)

Does memory screening help spot dementia, or harm?

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:45:00 +0000

Previously I wrote about how A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's Disease. The test called the Mini-Cog (MC) can be administered to a family member or friend and could accurately identify individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and undiagnosed dementia. MCI is recognized as a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death(recently surpassing diabetes). One in eight persons age 65 and over suffers from Alzheimer's. One out of every two adults over the age of 85 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5 million Americans now suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Ten Million Baby Boomers are likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s during their lifetime.

Read the complete article

Also see:

Obama laying the groundwork for U.S. health reform

A Simple Three Minute Test Can Detect the Earliest Stage of Alzheimer's disease

Five Ways to Keep Alzheimer's Away

High cholesterol levels in your 40s raises Alzheimer's risk

See the Signs of Alzheimer's-- Free Guide Available

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:19:00 +0000

This free guide is an excellent resource and should be especially interesting to baby boomers. The guide includes: information about Alzheimer's disease, information about a prescription treatment option, a doctor discussion guide, and caregiving tips.

While you are on the website obtaining this free resource guide you can also select an option that allows a caregiving nurse to call you and discuss Alzheimer's topics. The nurse can help you identify issues to discuss with your doctor, answer questions about Alzheimer's, and provide you with important tips and resources in your area.

To obtain this free material go to See The Signs.

You can also visit these interesting areas while you are on the website.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptom Screener

Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Amazon.com Widgets

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Ten Million Baby Boomers likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s during their lifetime

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:45:00 +0000

I am a baby boomer. My mother suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Five years ago, I left my job as the CEO of a small software company to take care of my mother. I am living the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s from the front row.

It is rare to meet baby boomers that are concerned about their own uncertain fate when it comes to Alzheimer's disease. This includes most of my close friends. Fifteen thousand baby boomers are turning 60 each day.

• Every 71 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s disease.

• Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death (recently surpassing diabetes).

• One in every eight adults over the age of 65 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

• One out of every two adults over the age of 85 suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

• Ten million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime.

Alzheimer’s disease is certain brain death. Imagine living in a world where you can recount experiences from 1936, but can’t remember your birthday party five minutes after it ended. Meet my mother. My mother never suffered a major illness. She never had an operation. Five years after her diagnosis she is in very good health. But, her brain is dying. She doesn’t know it.

I started the Alzheimer’s Reading Room to keep track of the thousands of articles and many books I was reading. I soon realized I could help the ten million Alzheimer’s Caregivers worldwide by personalizing this information on my blog. Later on, I decided to start writing about our successes in fighting the disease, our decisions on treatments, our new life style, where to look for help, and news about the search for a cure. I stick to information I believe is useful and helpful. There is an enormous amount of new information each day; it’s difficult to identify the best and most useful information. This is my job.

I now know there are many things baby boomers can do to lower the odds of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. I do all of these things for myself each day. There are things you can do to stave off the disease. You need to start doing them now. You cannot wait. With this in mind, I am broadening my mission on the blog to include information to help baby boomers understand and take action against Alzheimer’s

Here are few things baby boomers should be doing right now:

• High blood pressure (hypertension) is a cause of cognitive decline. Hypertension causes build-up of beta-amyloid in the brain. This is a complication frequently associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Take action to get your blood pressure down now.

• High cholesterol levels in your 40s may raise the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease decades later. Failure to deal with this condition effectively could raise the odds of contracting Alzheimer’s disease by fifty percent. Get your cholesterol checked often and get it down.

• B12. A recent study found that people with higher levels of vitamin B12 were six times less likely to experience brain volume loss. A simple blood test is all that is needed to check the level of B12 in your system. You should start eating foods rich in B12 and consider getting B12 shots to raise the amount of B12 in your system.

• Big Belly. Having a large belly in middle age nearly triples the risk of developing dementia.

• Cocoa flavanols. A recent study at Harvard found that those who regularly drank a cocoa flavanol-rich beverage had an eight percent increase in brain blood flow after one week, and 10 percent increase after two weeks. I highly recommend incorporating this into your diet.

• Exercise. A new study just released shows that regular exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of dementia and can help slow progression of Alzheimer's disease.

In the days ahead, I will be writing more about ways to combat Alzheimer’s disease. If you know someone currently caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease please tell them about the blog. You can subscribe to the blog via email or reader by taking the appropriate action on the blog.

They are predicting that ten million baby boomers will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. By spreading the word and taking action we can lower the number. Let’s get together on this.

Original content the Alzheimer's Reading Room

The Alzheimer's Action Plan: The Experts' Guide to the Best Diagnosis and Treatment for Memory Problems

TauRx Therapeutics-- New treatment halts progress of Alzheimer's disease

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:04:00 +0000

clipped from alzheimersreadingroom.blogspot.com

The results of the Phase 2 study of TauRx's new treatment strongly suggest that it is possible to halt progression in mild and moderate Alzheimer's. TauRx is continuing to refine its treatment and hopes that restoration may be possible at least at the earlier stages with improved versions of its drug. Tangles are already destroying nerve cells in parts of the brain critical for memory in people in their fifties and upwards. The ultimate goal is to develop a product that is convenient for patients that could be widely used at the very earliest stages of the disease, long before patients experience the first symptoms of Alzheimer's.

Special Reminder: PBS Presents The Future of Alzheimer's

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:25:00 +0000

PBS will present a special evening of programming focused on Alzheimer's disease on Sunday, August 3 starting at 9 p.m.

The programming starts with a national encore broadcast of the Emmy-Award-winning THE FORGETTING: A Portrait of Alzheimer's, followed by a new half-hour discussion, The Future of Alzheimer's, moderated by actor and Alzheimer's champion David Hyde Pierce.

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Alzheimer's Reading Room: Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Follow the link to get your free copy.

clipped from www.alz.org

Tackle the challenges of caregiving with this free football style "playbook" by Frank Broyles, former Athletic Director of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. The Playbook is an engaging, how-to guide written for those who care for someone with Alzheimer's. Coach Broyles cared for his late wife Barbara, who had Alzheimer's disease.

“My wife Betty is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. The minute I received the ‘Playbook,’ I sat down and read it word for word. What a huge blessing for me to find a straight forward, 'been there’ account of what lies ahead.
Thank you!"
John Cater
Richmond, Texas

What Does Martha Stewart Know About Caring for the Elderly?

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:19:00 +0000

clipped from blogs.wsj.com

The list of witnesses testifying before the Senate Special Committee on Aging this afternoon includes the predictable academic docs and health-world leaders, along with a striking anomaly:

Martha Stewart

You ask: What, is she going to teach the Senators a cute way to fold napkins when they have their parents over for dinner or something? No, smarty, it turns out that Martha Stewart knows more about this stuff than you think.

Drawn to the issue by the experiences of her aging mother, who died last year at 93, Stewart grew interested in the field and wound up giving $5 million to Mount Sinai, which created the Martha Stewart Center for Living.

The suggestions in her prepared testimony seem pretty sensible, highlighting three lessons: pay attention to coordination of medical care, support those caring for the elderly, and plan early at the family level to be ready to care for aging relatives.

Institute of Medicine report

Maybe I Should Have Known

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:16:00 +0000

I became a CareGiver by accident. It all started back in late 2003...

after a series of strange occurrences by my mother. I guess I should have known when my mother ran her car over an abutment and scraped off the entire side of her car on a tree. Me, more than 1000 miles away, I was told the car was not that bad. Two days later and on the scene, I found out the car was totaled. Fortunately, my tiny five foot tall, 87 year old mother was just fine. At least that is what she and all the doctors told me. While I accepted it at the time I just knew something was not right. This is where the story about my mother begins and me. Later, I said to myself, "I should have known".

If somehow you found us, welcome. Please feel free to say 'hi". If you are a caregiver or if you believe you have something to add please feel free to do so. If you have comments make them.

This is our story.

Bobby

The Last Lecture

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:13:00 +0000

The Last Lecture

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Free Online Publications Alzheimer's and Caregiving

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:03:00 +0000

clipped from www.niapublications.org

Acute Hospitalization and Alzheimer's Disease

Online Version Only

AD: A Caregiver and Patient Resource List

Online Version Only

Caregiver Guide: Tips for AD Caregivers

Online Version Only

Caregiving Basics: A Resource List

Online Version Only

Reminiscence Therapy and Dementia

noreply@blogger.com (Bob DeMarco) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:45:00 +0000

I find that my mother enjoys talking about and looking a very old pictures. I ask her to tell me things about the person and her memories. Not only does this put her in a good mood and frame of mind, it also serves as a way to "exercise her brain". You might try this and see how it works for you.

clipped from www.cochrane.org

Reminiscence Therapy (RT) involves the discussion of past activities, events and experiences with another person or group of people, usually with the aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household and other familiar items from the past, music and archive sound recordings. Reminiscence groups typically involve group meetings in which participants are encouraged to talk about past events at least once a week. Life review typically involves individual sessions, in which the person is guided chronologically through life experiences, encouraged to evaluate them, and may produce a life story book. Family care-givers are increasingly involved in reminiscence therapy.

Reminiscence therapy is one of the most popular psychosocial interventions in dementia care, and is highly rated by staff and participants. There is some evidence to suggest it is effective in improving mood in older people without dementia. Its effects on mood, cognition and well-being in dementia are less well understood

The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease and Memory Loss in Later Life