Mom,Me and Alzheimer's blog

Remember To Give So Others Will Remember To Live

2015-06-06T03:48:00.003-07:00

Hi Everyone,
It's that time of year again. The Alzheimer's Walk is Sept 12th. I can't believe it is almost here again. I have to catch up on all your blogs. Been working and playing more than blogging . That is good except I miss whats going on in your lives. Some of you are on Facebook and I keep up with you that way. I am sorry for the ones who have lost there love one this past year . Alzheimer's can be a long slow killer . It robs you and your love one of your life. Mom forgot to walk, talk, eat, smile , love and at the end to live. Your brain can forget to tell you to take a breath or tell your heart to beat. So Please Click on the Team Hudson Picture and make a donation to Team Hudson . Or join a walk in your area. Thank You. ASAP !!! Always Say A Prayer.

Plant City Lady

2014-06-24T19:32:00.002-07:00

Plant City Lady and Friends: Precious Last Days

My friend Carol's Husband lost his fight with Alzheimer's this week. She is such a wonderful blogger . And she was a wonderful caregiver. He was blessed to have her there for him. So much love. Visit her blog you will learn so much about faith in the Lord and the life of Carol and husband and how Alzheimer's changed it. Carol our prayers are with you always.

2014-05-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/AR-Arkansas?pg=team&fr_id=4921&team_id=207982

Guess what time of year it is! Alzheimer's Walk Sept 20th. Time to raise money , donate and or walk in a walk near you.
Here are the 2014 stats.

There are more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, including 3.2 million women and 200,000 people under the age of 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease/

There are currently 15.5 million caregivers providing 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care in the U.S., often at the detriment of their own health.

Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, yet it is still widely misunderstood and under reported.

We need to get the word out. This disease affects not only the person with it but there family and friends. Lets End Alzheimers .

Post Caregiver Stress Syndrome

2014-04-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

I looked online to see if there was a post Caregiver Stress Syndrome and I found this Caregiver Stress Syndrome. I did not find a label for post caregiving.

Caregiver Stress Syndrome is a term used to describe the physiological and psychological changes experienced as the result of chronic stress due to ongoing caregiving activities.

Caregiver Stress Syndrome are actual physiological, psychological and emotional symptoms that can result from the ongoing emotional strain of caregiving for a loved one, or attending to the all of the needs of a child or dependent adult.

Fortunately the impact of care giving on the caregiver is starting to be recognized. Physicians (and family members) are being encouraged to identify those at risk for Caregiver Stress Syndrome, so they can get some help and some respite care.

A friend of mine lost her mom this past week after caring for her the last few years. I saw her at Walmart the other night and she was telling me how it felt to be there . I had the same feelings when mom died and many more. The fact that I did not have to hurry home. I was free to do what I wanted and go where I wanted and stay as long as I wanted but it was not right. It was scary. Driving even scared me. I was out of place . Walmart was so big and so much space. There was to many people. The roads have to many cars. And going back to work was awful. I went back to the full-time job I gave up to care for mom and I could not do it. I was over whelmed. Talking to my friend made me realize I was not the only one that felt this way.After your love one is gone you have to start all over. The world did not stop and wait on you to return. It moved on and you have to catch up. For years you stay at home in your own very small world caring for someone day in and day out. If you do get away you run to do errands just thinking about the time and how you have to get back. That is all you focus on. Getting what needs to be done fast . Now you have all this time and freedom but do not know what to do with it. If you are a caregiver get help. Tell everyone you know that you need help.We all need help.

I am better now. I have a job I love. And as always family and friends that love and care for me. It took awhile to get out of the hole but I am almost there. Just know you are not the only one . Ask for help. Pre, During and Post Caregiver. And Always Pray.

Plant City Lady and Friends

2014-01-19T20:56:00.001-08:00

Carol from Plant City Lady And Friends is a wonderful blogger friend . She interviewed me for her blog . Check it out . Thank you Carol .

I could not of taken care of mom without the help of Family and Friends. All I had to do was call my son, sister , brother , nephews or nieces and they would come running. Without my son and the rest of my family I would of never made it. And than this blog. People like Carol gave me a place to vent , sound off , talk and write . I would read there blogs and what they are dealing with and I was not alone anymore. Thank you all. Love you all. Remember Just Pray http://plantcityladyandfriends.blogspot.com/2014/01/interview-of-karen-caregiver -for-her-mom.html

101 Ways To Spend Time With A Person With Alzheimers

2014-01-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

Hi, How is everyone?
It has been way over a year since I started posting these so I am going to finish today. They are from www.alz.org/livingwithalzheimers.
The Razorback Basketball game is about to start so I going to watch it also. WPS means Woooo pig Sooooie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If any of you are my Facebook friends you might wonder why I put that up a lot. Well on game day we say WPS!!!! Now you know I am a Hog Fan .
82.Cut out pictures from magazines
83. Put coins in a jar. My dad did this . We had lots of jars of coins. I gave most away for Christmas presents to kids and grand kids . They love checking to see if any of the coins are worth a lot of money.
84. Put bird seed out for the birds. Then your love on can watch the birds .
85. Decorate a pumpkin
86. Reminisce about your favorite summer
87. Roll yarn into a ball
88. Trace and cut out autumn leaves
89.Cook a favorite family recipe together.
90. Gather a yellow sponge , crayons, paper and tape and make a SpongeBob SquarePants. LOL!!! This one is funny.
91. Wash Silverware. Keeping your love one busy is a good thing.Give them chores to do as long as they will do them. Mom just wanted to sit and watch TV . She would keep getting in and out of her purse. I put lots of dollar bills in there for her to count . She always wanted to make sure she had money in her billfold. I also gave her a bowl of cereal . She would eat on it all day. Not just one but many . It was something to do. I made her a activity quilt . You can buy them but they are expensive. I put buttons and zippers and different kinds of fabric on a pillow case. She would study and play with it some. In the last stages she did nothing but stare ahead but earlier these things kept here happy.
92. (ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ) Give him or her a hug. I miss that I did not do that enough. Stop working , Stop care giving and just give them a hug.
93. Ask the person to show you how to knit or sew or another favorite hobby. Mom made quilts. They were so pretty.
94. Make a picture frame out of Popsicle sticks and glitter
95. Play a musical instrument. Mom played the organ. I still have here old organ. I wish I could play
96. Keep a journal together. My sis started writing down stuff mom said . Funny stuff, old memories and stuff that made no sense. It is nice to look back at them .
97. Ask the person to talk about his or her favorite sports hero. If that is there thing. LOL!!!
98. Sort playing cards.
99. Ask the person about his or her favorite pet
100. Wash windows together
101. Ask the person about his or her first car. Mom never drove. But her and dads first home was an old school bus. She had some stories about that. Very interesting.
I am finished. Love you guys. Remember Just Pray.

Happy Halloween

2013-10-31T18:51:00.001-07:00

Hi all my blogger friends,
Hope you are having a Happy Halloween. I have had 5 trick or treaters so far. I think I had 6 last yr.

Here is the picture of Team Hudson this year. We had so much fun at the Alzheimer's Walk. I do pray soon there will be no need for these walks. But they are a great way to bring families and friends together. I am still working on my 101 ways to spend time with a person with Alzheimer's .
72. Remember famous people. Moms favorite actor was Robert Mitchum. He was a cutie .
73. Recite nursery rhymes
74. Make peanut butter sandwiches. Do you guys remember me telling you mom lived on oatmeal and peanut butter sandwiches for a very long time . All she would or could eat. And peanut butter has protein . Protein helps keep away the pressure sores.
75. Cut up used paper for scratch paper.
76. Blow Bubbles. Mom would of liked doing this . She loved chewing gum. But with dentures she could not chew reg. chewing or bubble gum.
77. Take care of a fish tank.
78. Bake cupcakes and decorate them.
79. Interview the person about his or her life using either a video camera or cassette recorder. My sister always wanted to record mom's stories and the funny things she would say or come up with. Wish we had of.
80. Play hangman. Mom could spell so good. I was always asking her how to spell something and she only went to 5th grade. She taught my dad how to read and write when they first got married.
81. Finger paint.
Hopefully I will get to the last ones soon. Some of these are silly but to one person they might be fun and that is all that matters . Making that one person happy .

2 Days Till Walk To End Alzheimer's

2013-09-19T02:50:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone, It is 4:36 A.M. . Thats right I can't sleep. I only have around 30 or 40 more tips to go and I will be finished with the 101 ways to spend time with a person who has Azheimers. Our walk is Sat. We got the shirts in for Team Hudson Yesterday . They are great!!! I will post a picture of us after the walk. Have a wonderful weekend and remember to Walk in a Walk near you or donate. We have to stop Alzheimers now. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/OK-OklahomaandArkansas?team_id=99324&pg=team&fr_id=3631
62. Make paper butterflies. Like I know how to do that. LOL! Do you guys?
63. Plant a tree . I do know how to plant a tree.
64. Finish famous sayings . Mom would of been good at this.
65. Feed the ducks. We did this often.
66. Model with play dough
67. Look at pictures in a comic book
68. Put a puzzle together
69. Sand wood
70. Rub in hand lotion
71. Arrange fresh flowers

14 Days Till Alzheimer's Walk

2013-09-07T08:38:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone, How are you ? I have not been on here in so long.Forgive me for not keeping up with your blogs. Remember I told you it would be time for this years walk before I got all my tips from last years walk posted . Well I still have a lot to go and only 14 days till the walk. Sorry . Anyway don't forget to walk in your town's walk or donate to a walk. We have to get this sickness whiped . Hope you are all doing good and your love ones that you are caring for. God Bless Us All. The world is a mess and we need lots of prayers for us our leaders and our troups.
Here are 10 more . And if you want to donate to my walk just click on last yrs picture it will take you to my page. Thanks All!!!
52. Dance . I love to dance to the radio while cooking LOL!!
53. Watch Sesame Street together or any other show that will catch your love ones interest.
54. Make homemade ice cream
55. Make holiday cards
56. Reminisce about favorite sports activities the person enjoyed while growing up. I say watch The Hogs Play . Wooo Pig Soooie!!!
57. Write a letter to a friend or family member
58. Dress in your favorite football or soccer teams colors. RED and WHITE of course.
59. Pop popcorn
60. Name the presidents. Like I could do that. I bet you guys can .
61.Give a manicure.
Love you guys.!!!!

2013 Walk To End Alzheimer's

2013-06-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again. Time for me to bug everyone for money . Or ask you to walk with us or in a walk near you. Here are the facts for 2013 . We need to fix this people. Lets do it together. If you would like to donate just click on last yrs picture . We are Team Hudson. My page is Karen Zardin. Thanks guys . Come walk with us. We would love for you to join us.

1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s

or another dementia.
Out-of-pocket expenses for long-distance

caregivers are nearly twice as much as

local caregivers
In 2012, 15.4 million caregivers provided

an estimated 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care,

valued at more than $216 billion.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading
cause of death.

Here are 10 more tips on ways to spend time with a person with Alzheimer's . I did not get these all up before this years walk . I knew I would not but still trying.

42. Fold towels
43. Have a afternoon tea party
44. Talk about great inventions
45. Look at a map of the United States and identify states and capitals
46. Look through the pages of a clothes catalog
47. Make a family tree poster
48. Color a picture of our flag. It is almost the 4th of July . This is a good one.
49.Eat a picnic lunch outside
50.Water house plants. I would rather do the outside plants . Hopefully it is cool out.
51. Play Horseshoes. My grandpa would love this . We played horseshoes at his house a lot.

May Snow!

2013-05-04T10:25:00.003-07:00

Hi everyone. How are you all? Hope all is well with you and your love ones.
We are having crazy weather in Arkansas as always. First of the week my son and I were at the Arkansas Razorback Baseball Game and many people were in shorts trying to get a tan in the nice weather. Than Friday morning we wake up to snow. Very pretty but I am ready for some warm weather to stick around for awhile.
My son is getting Married May 25th. And he is on week 3 at his new job as a civil Engineer after grad. from The UofA in Dec. I am so proud.
I am going to post 10 more of the 101 ways to spend time with a person with Alzheimer's from the list I got at the 2012 Alzheimer's Walk. By the time I get done with these it will be time for the 2013
walk again. Here they are. Hope these help a bit.
32. Make a Pie. I say make cookies , cake and anything fatten or Choc. That aways makes me happy.
33. Play with tops and jacks
34. Make a Scrapbook
35. Take a walk around the yard
36. Write a poem together. My sis started writing things mom said down . Memories that she would talk about . I think writing these down are a good idea.
37. Reminisce about the first day of school
38. String Cheerios to hang outside for the birds. This is kind of cool I like this one.
39. Make a fresh fruit salad.
40. Sweep the patio. LOL!!!
41. Color paper Shamrocks green. Some of these are kind of silly. They could just say color in a coloring book or something like that.
Have a great day Everyone. Just Pray!!!

2012 Facts from the Alzheimer's Assoc.

2013-03-19T16:41:00.003-07:00

Alzheimer's Association

Another new fact: In 2012, 15.4 million family & friends provided 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care. Alzheimer’s takes a devastating toll not just on those with the disease–but also on their caregivers. Share the facts and help us change the future. Click picture to make bigger.

Happy Valentines Day All

2013-02-09T17:07:00.002-08:00

Hi, How is everyone? I need to post the next ten of the 101 ways to spend time with a person with Alz's from the list I got from the Alz's walk . I am sorry it has been so long. I am busy with work , boyfriend and trying to make time for family. As you know my son is getting married in May and he just Graduated from College in Dec. Now he is looking for a job in Civil Engineering here . He does not want to move away.
Anyway all good. I still pray for mom every night. Than remember she is not here. I guess it is an auto pray. That is not good. I need to change it up and really talk to God. I do when I have things I need to talk about but when all is good it is the same old thing. Sorry Lord. And thanks for good times.
21.Cut pictures out of greeting cards or magazines. I do this after every Christmas . Cards anyway. I use the verses and pictures for name tags on gifts next Christmas.
22. Play Dominoes. One of my clients I work with now loves to play cards and do puzzles. I brought her home with me once so her mom could have respite and we forgot her cards and puzzles . I pulled out the dominoes. She played on them till bedtime.
23.Ask the person about his or her favorite childhood books or cartoon characters. Share yours too. Mom only watched her Soaps . While I was growing up nothing got done during her Soaps.
24.Bake homemade bread.
25.Sort objects by shape and color
26.Sing old songs.
27.Invite the person to tell you more when he or she talks about a memory
28.Put silverware away
29.Make a valentine Card. Happy Valentines Day Everyone!
30.Play favorite songs
31.Ask the person about his or her brothers or sisters.

One Year

2012-10-17T16:56:00.001-07:00

Hi, Everyone. Tomorrow it will be one year since Mom passed. It has been a busy year. New friends , New Job and New Adventure's. Some good some not so good. I still pray for her in my prayers. Than I realize she is ok now . I guess I forget she is gone. Than I say an extra prayer for me.
One of my Fav. Blogger friends lost the love of her life recently to Alzheimer's . Dolores is a wonderful blogger friend and David was so lucky to have had her in his life to love and care for him . Prayers to her and your family.
I am posting 10 more of the 101 ways to spend time with a person with Alzheimer's. I can't say I did many of these with mom. Maybe a few in the early stages. It was a such a long illness and she was in the last stage forever it seemed. I just can't believe it has been a year. Time passed a lot faster now that she is gone than it did when she was laying in bed suffering. I do hate Alzheimer's. And all the caregivers know what I mean. Love to you all. Take care and Pray. Always Pray. You are never alone.
11. Bake Cookies
12.Take photos of the person and you and create a collage.
13.Brush or comb one another's hair
14.Participate in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's www.alz.org/walk
15.Plant seeds indoors and outdoors
16.Look at family photographs
17.Wipe off the kitchen table after meals
18.Weed the flowerbed or tend to the garden
19.Fold laundry
20.Have a friend visit with a well-behaved pet.

2012 End Alzheimer's Walk

2012-09-22T09:33:00.003-07:00

Hi All My Blogger Friends. It has been awhile since my last post. Just got back from this years Alzheimer's Walk. Another great one. Thank you all for donations and walking.
I got a list of 101 ways to spend time with a person with Alzheimer's today at the walk so thought I would post a few every now and than. They are great ideas.
First I want to tell you all who are still caring for your love one to keep the faith people you will get through this. Keep Praying. Never go a day without it. Trust me without the Lord mom and I would not of made it down this long rocky rode. Next is family and friends. I thank the Lord everyday for my friends and family.
1. Listen to music
2.Toss a ball
3.Color pictures
4. Make homemade lemonade
5. Count trading cards
6. Clip coupons
7. Sort poker chips
8. Read out loud chapters from your favorite book or stories
9. Rake leaves
10. String beads.
Here is a few more to come later.

Alzheimer's In Arkansas

2012-07-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

In 2008 over 800 people died of Alzheimer's in Arkansas. In 2009 there were 33,723 people in nursing homes with some kind of Cognitive Impairment in Arkansas. And this is not just a sign of old age this is a disease. Here are the Quick facts around the Nation.

5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer's and other dementia's.
Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012

I don't have the figures for 2011-2012 in Arkansas but they are rising not falling. It is not getting better. We need to find a cure . We need to find a medicine that will slow it down . Stop it . Wipe it out completely . To get these things we need money. Our local walk is getting close . Sept is just around the corner now. Please donate. Remember you don't have to donate a lot . $1 to $5 Any amount. It all adds up to lots of money. Thanks everyone who have already donated. Love you all.
Just click on the picture of Team Hudson on the left and go to my walker page. Thanks again. Karen

10 Signs Of Alzheimer's

2012-06-13T19:57:00.001-07:00

Well it is almost Fathers Day. Dad was killed in a farming accident 22 years ago so lots of Fathers days have passed without him . But he is missed everyday. It has been 8 months since mom's passing and I have not got used to that yet . I am still trying . And only 3 months till our Alzheimer's Walk. Thought I would stop bugging you for donations right? NOT!! I reached my goal of $100 . Thank you so much. Now I am going for more. $5 goes a long ways guys. Keep it coming. And Thank you again for all your help. __Just click on the Team Hudson picture to your left and go to my walker page.
If dad was here we would be going fishing. Fishing was our thing. Before I got married anyway. Seems like when you get married and work there is no time for fishing. Let me tell you if your mom and dad are still with you always make time to go fishing. Nothing better than a day at the lake fishing with your Dad or Mom are if you are real lucky both. I started taking my son fishing when he was little because I wanted him to have the memories of fishing with me I have of dad. Have a great Day all . And since this is an Alzheimer's blog read these signs of Alzheimer's. If anyone of your love ones are showing these signs take them to the doc. the earlier the better.
__1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer’s, especially in the early stages, is forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. What's typical? Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before. What's typical? Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer’s often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game. What’s typical? Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____4. Confusion with time or place. People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there. What's typical? Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not recognize their own reflection. What's typical? Vision changes related to cataracts. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a watch a "hand clock"). What's typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's typical? Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remote control. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. What's typical? Making a bad decision once in a while. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. What's typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ ____10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. What's typical? Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ If you have questions about any of these warning signs, the Alzheimer’s Association recommends consulting a physician. Early diagnosis provides the best opportunities for treatment, support and future planning. For more information, go to alz.org/10signs or call 800.272.3900.

This is an official publication of the Alzheimer’s Association but may be distributed by unaffiliated organizations or individuals.

2012-05-13T05:49:00.002-07:00

http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/OK-OklahomaandArkansas?px=6221126&pg=personal&fr_id=1573
Happy Mothers Day ! This is the first mom's day without mom. I was ok till today. Yesterday I was busy with my son . He took me to a Razorback Baseball Game for Mom's Day. One of my Favorite things to do is go to a game with him. This picture is of all of us. Looks like I was a hand full even back than. Yes I am the baby of the family. Can't you tell? Spoiled rotten.
At my new job I get to take my clients or friends really where ever they need to go and one of my ladies likes to visit a friend in an assisted living facility. This Friday the facility had a new lady and all the time we were there she was getting up from the dining room table and trying to leave . She said she was looking for her family. Than she needed to find a restroom. In 15 mins. she went to the restroom 2 times and tried to go outside to find her family 3 times. The staff was on there toes. They were trying to get supper served and comfort her. I almost cried. That is the way mom was in her early stages of Alzheimer's. I can't tell you how many times she went to the restroom. Every 5 mins some days.And mom wondered off a few times before we decided she needed full time care. The sad thing is for this lady was her family was not coming back most likely. But the staff had to tell her over and over they would be there later . Of course maybe the family would come see her that evening. I am sure they will be there today to see her. She will be looking for them all day I bet. This disease robs the heart and soul from families. She was walking all over the place . She could live a long fruitful life if she did not have this awful disease. Her family has lost the mom they had and now she is someone who needs constant care because she will wonder off and get lost or hurt. Please Pray that we find a cure for Alzheimer's soon. I Miss my Mom today. My real mom not the one that Alzheimer's made her the last years of her life. Rest In Peace Earlene Ruth Hudson.

Sign The Petition

2012-04-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sign our petition for a strong National Alzheimer's Plan! We are less than 50,000 signatures away from our goal & need your help to reach it by next week when a record number of advocates will go to D.C. to deliver the message that Alzheimer's can't wait!

Alzheimer's Association | Petition to the President

alz.org

We, the undersigned, call on the President to issue a strong National Alzheimer's Plan to help the millions of Americans now affected by Alzheimer's disease, and the many millions more at risk.

Hardwood Floors!!!

2012-04-05T10:12:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend I pulled up my mom's old green shag carpet. I knew there were hardwood floors underneath but did not know the shape they were in. To my delight they looked great. I think so anyway. For years I have been wanting to rip the carpet up but mom said no and none of the man in the family wanted to help. Finally I just did it . The easy part was pulling up the carpet the hard part was pulling out the nails and staples. Took me two days to do that. Less than 30 mins to pull the carpet. But worth it.
Thanks all who have donated I have $80 already. That is great. Keep it coming. Thanks again. The Alzhiemer's walk is not till Sept. but we are starting early this year trying to reach our Team Goal of $1000. My starting goal is $100. With the help from our wonderful family and friends last year we raised over $400 . Thank you all again. If you can't donate find a walk near you. It is fun and lots of stuff to do. Food, Door Prizes. Music and more. Can't beat that. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/OK-OklahomaandArkansas?px=6221126&pg=personal&fr_id=1573

Alzheimer's Walk

2012-03-01T19:31:00.001-08:00

The Alzhiemer's walk is not till Sept. but we are starting early this year trying to reach our Team Goal of $1000. My starting goal is $100. With the help from my wonderful family and friends last year I raised over $300 . Thank you all again. If you can't donate find a walk near you. It is fun and lots of stuff to do. Food, Door Prizes. Music and more. Can't beat that. http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/OK-OklahomaandArkansas?px=6221126&pg=personal&fr_id=1573

I'm Back!!!

2012-02-24T22:27:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone . I finally have my internet back. It has been a busy few months. Got a job, quit it , got a new job , broke up with my boyfriend, and now we are dating again. We went to fast the first time so taking it slow this time. Dating is fun. And I do love him.
After years of caring for mom I tried to go back to driving a transit bus but that did not work out. So now I work for a company that cares for people with special needs. I have two wonderful ladies I work with. One has a full time job in which she as been at for over 10 yrs. and one stays home . I just have to take the one lady places, help her keep here home clean and watch TV and old movies with her. She loves old TV shows. The other one I have to sit with while her mom is at work. She needs someone with here 24 /7. This job fits. Pay is not great but I enjoy it .
The weather has been so warm this winter I spend lots of time at the graveyard walking. It is good exercise and I get to visit mom and dad. It is lonely here without them. Of course dad had been gone for years . And still getting used to mom being gone.
My son moved out to be closer to school and it is just me now. It was kind of weird at first because if I heard a noise I would think "Oh! Mom wants me" than in an instant I would remember she is gone . Guess it sounded like her talking to me from her bedroom.
On a happy note my son ask his girlfriend to marry him Feb 13th not Valentines Day because he said she would be expecting something and he wanted it to be a complete surprise. It was . She is so happy. Me too. We all love her and he is a great son. I am so proud of him and love him very much.
Well time for bed. Have a great weekend.

Feeding Tubes

2011-12-03T05:27:00.001-08:00

Feeding Tubes Pros and Cons in Elderly
Elderly people with critical health are often put on tube feeding. Digestive health begins to diminish as you grow old. Hence, very old people often show poor digestive abilities. As a result, they rapidly lose 20 to 30% of their body weight. If proper nutrition is not provided on time, they can easily risk their life. Feeding through a tube becomes inevitable during times of trauma or surgery, as oral ingestion becomes severely impaired. Medical conditions like dementia, stroke also prevent an individual from normal ingestion of food. Feeding tubes for cancer patients serve a great purpose during such terminal illnesses. However, feeding tubes for the elderly involve myriad risks and complications which are as follows.

Risks of Feeding Tubes

Discomfort
People who are put on a feeding tube often experience discomfort due to gas that enters through the site of insertion. If the tube is not inserted or placed properly, it can give way to air which causes a lot of discomfort for the patient. Also, as the human digestive system is not designed to digest only fluids, the person can take some time to adjust to a liquid diet.

Infection
If there is a leakage at the site of insertion, it could mean a free entry to bacteria and other pathogens. The enlarged stoma at the site of insertion leads to misplacement of the tube, which provides passageway to bacteria.

Clogging
Clogging of feeding tube is one of the most common problems with feeding tubes. The feeding tubes should be cleaned before and after every meal and must be replaced periodically. Clogging also limits the amount of liquid that can be given through a tube.

Disappointment
Tube diet does not provide any kind of gastronomic pleasure to the patient. Eventually, the patient loses interest in meals and goes into depression. Less than 40% of the patients who are tube fed survive more than a year.

Feeding tubes pros and cons should be considered while recommending them to babies as well as elderly. In babies, emphasis should be upon strengthening the oral ingestion skills of the babies, while elderly patients must be provided with proper care and caution while tube feeding

When mom could not eat without choking I also had the choice to take her out of Hospice and have a private care doctor or hospital put in a feeding tube. Hospice will not put in a feeding tube. My friend which is also a nurse told me that after awhile her body would not be able to take in the food right. She would swell up and be very uncomfortable. This is not on the pros and cons I found on the Internet but I am sure it is true. I hope you all don't have to decide if your love one needs a feeding tube or not . It is a hard thing to think about.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Your support at is so helpful. Yes , my BF is still around . He is wonderful. We are going to his jobs Christmas party this next week and I am kind of looking forward to it. Maybe I am getting social again. Hoping everyone has a Wonderful Christmas .

Better Mood

2011-11-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

Today is a much better day. Thanksgiving went great . My future daughter- in- law and her family are wonderful. She is a great cook and did almost all of it. Coming home to an empty house is still a little weird. It is dark and lonely. I think I told you my son moved out. Just a week or two after mom passed so I am having that empty nest thing along with missing mom.
When the grave digger man dug her grave he had to move the stone to be able to get to close enough to dig and that was almost a month ago . Well yesterday the stone was finally returned to where it belonged and I could put the flowers my niece made on top of it. We also got matching ones for both sides of the stone. It looks very nice and that made us all happy. Going out there and seeing the stone off to the side of the graves was bothering me and my sister. Her even more for some reason. My sister's son is going through a divorce and that is tearing my sister up. They have a 7 year old daughter that does not understand while daddy is living with grandma and not with her . My sister can't stand not knowing what is going to happen to her grand -daughter. She wishes her son and the grand- daughter would be able to live with her but of course the girls mommy is not going to let that happen. But it would be nice .
I still don't think I have grieved for mom enough . Waiting on the big break down. Just been to busy and can't get my mind around it. Work is not working out. I used to work at this place and loved it but now I feel out of place and like a teenager at there first job. Hope that changes. Everything is different than when I worked there before. But the money is good. Got my first check Thurs. Love that!!! I was looking in the newspaper for jobs yesterday trying to figure out what I could do that I might be comfy in. Guess what popped out at me . Home Health Aid , Companion for person with special needs. CNA's needed. Never wanted to do these kind of jobs before but now when I think about it they seem right.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T04:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, This is the first holiday without mom. In less you count Halloween . Every year for the last 3 or 4 years I would get invited to some one's house for Thanksgiving and I would say no I have to stay with mom. Sometimes my sister would ask me if I wanted to do something and she would stay with mom. But she has kids that she can be with and they all cook a big meal so I wanted her to be with them on Thanksgiving and Christmas. We could of had a big dinner here but it always seems like a lot of work on me and not so much on everyone else. We cook and I care for mom. We eat and I care for mom We clean up and I care for mom. They rest and I care for mom. Not so much fun for me and mom. Anyway this year I am going to my son's girlfriend's mom's house to dinner. It is going to be weird. Being social is something new to me now. I need mom . I miss mom and dad. No one to hold me back and I want her here so I can say I need to stay with mom. Used to I would cry and say I want my dad now I cry and say I want my mom and dad. Time to grow up right? There are to many I's in the post again. It is all about me, me, me. Trying to get better . Just going a little slower than I thought it would. The real world is harder than I remember. Working and being out in public is going to take awhile to get used to. The Lord willing by Christmas I will be back in the game. Happy Thanksgiving.