CareGiver

Framework of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease

2012-01-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

The Draft Framework for the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The draft framework is structured around five ambitious goals:

Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer's Disease by 2025.
Optimize Care Quality and Efficiency.
Expand Patient and Family Support.
Enhance Public Awareness and Engagement.
Track Progress and Drive Improvement.

Goal 1: Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease by 2025

Read the entire draft here -- Framework of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease

More Insight and Advice for Caregivers

Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease

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

How Alzheimer's Spreads Throughout the Brain

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

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Caregiver.

Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World

2012-01-10T08:27:00.001-05:00

Once you start to understand how things work in Alzheimer's World you get calm and comfortable. Once you get calm and comfortable you give off a better "vibe" to someone that has Alzheimer's.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

I would find a new way to communicate with my mother who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

I wrote that on my da Vinci pad in 2004. This was at the same time I was coming to another conclusion, something had to change and that something was me.

I did not perceived the changes in communication as being difficult. After all, I had been studying communication and decision making all the way back to college days, and ever since. I figured some practice and I would get the hang of it.

What I did not immediately perceive was how difficult it would be to change all the things I had learned over the course of my life.

Continue Reading --

Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia

2012-01-04T10:13:00.002-05:00

Dementia is the gradual deterioration of mental functioning, such as concentration, memory, and judgment, which affects a person’s ability to perform normal daily activities.

Dementia is a an illness that usually occurs slowly over time, and usually includes a progressive state of deterioration. The earliest signs of dementia are usually memory problems, confusion, and changes in the way a person behaves and communicates.

Cognitive symptoms of dementia can include poor problem solving, difficulty learning new skills, and impaired decision making. Behavior changes can include fear, insecurity, anger, and often, depression like symptoms.

Continue Reading -- Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Caregiver.

Why is this happening? What can I do?

2012-01-03T10:05:00.000-05:00

If you are not actively searching for solutions, you are part of the problem.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Yesterday I read what I considered to be a rather nasty complaint from an Alzheimer's caregiver. The caregiver complained that her father ruined Christmas for everyone especially her because he was grouchy and yelling at the kids.

I conjured up an image of what it would be like for someone living with Alzheimer's to be exposed to a bunch of unruly kids running around and yelling and screaming.

I asked myself, what would my reaction be? Well if the kids were playing and having a good time, I might smile. On the other hand, if the kids were being loud and rude, I might be thinking something like, why don't their parents step in and ask them to behave?

But, if I saw someone living with dementia that was clearly distress about the behavior of the kids and acting out, I know exactly what I would do.

First, I would move the person to another room or another area of the house. No, I would not leave them alone, and no, I would not put them in front of a television.

In our home, I would move them to the kitchen area and I would have one or more adults sit and talk with them. I might suggest some discussion around pictures, or old times.

Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room

This situation reminded me of the many times that Dotty and I have visited the Banana Boat in Boynton Beach.

As we walk up the ramp to the outside bar area I can feel Dotty starting to hold back. Two things are happening. First, it is starting to get noisy. Second, Dotty is starting to see what must look to her like a wild and crazy group of people.

As we move into the outdoor area I can actually feel Dotty starting to withdraw. She moves forward with great reluctance, her feet start dragging, and she starts to shrink. It is like she is getting ready to fall over on her face.

A quick look at her face would tell you that she is either confused, worried, or ready to turn around and go back in the other direction (go home).

In order to deal with this I have to talk to Dotty in a low calm voice and offer lots of positive encouragement. I reinforce her by reassuring her I am there, and nothing bad is going to happen.

We now have good luck because many of the people know Dotty, and the first thing that happens is that they start to meet her with great enthusiasm and a smile on their face.

There is never a seat available but I know that someone is either going to get up and give Dotty their seat, or someone is going to be told to get up and give Dotty their seat.

Two things I never do. First, I never sit Dotty way up in the front where the live music is loud, and the hustle and bustle is the at the highest level. Two, I seat Dotty so that she is not facing the hustle and bustle and is looking directly across at people who are seated.

When we first started going to the Banana Boat, Dotty would ask constantly, when are we going home? Now, one hundred percent of the time when I say to Dotty, time to go home, she asks me why we are leaving?

And now to the point the point of this article.

Did the person living with Alzheimer's ruin the day for his family? Or, did the woman who complained that he ruined the day, ruin the day for him?

Why don't more Alzheimer's caregivers ask themselves, why is this happening? Or, what can I do about this? Instead of complaining.

I learned it is a lot easier to examine the source of a problem, and then change the dynamic to resolve the problem. In this case, move a person living with dementia to a less stress filled area.

I think many of us know that Alzheimer's patients don't like excessive noise, and excessive stimuli (too many people in one confined area).

I also know that many caregivers conclude they cannot take a person suffering from Alzheimer's to large family gatherings, or into large groups.

If you fall into this category ask yourself why not? Learn to massage any and all environments to make them dementia friendly.

There are problems and their are solutions for persons living with dementia.

If you are not actively searching for solutions you are part of the problem.

I am convinced that the vast majority of Alzheimer's caregivers want to be part of the solution.

Like me you might think, something has to change. In my case I finally learned that something was me.

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/12/why-is-this-happening-what-can-i-do.html

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T08:48:00.004-05:00

For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.

-- John Greenleaf Whittier

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

About Alzheimer's Reading Room

2011-12-22T15:00:00.000-05:00

The goal of the Alzheimer's Reading Room is to Educate, sometimes Entertain, and Empower Alzheimer's caregivers, their families, and the entire Alzheimer's community.

At the Alzheimer's Reading Room, we offer "real life" solutions to problems that Alzheimer's caregivers face each day.

The Alzheimer's Reading Room is the number one source of life news for the entire Alzheimer's community.

The site focuses on Alzheimer's disease and the art of Alzheimer's caregiving.

On the Alzheimer's Reading Room, we tackle real world problems and offer advice and solutions on issues like: repetitive questioning, challenging behavior, how tounderstand Alzheimer's disease, how to cope with the disease, and how tocommunicate effectively with a person living with dementia.

Read more about the Alzheimer's Reading Room here.

I Forgot My Mother Has Alzheimer's

2011-12-21T11:45:00.001-05:00

In Alzheimer's World, Dotty is the person I always knew. Sure, her brain is sick. But, once I started treating Dotty like the person I always knew, she rewarded me by becoming kinder, gentler, and more cooperative.

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Learning How to Communicate
with Someone Suffering From Dementia

If you want to get some good insight into how I rewired my brain and became a more effective Alzheimer's caregiver I suggest you take the time to read these two article:Alzheimer's and the Wiring of My Brain, and Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World.

I'm not sure when I actually started to forget that Dotty lives with Alzheimer's.

Read the entire story here.

Alzheimer's and The Invisible Siblings

2011-12-06T12:27:00.001-05:00

If you’re burdened by a family member who is missing-in-action, what do you do?

By Pamela R. Kelley
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Are Alzheimer's Caregivers
the Forgotten?

Buried in the comments to Bob’ s article, In the Bunkhouse, Random Thoughts Edition, and in reference to the growing number of Alzheimer's caregivers (almost 15 million), I noticed this exchange:

Carole: "What I'd really like stats on, are those who have a close relative with Alzheimer's ... and they refuse to help. I want a stat on the deadbeats so they can see themselves officially identified. Right now they are invisible".

Nancy: “ Hear, Hear!!! I totally agree!! If everyone who identified themselves as a primary caregiver also indicated how many siblings they have who do not help … well, my conservative estimate is another 15 million!!!”

Many of us who are the One have experienced intense disappointment, hurt, and anger when we feel like we've been abandoned to our mission by those with an equal stake in our loved one’ s care.

Reading the above exchange made me wonder about those invisible siblings and adult children.

How can they blithely carry on without realizing how important and meaningful a small act in support of the caring mission would be? Then, I began to identify all of the assumptions I made when I formulated the question.

I assumed that they are untroubled by their abdication of support responsibilities. I assumed that they know what to do in support. I assumed that they are capable of empathy, for their afflicted parent as well as for their burdened sibling.

Is it reasonable to assume any of this?

Why should it matter whether the invisible sibling is troubled by their inaction? Perhaps because we want to believe that eventually their consciences will prod them to action. Perhaps we cling to this hope despite months and years of evidence to the contrary simply because hope is part of the gravitational force that pulls us forward and through every day.

Maybe they don’t know what to do after all.

The last thing the caregiver needs is another task -- that of educating the absent ones on how to help. No primary caregiver can manufacture compassion and empathy in a person unfamiliar with these states of mind and heart. That Herculean task need not be added to our abundant responsibilities.

Everything we choose signifies something about us. We who have chosen to be the One need only consider the invisible ones to realize that another choice existed, and it’s a choice we rejected.

Spending our emotional capital lamenting the incomprehensible choice made by those who have
turned a blind eye or hardened their hearts will only deplete us. We can’t afford that.

When I’m troubled by matters like these, I look for a way to frame an invisible sibling’s behavior that explains it. I’m just looking for some sort of rational context so that I can steel myself against future disappointments.

What can feel punitive usually isn’t intended in that way. Contextualizing it lets me put this burden aside for a while, if I’ m lucky.

If you’re burdened by a family member who is missing-in-action, what do you do?

How do you keep those feelings from intruding in the positive and caring environment you work so hard at maintaining?

Pamela R. Kelley is the full-time caregiver for her mother, after serving as her long-distance caregiver for more than four years. Before her caregiving role took primacy, Ms. Kelley directed an American Bar Association-approved paralegal education program at the University of Alaska Anchorage from within UAA's Justice Center. As she transitioned to full-time caregiving, she prepared a resource manual and presented lectures on long-distance caregiving to her UAA colleagues. She is a 25-year member of the Alaska Bar Association, and concentrated her years of active practice in the areas of commercial transactions and creditor representation in complex bankruptcy cases. Over the years, she has published many articles on topics as varied as cyber-stalking and antitrust law. Ms. Kelley lives, works and writes in Anchorage, Alaska.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Pamela R. Kelley, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Happy Thanksgiving from Dotty and Bob

2011-11-24T10:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from Dotty and Bob

Alzheimer's Just Let Them Do it

2011-11-19T09:24:00.001-05:00

Several months after my great Alzheimer's caregiver idea, I received one of the biggest shocks of my Alzheimer's caregiver life. A shock that sent me into a tailspin like I had never experienced previously in my life -- it sent me to the edge of total despair..

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Bob DeMarco

Almost every day I am reminded of one of the most important things I learned about Alzheimer's caregiving -- Just let them do it.

In my case, this refers to my mother Dotty. Dotty has Alzheimer's disease.

Continue Reading...

What Was the Craziest, Dumbest, or Most Ignorant Question You Were Asked About a Person Living with Dementia?

2011-10-24T08:11:00.000-04:00

To add your comment go here.

What Was the Craziest, Dumbest, or Most Ignorant Question You Were Asked About a Person Living with Dementia?

By Topic

Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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

Communicating in Alzheimer's World

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Caregiver.

New Study Links Surgery and Anesthesia With Alzheimer’s

2011-10-02T08:50:00.000-04:00

URL: http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/10/study-link...

"Although not definitive, this human biomarker study gives some credibility to the notion that anesthesia and surgery produce an inflammatory insult on the brain and accelerate chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's."

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/qumB5f

Alice in Alzheimers World

2011-09-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

You wake up one day and realize you have fallen into a deep, dark hole.

It only gets worse, no matter how hard you try, you can't get out.

You try and try and try, but before long you become convinced that you will never get out.

Will anyone help me?

Read Alice in Alzheimer's Land

More Insight and Advice for Caregivers

How Alzheimer's Destroys the Brain -- Video

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

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

What is Dementia?

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Communicating in Alzheimer's World

How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You

Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease

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

100 Good Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room Now

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

What is it like for a child to be an Alzheimer’s caregiver?

2011-08-28T17:51:00.000-04:00

from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

The earliest I can remember definitely feeling responsible for Great Grams was when I was 6 or 7. Great Grams lived with us, and I felt great love for her. We were friends. Having no brothers or sisters, she was almost a sibling in her relationship with me. As I saw her begin to fail, I spent long hours trying to explain things to her. I think she was less threatened by receiving help from me than from an adult. We were friends.
Read more at the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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

Communicating in Alzheimer's World

Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

What is Dementia?

How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You

Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease

Urinary Tract Infections, Urinary Incontinence, Poop (8 Articles)

Alzheimer's Disease, Types of Dementia, and What is the Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia

What Was the First Sign of Alzheimer's Disease in Your Case?

Alzheimer's Disease and the Five Stages of Grief

Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Advice and Insight (20 articles)

Alzheimer's Disease and Driving

Alzheimer's Caregiving Dealing with Behavior

The Plan to End Alzheimer's Disease by 2020 (Podcast)

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Are Alzheimer's Caregiver's the Forgotten Audio, Transcript

2011-07-31T13:06:00.003-04:00

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Front Row

Listen to Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?

If you don't see the podcast, go here.

Original Content the Alzheimer's Reading -- to read the text version go here --
Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?
To learn what people are saying about the Alzheimer's Reading Room go here --
100+ Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room
To learn more about the Alzheimer's Reading Room go here --
About Alzheimer's Reading Room
To learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia start here --
What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?
To test your memory for Alzheimer's or dementia go here --
Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's (5 Best Self Assessment Tests)

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 2,910 articles with more than 600,000 links on the Internet. Bob resides in Delray Beach, FL.

How Do Alzheimer's Patients Die?

2011-07-17T11:35:00.000-04:00

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Front Row

I have a good friend. We are close in age. Like my mother, Dotty, his mother is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

His mother is cared for by his sister. He lives a long way from his mom.

John is getting worried so he calls me and asks, how do you die from Alzheimer's disease? Just asks me, up front, straight out.

Read How Do Alzheimer's Patients Die?

5 Great Gifts for Dads with Memory Loss

2011-06-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

It is often in the quiet moments with the fewest distractions that we are able to make the most heartfelt connections.

By Rita Altman

Some people struggle with celebrating Father's Day once their dad begins suffering the effects of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of memory loss.

You and your family may feel like the past traditions just aren't possible anymore. However, Father's Day can still be meaningful for both your Dad and the whole family.

As difficult as it may seem, instead of focusing on all that you and your father are losing, try to focus on his remaining strengths and interests, and all that you still have.

Take comfort in knowing that by spending time with your father, you are giving him one of the most important gifts you can give: your continued presence in his life.

Here are five ways to give the gift of your time this Father's Day:

Reminisce with him

Create a photo album about his life including all the times he's been there for you, such as family vacations, birthdays and sports or academic events. This is a great way to say thank you and will also help him to relive pleasant memories from the past.

If he is able to converse, ask him open-ended questions about the photos such as, "What was your favorite thing about playing this sport?" or "Tell me about your father."

He may also enjoy reminiscing about parenthood. If you have children of your own, ask for his advice. Individuals with Alzheimer's disease may have lost many of their skills, abilities and memories, but they still have wisdom and if we ask and listen, they will share it.

Play some active games together

Did your dad enjoy playing golf, catch, bocce ball, pool or throwing darts?

Remember that much of his implicit or procedural memory, which some refer to as the "memory that remains in our fingertips," is still there. Also, keep in mind that every one of these activities can be adapted to almost any stage of memory loss.

If your father lives in an assisted living memory care neighborhood, the life enrichment manager or activities director should focus on organizing activities geared towards men. He or she can also share tips with you on the best way to adapt the activity in a way that focuses on your father's strengths so that he has fun and feels successful.

Listen to his favorite music or sing together

Music is one of the most therapeutic and engaging activities we can share with a person who has memory loss. Bring your dad a CD or record of one of his favorite bands or singers.

Find a comfortable place where there are no interruptions and listen to the music together. And, if the music moves you, get up and dance! Research has shown that the emotion and reward centers of the brain are activated when we listen to music. It is not uncommon to witness people with profound memory loss, and even some who can no longer speak, have the ability to sing an entire song.

Enjoy some of his favorite foods with him

Depending on the stage of your dad's memory loss, you can either invite him to dine at a restaurant where he can order a meal of his choice or stay at home and prepare one of his favorite meals for him.

If you decide to prepare the meal, try to keep it simple and don't forget to ask him to help you. This can also serve as a great opportunity to reminisce about meals you've shared in the past. If he lives in an assisted living memory care neighborhood, you can also plan to dine there with him or request that the chef incorporate his favorite meal into the menu.

Show him your affection and respect

The need to feel secure and loved is a universal basic human need.

Despite his degree of memory loss, your father will still be able to feel your love and respect. One doesn't need a lot of words or actions to do this. Just sit close to him, at eye level or slightly below eye level, to look up to him and show him respect. Also, don't hesitate to use touch. By holding his hand, putting your arm around his shoulder or giving him a hug, you are showing him how much you love him and cherish your time together. It is often in the quiet moments with the fewest distractions that we are able to make the most heartfelt connections.

Try using some of these approaches this Father's Day to show your dad how thankful you are for having him in your life. Although he may not remember everything, he will still be able to recognize that he is fondly remembered by you.

Rita Altman, R.N., M.S.N., C.V.M., is the Vice President, Memory Care and Programming for Sunrise Senior Living where she uses the latest evidence-based research to design and oversee the implementation of Sunrise's memory care and assisted living programs.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content the Caregiver.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND MUSIC AS ALZHEIMER’S THERAPY?

2011-06-09T20:54:00.000-04:00

Can either exercise, or healthy diet, or mental activities, or socialization, or music

be used as a therapy to treat people living with Alzheimer’s?

By Wantland J. Smith
Alzheimer's Reading Room

This Man Decided to Fight Alzheimer's
-- Jay Smith

I think each of these “lifestyle” strategies should be adopted as an urgent priority as a matter of public health and national survival. But, even if the potential benefits were to become widely accepted, I acknowledge that their effectiveness will ultimately depend upon the extent of people’s willingness to commit to doing the therapy persistently.

But wait a minute! No one is promoting using these lifestyle prevention strategies as a treatment regimen. Nonetheless, I am beginning to, at least for myself, after living with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s for a long time – six years since my diagnosis of “early Alzheimer’s disease,” and more than a dozen years since the first symptoms became worrisome enough that I sought a neurological workup to try to find out what was causing them.

Read the complete article.

By Topic

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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

Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?

Communicating in Alzheimer's World

Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

What is Dementia?

How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You

Alzheimer's World -- Trying to Reconnect with Someone Suffering from Alzheimer's Disease

Urinary Tract Infections, Urinary Incontinence, Poop (8 Articles)

Generic Aricept (Donepezil) Clarification

Alzheimer's Disease, Types of Dementia, and What is the Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia

What Was the First Sign of Alzheimer's Disease in Your Case?

Alzheimer's Disease and the Five Stages of Grief

Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Advice and Insight (20 articles)

Alzheimer's Disease Statistics

Alzheimer's Disease and Driving

Alzheimer's Caregiving Dealing with Behavior

The Plan to End Alzheimer's Disease by 2020 (Podcast)

Original content Wantland J. Smith, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

How Alzheimer's Destroys the Brain -- Video

2011-05-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

This is a five star, must see, video that should be shared with anyone that has been touched by Alzheimer's disease........

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

I would like to see every single member of theCollective Brain of the Alzheimer's Reading Room share the link to this article with the entire Alzheimer's community.

The link should be shared by Alzheimer's caregivers, among their family and friends, in support groups, and with the over 150 million U.S. citizens that are touched by Alzheimer's and struggling to understand the disease.

Watch the video at www.alzheimersreadingroom.com

Alzheimer’s Genes : The Four Known Alzheimer’s Genes

2011-04-28T11:28:00.001-04:00

"Every new Alzheimer’s gene defect we find provides new clues regarding the cause of the disease, and what we need to do to stop the disease..."

Ultimately, the full list of Alzheimer’s genes emerging from the family-based genetic studies of the Alzheimer’s Genome Project and the population based studies of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project are getting us closer and closer to someday being able to eradicate Alzheimer’s disease using a strategy of early prediction and early intervention.
-- Dr. Rudolph Tanzi

Read it at the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Bob DeMarco, the Caregiver.

Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

2011-04-06T12:07:00.000-04:00

As I thought about this I came to a simple conclusion. Instead of trying to change Alzheimer's World, instead of trying to fight Alzheimer's World, not only would I accept Alzheimer's World as a reality, I would go into Alzheimer's World and learn how to communicate effectively...

By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Earlier today, Carole Larkin published an interesting article -- How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You.

The article described in layman's terms how problems with short term memory are directly related to the region of the brain known as the hippocampus; and, how when this brain region stops functioning properly a person losses their ability to store information.

A person suffering from Alzheimer's disease can hear you and even respond to you. What they can't do is remember what the hell you just said. Well, in layman's terms anyway.

I grappled with this problem several years ago as I was constructing my own understanding of how Dotty was thinking (or not thinking) and feeling. I named the parallel universe that Dotty lives in -- Alzheimer's World.

To continue reading go here -- Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

There is a Reason Behind Their Behavior

2011-03-04T10:58:00.001-05:00

One thing I’ve learned in 20 years of working with people who have late on-set Alzheimer’s disease is that there is a reason behind their behavior....

By Vicki de Klerk-Rubin

I talked to a woman who just had visited her mother in a nursing facility, the ‘Alzheimer’s floor’.

She argued with the floor aide, “I don’t want my mother carrying that silly doll around. She’s an adult for God’s sake.”

I fully understood: it’s upsetting to see your mother behave so ‘childishly’. You certainly don’t want people making fun of her or thinking that she’s crazy. And on a much deeper level, you want your mother to be like she always was, not seen as a sick person suffering with dementia.

But one thing I’ve learned in 20 years of working with people who have late on-set Alzheimer’s disease is this: there is a reason behind their behavior.

This woman prided herself on being a good wife and mother to her children. It was her job and indeed, role in life.

Back in the 40s and 50s, this was less complicated than now. As she aged, letting go of that feeling of usefulness and being a productive member of society became more and more painful. So now, in her confusion, without the social controls that she had when she was younger, she tries to be the good mother, caring for her children, remembering the time when she felt best about herself.

Vicki de Klerk-Rubin is on the Board of the Validation Training Institute and a certified Validation Master. She holds a BFA degree from Boston University, an MBA from Fordham University and is a Dutch-trained RN. Since 1989, Mrs. de Klerk has given Validation workshops, lectures and training courses throughout Europe, Japan and the U.S. For more information about Validation, please see our website, Validation Training Institute.

Making Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat

Original content Vicki de Klerk-Rubin, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Scientific Evidence For and Against Dietary Supplements

2011-02-20T11:38:00.002-05:00

Ever wonder which dietary supplements work best? Ever wonder if the claims of the sellers of dietary supplements are backed by scientific research on humans?...

By Bob DeMarco Alzheimer's Front Row

The first issue -- which dietary supplements are effective and backed by research on humans. The second issue -- what is the effectiveness of a dietary supplement for any given condition.

To read more, see an interactive chart, and to find out more about each dietary supplement go here -- Scientific Evidence For and Against Dietary Supplements

How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You

2011-01-25T08:56:00.004-05:00

“First in, last out ... Last in, first out”

I learned a while back how the expression “first in, last out and last in, first out” describes how the loss of memory works in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

By Carole B. Larkin

The expression, First in, last out ... Last in, first out, is a short way of explaining that the things we learned long ago, like in childhood or when we were young adults, stay in Alzheimer’s patients’ memories longer than things they learned or experienced recently.

I never knew how this occurred, just that it did occur with persons suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Recently, I went to a lecture given by one of Dallas’ most knowledgeable geriatric psychiatrists and I finally found out -- How and Why.

It turns out we form memories in a two step process.

The first step is done by the hippocampus portion of the brain.

When we experience something or learn something the hippocampus takes it in and registers it. Then the hippocampus sends it to other portions of the brain to be stored.

We retrieve the memory from the other portions of the brain when we remember something.

Research tells us that the hippocampus is one of the earliest portions of the brain damaged by Alzheimer’s disease. I could never figure out why the doctors made such a big deal of that, but now I know.

When the hippocampus is damaged or dying it never registers the event or the knowledge. It’s doesn’t recognize the event, and acts the same as if the event never happened. It never sends the message to the other parts of the brain to store the event.

You can’t retrieve what was never stored can you?

Before the hippocampus is damaged it can register events and send them to storage, so those events are there to be retrieved.

Ever wonder why mom has no idea that she had breakfast, but knows the color of the dress she wore at Easter 40 years ago? Because the old memory was stored, while the newest memory is no longer stored because the hippocampus is no longer doing its job.

It actually makes sense that mom repeats herself over and over, because her brain never registered the fact that she already asked the question or told the story before.

Biologically, the brain cannot do its job because the hippocampus is damaged.

You cannot teach mom to not repeat herself because the hippocampus cannot register the teaching or send it to the storage units of the brain -- this is caused by damage to the hippocampus.

Do yourself a favor -- think about this when an Alzheimer's patient keeps asking the same question over and over, or engages in behaviors like insisting you did not call this morning.

Recognizing why this is happening might help you overcome feelings of anger and frustration.

Your comments and reaction are welcome in the ADD New Comment section below.

Think about about this article and how the brain works; and then, let me know if this article was of help to you.

Also consider sharing this with family, friends and other members of the Alzheimer's community.

Carole Larkin MAG, CMC, CDP, 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. ThirdAge Services LLC, is located in Dallas, TX.

Confessions of an Alzheimer's Caregiver

2011-01-13T08:49:00.003-05:00

True confession from an Alzheimer's activist, wife, caregiver....

To be a caregiver isn’t an easy task. I am sure anyone reading this forum knows that by now. However, the issues aren’t just the actual ‘taking care.’ In addition to the difficulties of care giving, I think many of us struggle with the emotional issues of guilt and frustration, and, quite truthfully, never really knowing if we are doing the right thing...

To read the original content go here

CareGiver

Framework of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease

Goal 1: Prevent and Effectively Treat Alzheimer’s Disease by 2025

Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World

Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World

Dementia and the Eight Types of Dementia

Why is this happening? What can I do?

Merry Christmas

About Alzheimer's Reading Room

I Forgot My Mother Has Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's and The Invisible Siblings

Happy Thanksgiving from Dotty and Bob

Alzheimer's Just Let Them Do it

What Was the Craziest, Dumbest, or Most Ignorant Question You Were Asked About a Person Living with Dementia?

By Topic Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten? What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia Test Your Memory for Alzheimer's Disease (5 Best Self Assessment Tests) Communicating in Alzheimer's World

New Study Links Surgery and Anesthesia With Alzheimer’s

Alice in Alzheimers World

What is it like for a child to be an Alzheimer’s caregiver?

Are Alzheimer's Caregiver's the Forgotten Audio, Transcript

How Do Alzheimer's Patients Die?

5 Great Gifts for Dads with Memory Loss

LIFESTYLE CHANGES AND MUSIC AS ALZHEIMER’S THERAPY?

How Alzheimer's Destroys the Brain -- Video

Alzheimer’s Genes : The Four Known Alzheimer’s Genes

Learning How to Communicate with Someone Suffering From Alzheimer's Disease

There is a Reason Behind Their Behavior

Scientific Evidence For and Against Dietary Supplements

How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You

“First in, last out ... Last in, first out”

Confessions of an Alzheimer's Caregiver

Confessions of an Alzheimer's Caregiver

By Topic

Are Alzheimer's Caregivers the Forgotten?

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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

Communicating in Alzheimer's World