ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:
I get Alzheimer's Weekly Newsletter every Sunday. http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/ This week they have an article on Money management and dementia and when is it time to take the checkbook away.
I can go back to taking care of my father in law. He always carried money on him, and when we got his check we would let him have $300.00 to carry in his wallet like he was use to and put the rest in the bank for him. One day he actually lost his wallet and all the money. We already experienced him with his memory loss and I was just trying to keep him as close to normal as possible. Dad was so upset over the money and demanded we give it back to him.
We had to use some imagination and get creative and try to figure out how to keep him happy with out him losing all his money. It took some time but we actually found play money that looked almost like the real thing. Than we would show him his check and have him with us as we deposited it in the bank. We had an envelope from the bank already on us and after putting in his check we gave him the envelope with the fake money.
You may think this was a sneaky thing to do but this ended up being a win - win situation. He was happy to have money on him and we were able to keep him from losing his money.
At the daycare he went to, I found out that he was passing out his fake money to people for little things they did for him.
Check out this article on Alzheimer's Weekly On Line Magazine
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/money-management-and-dementia .
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:
CHECK THIS OUT! THE WORLDS OLDEST SPRINTER:
http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/running-strong-24277101
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com'
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
CHECK THIS OUT! THE WORLDS OLDEST SPRINTER:
http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/running-strong-24277101
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com'
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:
Today is a blog about inspiration: And yes there is a God!
I live in Phoenix, Az and the weather is wonderful this time of year. While Chicago and New York are having freezing cold weather we are enjoying the outside with sweater weather. I went on my two mile walk and one mile run when I noticed a woman walking with a walker on the sidewalk across the street. The walker had wheels to the front and cut up balls to the back.
I am the kind of person who has trouble keeping to myself so I had to walk by her to say hi. She looked a little frightened at first but said hi back looking straight ahead.
"Good day for a walk isn't it," I went on.
"Well I'm trying," she answered back.
"Looks like you are doing a great job," I said. With that she looked at me and smiled.
"I use to walk 8 to 10 miles a day," she said. Than she went on to tell me that she has had three Nero surgery's and chemo the last six years. She pushed her curly brown hair away from her face to show me her scar on her scalp.
"You are an inspiration," I said to her and I couldn't help myself as I hugged her.
"God has been taking care of me," she answered.
I finished my run with tears streaming down my face. What an answer to prayer for this woman who use to walk eight miles a day but now working on walking around the block with her walker. I just had to share this miracle with you to remind you that you are not alone.
I know how hard it is to take care of someone with Alzheimer's. I know how hard it is to accept the fact your loved one has this disease. Just remember you are not alone. God is watching you and taking care of you. Look for a good support group. He may have someone waiting to help you.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Today is a blog about inspiration: And yes there is a God!
I live in Phoenix, Az and the weather is wonderful this time of year. While Chicago and New York are having freezing cold weather we are enjoying the outside with sweater weather. I went on my two mile walk and one mile run when I noticed a woman walking with a walker on the sidewalk across the street. The walker had wheels to the front and cut up balls to the back.
I am the kind of person who has trouble keeping to myself so I had to walk by her to say hi. She looked a little frightened at first but said hi back looking straight ahead.
"Good day for a walk isn't it," I went on.
"Well I'm trying," she answered back.
"Looks like you are doing a great job," I said. With that she looked at me and smiled.
"I use to walk 8 to 10 miles a day," she said. Than she went on to tell me that she has had three Nero surgery's and chemo the last six years. She pushed her curly brown hair away from her face to show me her scar on her scalp.
"You are an inspiration," I said to her and I couldn't help myself as I hugged her.
"God has been taking care of me," she answered.
I finished my run with tears streaming down my face. What an answer to prayer for this woman who use to walk eight miles a day but now working on walking around the block with her walker. I just had to share this miracle with you to remind you that you are not alone.
I know how hard it is to take care of someone with Alzheimer's. I know how hard it is to accept the fact your loved one has this disease. Just remember you are not alone. God is watching you and taking care of you. Look for a good support group. He may have someone waiting to help you.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:
Eight Alternative Therapies:
Pet Therapy:
As many pet owners will attest, just being around an animal can have a soothing effect. This is the idea behind pet therapy for people with dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, who are at particular risk for anxiety and depression. In this kind of therapy, the pet's human companion introduces the animal -- whether it's a dog, cat, guinea pig, or other domestic pet -- to the person with Alzheimer's and helps the interaction go smoothly and safely.
Spiritual Activities:
Whether spiritual activities include prayer, religious services, or visits with someone who offers faith-based counsel, they have a therapeutic effect on many people with Alzheimer's disease. Spirituality and faith offer stress relief, hope, and reassurance. Some studies have found that people with probable Alzheimer's who have higher levels of religiosity show slower rates of mental decline.
Music Therapy:
If you've ever found yourself singing a pop song you haven't heard since high school -- and knowing the lyrics -- you have some idea of the power of musical memory. Someone with Alzheimer's might not remember breakfast, yet the lyrics of old favorites from 50 or 60 years ago may be at the tip of her tongue.
Art Therapy:
Both viewing and creating works of art can be therapeutic. Walking through a museum or gallery is a great way to relax a person with Alzheimer's disease while providing some exercise. Talking about certain pieces with a companion or a group on a special tour gives her a chance to converse about something in the moment without worrying about failing to remember names or facts. (And art interpretation, after all, is up to the individual, so there's also a freedom of expression.) This, in turn, can be a huge mood booster and way to increase self-esteem.
Storytelling:
Storytelling is another therapy that taps into creativity. A caregiver or other companion presents the patient with a picture or series of pictures and invites her to construct a corresponding storyline. As in art therapy, communicating about an image doesn't require remembering anything, which can be an intimidating and uncomfortable aspect of other conversations. Storytelling exercises creativity, gives emotional release, and provides caregivers with interesting insights into the life and mind of the person with Alzheimer's.
Reminiscence Therapy:
Different from storytelling, which doesn't specifically involve memories, reminiscence therapy invites a person with Alzheimer's to exercise her long-term memory by encouraging her to share positive recollections from younger days. Especially in the earlier stages of the disease, she may still remember with astonishing clarity events and people from childhood and young adulthood. Old photo albums, mementos, and music are common tools used to generate this type of conversation.
Massage Therapy:
Perhaps one of the most unexpected therapies for someone with Alzheimer's disease is massage therapy. In all people, the healing power of touch is well documented. It can trigger the relaxation response, lower blood pressure, and reduce the pain of chronic diseases. Few studies have been done on massage for Alzheimer's patients, but so far it's been found to reduce episodes of wandering and other agitated behaviors associated with anxiety. Massage can also help people with the disease sleep better, ease muscle pain and tightness, and ward off depression.
Aromatherapy:
The use of essential oils from flowers and other plants to treat physical and mental disorders has a long history dating back thousands of years. Certain scents appear to work directly on connections in the brain to create associated responses. Scented oils can be applied directly to the skin (in diluted form) during massage, burned to release their scent into the air, or placed in bathwater. Some nursing facilities use aromatherapy to calm residents. This therapy hasn't been well studied with Alzheimer's, and as the disease progresses the sense of smell is often impaired, so it's unclear whether people with advanced Alzheimer's can benefit from it.
Check out this website for more information: http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/eight-alternative-therapies
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Eight Alternative Therapies:
Pet Therapy:
As many pet owners will attest, just being around an animal can have a soothing effect. This is the idea behind pet therapy for people with dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, who are at particular risk for anxiety and depression. In this kind of therapy, the pet's human companion introduces the animal -- whether it's a dog, cat, guinea pig, or other domestic pet -- to the person with Alzheimer's and helps the interaction go smoothly and safely.
Spiritual Activities:
Whether spiritual activities include prayer, religious services, or visits with someone who offers faith-based counsel, they have a therapeutic effect on many people with Alzheimer's disease. Spirituality and faith offer stress relief, hope, and reassurance. Some studies have found that people with probable Alzheimer's who have higher levels of religiosity show slower rates of mental decline.
Music Therapy:
If you've ever found yourself singing a pop song you haven't heard since high school -- and knowing the lyrics -- you have some idea of the power of musical memory. Someone with Alzheimer's might not remember breakfast, yet the lyrics of old favorites from 50 or 60 years ago may be at the tip of her tongue.
Art Therapy:
Both viewing and creating works of art can be therapeutic. Walking through a museum or gallery is a great way to relax a person with Alzheimer's disease while providing some exercise. Talking about certain pieces with a companion or a group on a special tour gives her a chance to converse about something in the moment without worrying about failing to remember names or facts. (And art interpretation, after all, is up to the individual, so there's also a freedom of expression.) This, in turn, can be a huge mood booster and way to increase self-esteem.
Storytelling:
Storytelling is another therapy that taps into creativity. A caregiver or other companion presents the patient with a picture or series of pictures and invites her to construct a corresponding storyline. As in art therapy, communicating about an image doesn't require remembering anything, which can be an intimidating and uncomfortable aspect of other conversations. Storytelling exercises creativity, gives emotional release, and provides caregivers with interesting insights into the life and mind of the person with Alzheimer's.
Reminiscence Therapy:
Different from storytelling, which doesn't specifically involve memories, reminiscence therapy invites a person with Alzheimer's to exercise her long-term memory by encouraging her to share positive recollections from younger days. Especially in the earlier stages of the disease, she may still remember with astonishing clarity events and people from childhood and young adulthood. Old photo albums, mementos, and music are common tools used to generate this type of conversation.
Massage Therapy:
Perhaps one of the most unexpected therapies for someone with Alzheimer's disease is massage therapy. In all people, the healing power of touch is well documented. It can trigger the relaxation response, lower blood pressure, and reduce the pain of chronic diseases. Few studies have been done on massage for Alzheimer's patients, but so far it's been found to reduce episodes of wandering and other agitated behaviors associated with anxiety. Massage can also help people with the disease sleep better, ease muscle pain and tightness, and ward off depression.
Aromatherapy:
The use of essential oils from flowers and other plants to treat physical and mental disorders has a long history dating back thousands of years. Certain scents appear to work directly on connections in the brain to create associated responses. Scented oils can be applied directly to the skin (in diluted form) during massage, burned to release their scent into the air, or placed in bathwater. Some nursing facilities use aromatherapy to calm residents. This therapy hasn't been well studied with Alzheimer's, and as the disease progresses the sense of smell is often impaired, so it's unclear whether people with advanced Alzheimer's can benefit from it.
Check out this website for more information: http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/eight-alternative-therapies
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Alzheimer's Blog:
GUILT
This is something all caretakers seem to experience. So I decided to look up this word and here is what I found.
a. The fact of being responsible for the commission of an offense. See Synonyms at blame.
b. Law The fact of having been found to have violated a criminal law; legal culpability.
c. Responsibility for a mistake or error.
d. Remorseful awareness of having done something wrong.
e. Self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing.
So what does that have to do with Alzheimer's you may ask. Many people handle guilt in different ways. This terrible disease brings out the worse in many people and they have done things or said things which later they were sorry for.
Check out this video of what this disease did to my husband and how he shares the guilt he carries today.
http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/Alzheimers-A-Caretakers-Journal--69660012.html
I want to share with you the event I went through yesterday. I work on an ambulance, as a paramedic. My job is to try and save lives. I got called to a scene for an ill person.
It seems that this house in a neighborhood we went to has a few elderly people living there. Some families prefer to have their loved ones live in a home environment instead of a nursing home. We went code 2, meaning no lights or sirens, as did the engine. The fire engine got there first and when I walked in the room these men were kneeling around a woman in her 80's doing CPR. We got to work, a person bagging her with oxygen, a person doing chest compressions, someone putting in an IV, another one drawing up the right drugs to try and bring her back. We intubated her, did three rounds of atropine and three rounds of epi, a bolus of IV fluid but she left to be with Jesus.
I found out that this woman has only lived there for a week. Her daughter couldn't handle her anymore at home and tried to find a nice place for her to live. It wasn't the living arrangements that killed her. It was just her time. But I know for a fact that the daughter feels guilt because she moved her mother and wonders today if she hadn't moved her would she still be alive.
Please, please, please find your self a support group to help you deal with your emotions. I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
GUILT
This is something all caretakers seem to experience. So I decided to look up this word and here is what I found.
a. The fact of being responsible for the commission of an offense. See Synonyms at blame.
b. Law The fact of having been found to have violated a criminal law; legal culpability.
c. Responsibility for a mistake or error.
d. Remorseful awareness of having done something wrong.
e. Self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing.
So what does that have to do with Alzheimer's you may ask. Many people handle guilt in different ways. This terrible disease brings out the worse in many people and they have done things or said things which later they were sorry for.
Check out this video of what this disease did to my husband and how he shares the guilt he carries today.
http://www.azfamily.com/good-morning-arizona/Alzheimers-A-Caretakers-Journal--69660012.html
I want to share with you the event I went through yesterday. I work on an ambulance, as a paramedic. My job is to try and save lives. I got called to a scene for an ill person.
It seems that this house in a neighborhood we went to has a few elderly people living there. Some families prefer to have their loved ones live in a home environment instead of a nursing home. We went code 2, meaning no lights or sirens, as did the engine. The fire engine got there first and when I walked in the room these men were kneeling around a woman in her 80's doing CPR. We got to work, a person bagging her with oxygen, a person doing chest compressions, someone putting in an IV, another one drawing up the right drugs to try and bring her back. We intubated her, did three rounds of atropine and three rounds of epi, a bolus of IV fluid but she left to be with Jesus.
I found out that this woman has only lived there for a week. Her daughter couldn't handle her anymore at home and tried to find a nice place for her to live. It wasn't the living arrangements that killed her. It was just her time. But I know for a fact that the daughter feels guilt because she moved her mother and wonders today if she hadn't moved her would she still be alive.
Please, please, please find your self a support group to help you deal with your emotions. I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:
As you know, or if you don't I work on an ambulance. Today was an eventful day when I went to an urgent care for a patient with chest pain. I found a 72 yr old male sitting on the urgent cares bed with his wife sitting in a chair next to him.
His wife began to tell me that her husband was holding the left side of his chest saying that it hurt. Than she went on to tell me that he has Alzheimer's and not a very good historian. We did the normal things you do with chest pain, and her husband would play with a lead we put on his chest or struggle with the blood pressure cuff on his arm as it would blow up for a blood pressure. The doctor told us what hospital we were to go to and the wife said she would leave and meet us there. We had to wait for paper work. In about ten minutes we were on our way. I called the receiving hospital to tell them about my patient and they informed me that they were on over capacity. That they had to many people in the waiting room and could I please tell my patient that it would be better for him to go some other hospital. I informed them that he has no idea what is going on due to his Alzheimer's and that his wife is meeting us there, so we need to be at their hospital. They informed me again that they were on over capacity and that they would let the wife know where to find him when she shows up. I again reminded them that he is confused and worried about his wife, asking me over and over again, where is Nancy. I also told them that his wife was the main caregiver for this patient and she will be very worried about him. None of that seemed to matter and I was instructed to find a different hospital.
The reason I am writing this is first to let you know that just because an ambulance has you doesn't mean you will automatically be seen. When we call and patch we can be sent to a different hospital if they are full. Plus if the hospital is full and there are more critical patients, you can be put into a waiting room.
I was concerned for this family since the patient had Alzheimer's and felt lost without his wife. When ever I asked him a question he would tell me, I don't remember, or it was to long ago.
I am also concerned about the lack of compassion the nurses had at the first receiving hospital.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
As you know, or if you don't I work on an ambulance. Today was an eventful day when I went to an urgent care for a patient with chest pain. I found a 72 yr old male sitting on the urgent cares bed with his wife sitting in a chair next to him.
His wife began to tell me that her husband was holding the left side of his chest saying that it hurt. Than she went on to tell me that he has Alzheimer's and not a very good historian. We did the normal things you do with chest pain, and her husband would play with a lead we put on his chest or struggle with the blood pressure cuff on his arm as it would blow up for a blood pressure. The doctor told us what hospital we were to go to and the wife said she would leave and meet us there. We had to wait for paper work. In about ten minutes we were on our way. I called the receiving hospital to tell them about my patient and they informed me that they were on over capacity. That they had to many people in the waiting room and could I please tell my patient that it would be better for him to go some other hospital. I informed them that he has no idea what is going on due to his Alzheimer's and that his wife is meeting us there, so we need to be at their hospital. They informed me again that they were on over capacity and that they would let the wife know where to find him when she shows up. I again reminded them that he is confused and worried about his wife, asking me over and over again, where is Nancy. I also told them that his wife was the main caregiver for this patient and she will be very worried about him. None of that seemed to matter and I was instructed to find a different hospital.
The reason I am writing this is first to let you know that just because an ambulance has you doesn't mean you will automatically be seen. When we call and patch we can be sent to a different hospital if they are full. Plus if the hospital is full and there are more critical patients, you can be put into a waiting room.
I was concerned for this family since the patient had Alzheimer's and felt lost without his wife. When ever I asked him a question he would tell me, I don't remember, or it was to long ago.
I am also concerned about the lack of compassion the nurses had at the first receiving hospital.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Being a caregiver is a very stressful job. Some of us picked to do this, and some of us this situation just landed in our laps.
RESPITE CARE is what comes to mind. A short term relief for family members taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's. There are respite programs out there. Some are for a few hours a day and some can be for a whole weekend. The one thing the caretaker has to remember is if they don't take care of them self than how can they take care of anyone else. Some may feel guilty taking a few hours or maybe a weekend away. I personally found that putting my father in law in a day care for four hours a day during the week helped me with my sanity. I really needed that time to be with my children or take a nap and when I picked Joe back up, I felt like I was refreshed.
Loneliness also comes to mind. I found that family members didn't like to come around to see me or Joe. They felt uncomfortable and wanted to remember Joe like he use to be before this terrible disease took over his mind. Please remember the caregiver needs friendship also, so please be there for them.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Being a caregiver is a very stressful job. Some of us picked to do this, and some of us this situation just landed in our laps.
RESPITE CARE is what comes to mind. A short term relief for family members taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's. There are respite programs out there. Some are for a few hours a day and some can be for a whole weekend. The one thing the caretaker has to remember is if they don't take care of them self than how can they take care of anyone else. Some may feel guilty taking a few hours or maybe a weekend away. I personally found that putting my father in law in a day care for four hours a day during the week helped me with my sanity. I really needed that time to be with my children or take a nap and when I picked Joe back up, I felt like I was refreshed.
Loneliness also comes to mind. I found that family members didn't like to come around to see me or Joe. They felt uncomfortable and wanted to remember Joe like he use to be before this terrible disease took over his mind. Please remember the caregiver needs friendship also, so please be there for them.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Alzheimer's Blogging:
So this is how the conversation went yesterday after I got my page on my blackberry for a call on my ambulance to go for a patient who needs help with her foley cath.
Nurse Aid: I am so glad you are here.
Me: What seems to be the problem?
Nurse Aid: This patient you are taking for me is so agitated. She keeps trying to pull out her foley. (pause) She fell and has a hip fx and now she is in bed agitated and I have a lot of patients and I can't spend all my time with her.
Me: Is there a nurse here that can take the foley out for her?
Nurse Aid: No nurses work in the midnight shift.
Me: Does she have dementia or Alzheimer's?
Nurse Aid: Why yes she does. I told her family to put her in a rehab but they wouldn't listen to me. This is not a rehab. She won't take her medication, and she won't listen and she gets so upset with me. She needs different kind of care than what we can do for her, but her family insists that we take care of her. She needs more one on one and we can't deliver that kind of service here.
Me: So you want me to take her to the hospital to take out the foley? Correct?
Nurse Aid: Yes please and tell the staff at the hospital that we can't take care of her and to find a rehab for her.
I found the patient in bed with so many deep purple bruises on her arms and legs I wasn't sure if maybe that was suppose to be the color of her skin. Her legs are separated by a spongy wedge that has a corner in between her legs growing outward toward her feet. It is in a triangle shape. She has the staples at her left hip and the foley which is hanging down so she doesn't have to get up and go to the bathroom. Of course she doesn't understand what is going on.
I wanted to present this for you to read. Please if your loved one with Alzheimer's has fallen and hurt themselves and need special care to heal please check out the faculty carefully. Some are not equipped for such care. This is not right for your loved one to be put someplace that can't deliver what is really needed.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Co., Pub.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
So this is how the conversation went yesterday after I got my page on my blackberry for a call on my ambulance to go for a patient who needs help with her foley cath.
Nurse Aid: I am so glad you are here.
Me: What seems to be the problem?
Nurse Aid: This patient you are taking for me is so agitated. She keeps trying to pull out her foley. (pause) She fell and has a hip fx and now she is in bed agitated and I have a lot of patients and I can't spend all my time with her.
Me: Is there a nurse here that can take the foley out for her?
Nurse Aid: No nurses work in the midnight shift.
Me: Does she have dementia or Alzheimer's?
Nurse Aid: Why yes she does. I told her family to put her in a rehab but they wouldn't listen to me. This is not a rehab. She won't take her medication, and she won't listen and she gets so upset with me. She needs different kind of care than what we can do for her, but her family insists that we take care of her. She needs more one on one and we can't deliver that kind of service here.
Me: So you want me to take her to the hospital to take out the foley? Correct?
Nurse Aid: Yes please and tell the staff at the hospital that we can't take care of her and to find a rehab for her.
I found the patient in bed with so many deep purple bruises on her arms and legs I wasn't sure if maybe that was suppose to be the color of her skin. Her legs are separated by a spongy wedge that has a corner in between her legs growing outward toward her feet. It is in a triangle shape. She has the staples at her left hip and the foley which is hanging down so she doesn't have to get up and go to the bathroom. Of course she doesn't understand what is going on.
I wanted to present this for you to read. Please if your loved one with Alzheimer's has fallen and hurt themselves and need special care to heal please check out the faculty carefully. Some are not equipped for such care. This is not right for your loved one to be put someplace that can't deliver what is really needed.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Co., Pub.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Alzheimer's Blogging:
This is a short film about Grandpa Joe toward the later stages of his Alzheimer's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dWlsgM9LA&feature=player_embedded
I have written a book, off the journal that I kept while taking care of Grandpa Joe. It does not hide anything. My husband and daughters put in some of their feelings. It is a hard decision whether to keep your family member at home or put them into a nursing home. My husband wrote how hard it was for him as dad aggravated him, and how mad he would get at him self as he got angry at dad. In my husbands words, "I'm not telling you to refuse this awesome responsibility. I am merely asking you to consider--with all the honesty you can muster--just how heavy a burden this task will be for you and your family."
Would I do it again? Yes
Would my husband do it again? No
Neither answer is wrong or right. After all we are all human with different kinds of tolerance/patience levels.
Many times on my ambulance I pick up a patient who has Dementia/Alzheimer's from a nursing home and notice on my face sheet they have a spouse living at home. That does not make them a bad person for putting their spouse there. They could not care for them so they did the next best thing.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
This is a short film about Grandpa Joe toward the later stages of his Alzheimer's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dWlsgM9LA&feature=player_embedded
I have written a book, off the journal that I kept while taking care of Grandpa Joe. It does not hide anything. My husband and daughters put in some of their feelings. It is a hard decision whether to keep your family member at home or put them into a nursing home. My husband wrote how hard it was for him as dad aggravated him, and how mad he would get at him self as he got angry at dad. In my husbands words, "I'm not telling you to refuse this awesome responsibility. I am merely asking you to consider--with all the honesty you can muster--just how heavy a burden this task will be for you and your family."
Would I do it again? Yes
Would my husband do it again? No
Neither answer is wrong or right. After all we are all human with different kinds of tolerance/patience levels.
Many times on my ambulance I pick up a patient who has Dementia/Alzheimer's from a nursing home and notice on my face sheet they have a spouse living at home. That does not make them a bad person for putting their spouse there. They could not care for them so they did the next best thing.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Monday, February 7, 2011
ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:
Good morning,
So I decided to talk today about something that many of us baby boomers don't want to talk about. Forgetfulness. Yes that is an ugly word. We are so frightened of that word. If we are starting to forget does that mean we are getting dementia which can turn into the dreadful Alzheimer's? So I looked up forgetting on Wikipiedia:
Forgetting (retention loss) refers to apparent loss of information already encoded and stored in an individual's long term memory. It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage. It is subject to delicately balanced optimization that ensures that relevant memories are recalled. Forgetting can be reduced by repetition and/or more elaborate cognitive processing of information. Reviewing information in ways that involve active retrieval seems to slow the rate of forgetting.
I know that when I can't find something I get scared. I took care of my father in law Joe with his Alzheimer's and I begin to wonder if I am getting the same thing.
Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As we get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some of us may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, we don’t remember information as well as we use to, or we seem to misplace things like our car keys. These usually are signs of mild forgetfulness, not serious memory problems.
We can do things to maintain our memory and mental skills.
Make a to do list.
Plan and put notes on the calendar.
Some form of exercise is needed like walking 30 minutes a day to keep your brain active.
Find ways to relieve stress and depression.
Eat healthy.
On a more personal note, my car is in the shop and I had to use my son in laws car the other day and my daughters car today. I asked where the lights and cruise control were and I remembered when I drove these foreign cars to work. It is the little things that can make or break your day.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Good morning,
So I decided to talk today about something that many of us baby boomers don't want to talk about. Forgetfulness. Yes that is an ugly word. We are so frightened of that word. If we are starting to forget does that mean we are getting dementia which can turn into the dreadful Alzheimer's? So I looked up forgetting on Wikipiedia:
Forgetting (retention loss) refers to apparent loss of information already encoded and stored in an individual's long term memory. It is a spontaneous or gradual process in which old memories are unable to be recalled from memory storage. It is subject to delicately balanced optimization that ensures that relevant memories are recalled. Forgetting can be reduced by repetition and/or more elaborate cognitive processing of information. Reviewing information in ways that involve active retrieval seems to slow the rate of forgetting.
I know that when I can't find something I get scared. I took care of my father in law Joe with his Alzheimer's and I begin to wonder if I am getting the same thing.
Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As we get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some of us may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, we don’t remember information as well as we use to, or we seem to misplace things like our car keys. These usually are signs of mild forgetfulness, not serious memory problems.
We can do things to maintain our memory and mental skills.
Make a to do list.
Plan and put notes on the calendar.
Some form of exercise is needed like walking 30 minutes a day to keep your brain active.
Find ways to relieve stress and depression.
Eat healthy.
On a more personal note, my car is in the shop and I had to use my son in laws car the other day and my daughters car today. I asked where the lights and cruise control were and I remembered when I drove these foreign cars to work. It is the little things that can make or break your day.
Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Alzheimer's Blogging:
A world without Alzheimer's begins with your voice.
Learn how you can help continue the momentum
Even with Alzheimer advocacy victories such as the historic passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act and all-important wins on state and local levels nationwide, we must maintain the momentum in leading our country toward overcoming the Alzheimer crisis. The Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum is the premier experience to learn how advocates can continue to successfully fight for these issues with our legislators.
The Forum is designed to help you hone your advocacy skills – not just for visiting elected officials on Capitol Hill, but also as you return home. The program will teach you about our legislative priorities, our critical messages and how to deliver these messages to key decision makers. You will learn about how to engage your local legislators and how to use a wide variety of resources in your communities to encourage more people to join with us as Alzheimer advocates.
Plan on attending the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. Visit www.alz.org/ forum for program information and to register online.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
A world without Alzheimer's begins with your voice.
Learn how you can help continue the momentum
Even with Alzheimer advocacy victories such as the historic passage of the National Alzheimer's Project Act and all-important wins on state and local levels nationwide, we must maintain the momentum in leading our country toward overcoming the Alzheimer crisis. The Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum is the premier experience to learn how advocates can continue to successfully fight for these issues with our legislators.
The Forum is designed to help you hone your advocacy skills – not just for visiting elected officials on Capitol Hill, but also as you return home. The program will teach you about our legislative priorities, our critical messages and how to deliver these messages to key decision makers. You will learn about how to engage your local legislators and how to use a wide variety of resources in your communities to encourage more people to join with us as Alzheimer advocates.
Plan on attending the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. Visit www.alz.org/ forum for program information and to register online.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com
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