ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. It is that time of the year again and for some of you, you are not really excited about the noise and celebration around you. Your world as you know it right now is stuck in time and moving very slow. It is not easy taking care of a person with Alzheimer's. If you have a loved one with this disease and they are in a nursing home, it is the guilt that is taking away your Christmas spirit. Unfortunately it is a lose/ lose situation. 

The Christmas before my father in law passed away, we had a simple Christmas at the house. The kids helped with decorating the tree, and the making of cookies. My father in law slept in his favorite chair in the living room. What to get him took a lot of imagination. We wrapped a box of his favorite cookies and a couple of his favorite teams on caps for his head. He seemed to like to wear base ball hats all the time. It was not a lot of money but it made him smile.

We kept Christmas low key for him. To much noise bothered him, to much sun light bothered him, and even the  young grand kids bothered him. But that was all right. He had always been there for us and it was our turn to be there for him.

Time fly fast, and the years seem to rush on by. Enjoy your loved one the best way you know how. Before you know it you will spending years without them and you will miss them.

Merry Christmas and God Bless You All.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press an Imprint of James A Rock Pub.
www.mariefostino.com
www.mariefostino.blogspot.com 

Alzheimer's Blogging:

It is the Christmas Season, a time to be jolly and remember loved ones. How many times have you went to see a loved one at the nursing home and forget to tell the staff thank you for taking care of your loved one. You know like when you go into a restaurant you  give the waiter a tip, to say thanks. It is time to  say thanks to the caregivers who are  giving your loved one the love and compassion they need while you are not around.

I am a hugger so I give hugs to everyone who is nice and helpful when I say thanks. That doesn't mean you have to. Not everyone likes to be touched or touch people and there is no right or wrong way to say thanks. I think it is just important to acknowledge the fact you appreciate all they do for your loved one.

Some like to give gifts, but some places may not allow you to give a gift to one special person on the staff. So maybe you can bring in a box of candy or some pizzas for the whole staff to eat and silently tell the one you really want to thank for the extra   work they do.

Everyone needs kind words and praise sometimes. And believe it or not you will feel better also.
Merry Christmas, hope you are enjoying this holiday.
Grandpa Joe and Grandma Jean, we miss you.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of Jame A Rock Pub., Co.
www.mariefostino.com
check out my romance books:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323556967&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Struggle-Heart-ebook/dp/B0067T6O30/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

Alzheimer's Blogging:

So how was your Thanksgiving?  Although we are given this gift from God, a thing called life and we live it everyday, it seems like the Holidays we try and make it special.  Some of us live far away from loved ones and we try to visit them during this holiday time.  Thanksgiving seems to be the time for togetherness with meals and great deserts. It is a time that friends and relatives try and go out of there way to see each other. If you have a loved one in the house with Dementia/ Alzheimer's you know that this can be a very difficult time for them.  With their memory loss it is difficult for them to relate and communicate.

I remember a few years ago when we were planning on leaving Chicago and move with my father in law to Phoenix. We had a Christmas party. My father in law stood in the corner of the room, watching, waiting, smiling but not really wanting to participate. He may have recognized some of the faces and  yes he should have known all of them. But due to his memory loss  he was frightened. The house was noisy and lots of food sat on the table.

My children watched him, and one of them came up with an idea to get him involved.  They put karaoke on the TV set with music from the 60's and it didn't take long before he was dancing to it while they sang.  He was now participating with the group and enjoying himself.

My father in law is now long gone and all I have left is his memory in my heart and pictures on walls. He was a great man who taught us a lot about love and life.

This year I celebrated Thanksgiving with my husband, my five children and four of them have husbands who joined us along with my seven grandchildren. It was a wonderful time of food and games. This is what I love about the holidays, the get togethers.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
www.mariefostino.com
PS:   I have written a couple of romance books if anyone is interested:
The Silver Locket
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322419189&sr=1-1
A Struggle of the Heart
http://www.amazon.com/Struggle-Heart-ebook/dp/B0067T6O30/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322419239&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

In my younger years as a young mother I got a job as a nursing assistant. Back in the day we didn't really go to school for this. We were actually taught at the nursing home where we were taking the job and we had classes there for about 3 or 4 weeks. We would than take a test and than work for a week with a preceptor before we were on our own. One of the things they taught me and I still have imprinted in my brain was how to bath the elderly person. They have something called  bath blankets and we would cover the person with the blanket after undressing them, and than move only the part we were washing to  expose. The blanket was suppose to get wet. We would expose little bits of body at a time and recover before exposing another part of the body.  After cleaning our patient we would get a dry bath blanket and recover them to warm them up. Makes sense doesn't it?  Well today on Alzheimer's Weekly I saw a wonderful video on how to bath the  dementia patient. I want to share it with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxwJgDg3bYU&feature=player_embedded

It is important to let the person you are bathing have their respect and not to make them feel  uncomfortable while getting bathed.  I hope this video helps you. I fell in love with it when I watched it.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321024984&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

From Alzheimer's Weekly Magazine:


"The Notebook" is a beautiful film about a couple deeply in love. The film switches scenes between two seasons in their lives. We see them in the urgency of young romance, and then we see them disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer's, steadfast in their love.

It is his custom every day to read to her from a notebook that tells the story of how they met and fell in love and overcame the obstacles to their happiness.

Watch this collage of moving scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeV9KwGF5t0&feature=player_embedded


I love the novels of Nicholas Sparks and this one was one of his best.

Alzheimer's is such a terrible disease. Can we still love the  person with Alzheimer's even when they don't remember us? Can we still love the person with Alzheimer's when they go through the mean stage, when they hit and bite because they don't know better. Can we still love the person with Alzheimer's  when they reach the stage of a baby and you have to totally take care of them with out any acknowledgement that they appreciate what you are doing?  This is just thoughts for your mind. Only you can answer them. For me, I hope the answer is yes if this happens to my husband.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320789784&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

I love getting Alzheimer's Weekly on line magazine. Even though I don't have my father in law around anymore to take care of I can still keep in touch with this magazine. I still pick up patients in my ambulance with this disease, which are my favorite patients and I feel so blessed that I am the one to take them to the hospital. I was just reading and listening to this video about a group called The Unforgettables. They have a concert coming up and they say dementia  benefits from this music therapy.  Check this out. http://alzheimersweekly.com/ and look under the heading of Unforgettable Alzheimer's Dementia Choir.


I do remember one time when I had a Christmas party for my father in law before we took him out of Illinois. We had all the relatives over and my children decided to  put on karaoke. My father in law  danced to the music as my girls sang the tunes. We all had such fun. But the best part was it seemed like dad fit in at that time just having fun with everyone. Before that it looked like he was lost with all the people walking around, eating food and just talking. He couldn't understand all that they were saying so he could not really join the conversation. He just sat in a chair and watched everyone. But boy did he come to life when the music came on.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press an Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320466075&sr=1-1

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

Well today I have learned something new about Alzheimer's. Have you been on Alzhemer's Weekly this week? There are some articles on LDB, which is Lewy Body Dementia.  This disease is most often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkenson's Disease. It is a degenerative brain disease which affects thinking and movement while impacting behavior and sleep. It is the second most common type of Dementia. This disease seems to have a lot of the symptoms as Alzheimer's or Parkenson's. But Lewy Body Dementia spreads faster than Alzheimer's and the patient is more often placed in a nursing home faster and a shorter life span.  The symptoms between Alzheimer's and LDB and Parkenson's and LDB make if hard for a doctor to make a definitive diagnosis. There is no cure and nothing to stop the progression of this disease. The drug of choice for this disease is Namenda.


Here are some of ths sites on this Lewy Body Dementia;
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/lewy-body-dementia-lbd
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/10-quick-facts-about-lewy-body-dementia
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/diagnosing-lewy-body-dementia-tricky-vital
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/namenda-treatment-mildly-beneficial-lewy-body-dementia
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/namenda-side-effects

I hope this has helped you while you are taking care of your loved one with Alzheimer's/ Dementia.
My prayers are with you.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319575798&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor the


Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act



Help us in the fight to accelerate critical Alzheimer's research. The Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=mmKXLbP8E&b=6550687&tr=y&auid=9719075  (H.R. 1897) would ensure that the federal government makes a commitment to finding treatments to prevent, cure, or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We need your VOICE as we ask Congress to make research a priority. Please take two minutes and ask your Representative   http://www.kintera.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=mmKXLbP8E&b=7516993&auid=9719057   to join the 65 current cosponsors of the Act in the House of Representatives in supporting this important legislation.



SAVE THE DATE

Lend your VOICE in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and attend the 2012 Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum, April 23-25 in Washington, DC. To see highlights from the 2011 Advocacy Forum, please visit www.alz.org/forum. http://www.alz.org/forum/



National Alzheimer's Advisory Council Holds Inaugural Meeting

The Alzheimer's Advisory Council, created by the National Alzheimer's Project Act (NAPA), http://napa.alz.org/   held its first meeting on September 27. Council members, including Alzheimer's Association President and CEO Harry Johns, heard presentations from agency officials about the federal government's current initiatives focused on Alzheimer's research, clinical care services, and long term care services and support. Advisory Council members also discussed how they will provide recommendations on the National Alzheimer's Plan to the government. A draft of the National Alzheimer's Plan is being prepared by the Department of Health and Human Services, and will be considered by the Council in early 2012.



New Congressional Scorecard Posted by the Alzheimer's Impact Movement

The Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM),  http://www.alzimpact.org/?tr=y&auid=9719093  strategic partner of the Alzheimer's Association, has posted a new Congressional Scorecard on AIM's website. AIM endorses and supports the federal priorities of the Alzheimer's Association, and the Congressional Scorecard is a helpful advocacy tool for tracking progress and support for the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act and the HOPE for Alzheimer's Act. This new scorecard features an interactive map that makes it easy for you to look up whether your members of Congress are cosponsors of priority Alzheimer's legislation. Learn more at http://www.alzimpact.org/.



Medicare Annual Enrollment: October 15-December 7, 2011

This year, the annual open enrollment period for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage begins October 15 and ends December 7. Please note that the enrollment closing date is earlier than in previous years. Plans are already sending materials to beneficiaries, and plan information for 2012 is also posted on http://www.medicare.gov/. The Alzheimer's Association's annual chart of coverage of Alzheimer's drugs http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_drug_coverage.asp?tr=y&auid=9719157#planD   by national prescription drug plans is now available to help you in this process as well. If a certain drug is not on the plan formulary, the individual can file an "Exception" request with the plan and request that the drug be covered.



Update on Federal Government Funding

Congress continues to work on the federal funding bills for fiscal year 2012. While it's a tough economic climate, the House of Representatives has provided a $1 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in its draft bill. The Association will continue to advocate for and monitor the additional funding provided for agencies and programs important to our community, including funding for NIH and the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Alzheimer's Research Program.



Robert Egge

Vice President, Public Policy

Alzheimer's Association

Thank you  for letting me share this letter I received.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319058966&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

When you think of Dementia you think of old people. But there is a lot more to this disease than realized. Just because you forgot something doesn't mean you have dementia.  Dementia is a couple of brain functions that do not work. For example: Making the correct judgement- saying the appropriate things- being able to do things like make coffee, something you may have done all your adult life.

Alzheimer's is the most common cause of Dementia in people with the age of 65 and older. But don't let that fool you, there has been cases of people as young as 30 with the early onset of this disease.

Usually you think that if it runs in your family you are prone to have this disease. But did you know that you can get this disease without it being in  your family? People who have high blood pressure, vascular disease, or even heart attacks can get this devastating disease.

So to put this bluntly you need to eat right and exercise your body as well as exercise your mind.  Keep your mind sharp. Do cross word puzzles or read books. Exercise by doing yard work, or walking everyday.  Eat more chicken than beef and lots of vegetables. Also it is  important to get a good nights sleep.

If you find yourself getting confused more often than go see a doctor and get tested. It is better to find out early and get on the right medication to try and slow the disease down than let it get worse and be lost forever in your head.

If you have a loved one with this disease, please join a support group. This is so important to talk to others who are in the same situation and get tips from them.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318877007&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blog:

What are the warning signs for dementia? 

Memory loss- difficult in daily tasks - problems with language- disorientation of time and place - poor judgement - misplacing things - changes in mood or behavior

These are some of the things I have written about over the years. Things to look for before wondering if you or your loved one should be tested. It is so scary to think that dementia could happen to you. But it can.

There is an interesting article on Yahoo about this problem called Would you recognize the early signs of Alzheimer's. 

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/would-you-recognize-the-early-signs-of-alzheimers-2572892/

Check out this site and see what you think.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318357931&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Silver Alerts  Popping Up Across America:

"The Silver Alert is a plan between the Department of Elder Affairs and law enforcement so that we can recoup and recover those people who are lost in their cars who might have Alzheimer's."

Check out this article on Alzheimer's Weekly Magazine : http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/week2/silver-alerts-popping-across-america

Silver Alert Gaining Speed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBdV09KEMHI&feature=player_embedded

I remember a time when my father in law went for a walk and we could not find him. It was such a scary feeling mixed with hopelessness. What if dad doesn't remember where he lives.  A nice man found dad who had fallen on the ground in a ditch. Somehow by talking to my father in law he figured out where dad lived and brought him home. How much easier it would have been if he had a bracelet on. I hope this article helps.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318304298&sr=1-1

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Every marriage has challenges but when is the challenge make it OK to divorce your spouse.

Check these out:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AlzheimersCommunity/pat-robertson-alzheimers-makes-divorce/story?id=14526660

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44530424/ns/health-alzheimers_disease/t/pat-robertson-divorcing-spouse-alzheimers-justifiable/


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/us/pat-robertson-remarks-on-alzheimers-stir-passions.html

As  I listen to this I am not sure he is saying to divorcee I think he is saying that if you are going to have another relationship you need to divorce first.  Yes he says the spouse is gone like a walking death, but I am not sure he says to divorce just because of Alzheimer's.  He also says that he is not a authority on this.

"I know it sounds cruel, but if he's going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her," Robertson said.

I think the words IF HE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING HE SHOULD DIVORCE HER. Although I didn't think he would really condone divorce.

If you spouse has Alzheimer's please look for a good support group, a good doctor, and  good family support.  It is a hard job taking care of a person with Alzheimer's but it can also be a rewarding one. I do not regret taking care of my father in  law, but than I was not married to him and I can't put my feet in the shoes of a spouse with Alzheimer's.

An example of wedding vows: I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.



Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317928407&sr=1-1  

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

I LISTENED TO THIS AND JUST WANTED TO CRY. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT LOVE. LISTEN AND ENJOY!!!
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YnX1MV0j_I&feature=player_embedded

A beautiful melody put to touching imagery. "Remember when - We said when we turned gray, we won't be sad, we'll be glad, for all the life we've had."

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317789344&sr=1-4

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:


In my job I go to many nursing homes and deal with dementia and Alzheimer's patients.  Some of them look so sad as they sit in the hallway in their wheel chairs waiting for the day to pass. 

At one time I worked in a nursing home, and one  of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had may I add, but we had to put these people on schedules. We told them when they had to get up, eat and go to bed. They didn't get to have any freedom anymore. The kitchen was only open at certain times, not like in your home so when you want breakfast at 10 am instead of 7 am, you eat than.  If they wanted a bath instead of a shower, or visit a friend later on the day they can.

Understand it is not the nursing homes fault. There are so many people to be taken care of and not that many nursing aids.

So in my humble  opinion the nursing home helps make the dementia catch on faster. The patient learns not to do for them self anymore, no more choices, no more tasks and so that results in no reason to  live and the mind wonders off to space and the emptiness carries on.

There is an article on Alzheimer's Weekly about people with dementia making decisions. 

Quote from Dr.Boyle:  "It's important for people with dementia to be supported to allow them to make decisions where they're still able to. Having dementia doesn't mean you automatically lose your decision-making ability - this needs to be considered on a decision-by-decision basis. Professionals need to facilitate the involvement of people with dementia in decision-making as much as possible."

Check out this article out. http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/good-decisions-people-dementia

Also check out this U-tube http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/good-decisions-people-dementia

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
check out my new book
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Locket-ebook/dp/B005R6Q3D0/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317688572&sr=1-9

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

There is the old saying - Laughter is the best medicine.  Do you remember the movie Patch Adams and how he was told he had to exessive  happiness. That movie was a good example of how an individual tried to get to know the person and figure out how to make them happy which in turned help them to have a better quality of life. Did you know it takes more muscles to put on a frown than a smile.  I found that with my father in law I got along better with him when he smiled than when  he frowned. Now I am not saying that during sundowners you will get them to smile instead. But during the part of the day that they are themself's you will have a much better response with them when you can make them smile or laugh.

Check out this article from Alzheimer's Weekly about Laughter Boss "As Good As Antipyschotics for Agitation in Dementia"  http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/laughter-boss-good-antipyschotics-agitation-dementia

And check out this video Faculty of Medicine  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKMqohgRj7w&feature=player_embedded

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Spread HOPE During World Alzheimer's Month


Throughout this September, the Alzheimer's Association has been observing the inaugural World Alzheimer's Month. What better time to call on Congress to act!

More than 35 million people are living with dementia worldwide, including an estimated 5.4 million Americans. In addition, there are nearly 15 million unpaid dementia caregivers in the United States alone. World Alzheimer's Month is a time to applaud the everyday heroes facing Alzheimer's and fighting to overcome this disease. It's also a time to demand that Congress take action to improve the lives of those living with this disease and their families.

As an advocate, the most immediate way for you to take action is to ask your member of Congress to cosponsor the Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer's Act (S.738/H.R. 1386). The HOPE for Alzheimer's Act   http://www.kintera.org/site/pp.asp?c=mmKXLbP8E&b=6301189&tr=y&auid=9535129 will increase diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and will ensure access to information, care and support for newly-diagnosed individuals and for their families. In short, this bill will provide essential support for those facing this devastating, debilitating disease.

Send a message to Congress. Let Congress know that we all have a part in the fight against this disease. Tell Congress to pass the HOPE for Alzheimer's Act.

First Meeting of the Federal Alzheimer's Advisory Council Announced

The first meeting of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. The Advisory Council was created by the National Alzheimer's Project Act
http://napa.alz.org/?tr=y&auid=953512 (NAPA), which was unanimously passed by Congress last December and signed into law by the President in January. The Council will provide recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on what should go into a national Alzheimer's plan and how the federal government can do a better job of fighting this devastating disease.

Over the past few months, we've heard from thousands of Americans about what a national Alzheimer's plan should include. People with the disease, their caregivers, and their families and friends have shared their deeply personal and moving experiences as individuals affected by the disease. Whether the comments were provided on the NAPA website, http://napa.alz.org/share-your-feedback?tr=y&auid=9535119
 at one of the in-person listening sessions around the country, or on the Association's nationwide "Tele-town Hall," one thing came through loud and clear: we need a stronger commitment from the federal government to fight this disease and care for those with it. We are truly grateful to all of you who weighed in for your courage and commitment to the cause. We will be providing all submitted comments and thoughts to the Administration and the Advisory Council later this fall.

Robert Egge

Vice President, Public Policy

Alzheimer's Association

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

Do you know when it is time to take the car away from your loved one with Alzheimer's.  Let me share with you my story.   It was a bright sunny day when Joe, my father in law took the car out like he has done all his life.  The man was a truck driver, and my sister in law was living with him.  She noticed that sometimes he gets confused but did not even give it a second thought that he may have Alzheimer's.  It was not until the day she got a call from the police that Joe had hit a car, did not stop and after a couple of miles hit another one, before she took his drivers license away and hid the car keys.  This is not a sad story. No one got hurt, but there are many who do get hurt. It is such a hard thing to do, take the car keys away from your loved one. They are use to doing what ever they want when ever they want. All of  a sudden their life is changing.  They already know something is wrong with them, but  they will not tell you out of fear. So you have to watch their body language and  soon you are taking care of them.

Let me share with you these links I found.

Warning Signs for Drivers: http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/warning-signs-drivers-checklist

Revoking a License: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsMY8F4JNXc&feature=player_embedded

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

Good Sunday to you all. I am sitting at work, waiting for a call of help, so I can come out in my ambulance and take care of someone in need.  Sometimes my mind wonders back to when my father in law was alive.  I miss him terribly. He was a good man, a gentle man, and taught me so much about love and kindness. 

I will admit it is not always a fun job taking care of a person with Alzheimer's.  It is a 24hr/7day a week job.  It is like taking care of a baby, you can't let the person out of your site. One of the things that  helped me was remembering the kind of man he was before the disease took over his mind. When he would be mean or silly, I would remind myself who he really was and smile and just be so glad that I was the one who got to take care of him.

I did put my father in law in an adult day care which at first started out 2 days a week for four hours just so that I could get some sleep. I was working the midnight shift two days a week and I needed to rest when I got home. So I would give him breakfast, drop him off at the day care and hurry to bed for  some sound sleep for a few hours before I picked him up. I found out later that it was not enough. I needed more time to myself. I was always tense keeping an eye on  him all the time. I even had a baby monitor on in his room, so that I could keep an eye on him when I was sleeping. So I decided to put him in the day care 5 days a week for four hours a day. It was amazing how much better I felt.  The  three days I didn't work, I got to do house work, or just enjoy the after noon with my family or friends. I sometimes went down town Chicago to goof off for a while. The four hrs of no stress was amazing for my health and my moods. I was actually so happy to get him again and ready for my watch.

Remember you are not alone. There are many resources out there to help you. Try to think back to the person they were before the disease hit them. They did not ask for the disease. So don't punish them even more, isn't the disease punish enough? 

Adult Day Care Can Do More Than Medicine:
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/adult-day-care-can-do-more-medicine
This is something I found  on Alzheimer's Weekly on line Magazine.

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

This is such a sad disease. So many people have this disease.  How do you cope?  Their are support groups which are so important to share feelings with.

This 30-minute HBO film tells five stories of children, ages 6-15, who are coping with a grandparent suffering from Alzheimer's. Maria Shriver narrates, delivering valuable "lessons" for the kids. Ultimately, the film shows how important it is to "go with the flow," offering perspectives on how kids can handle a grandparent's loss of memory through kindness, patience and compassion.

CHILDREN OF ALZHEIMER'S
http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/grandchildren-alzheimers

After a Diagnosis of Alzheimer's: Talking with Kids:
Gee's father has Alzheimer's disease. In this video, she discusses helping her children deal with her father's disease.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbdldTRUjn0&feature=relmfu

GRANDPA JOE WITH HIS ALZHEIMER'S:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-dWlsgM9LA

These are just a few films about Alzheimer's.  Remember you are not alone. Even though time seems to have stopped in your world there is help. Alzheimer's Association has a map with support groups all over the United States.  It is very important to have one. 

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Kathy Mattea and her song Where've You Been?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl5Uog-MDGo&feature=player_embedded

This song was written by Jon Vezner who later became Kathy Mattea's husband. He wrote the song about his grandparents, after personally witnessing the scene depicted in the last verse of the song. Kathy Mattea recalled later that when he told her the story, he could barely speak without crying. Eventually he wrote a song about the incident and played it for her after the #1 party for her hit, "Goin' Gone."




Kathy Mattea recalls: "We went upstairs to the listening room, and when the first chorus went down, my head spun around. I knew the story, and I couldn't believe he wrote it in a song." Several artists were approached to record the song and everyone turned it down, saying that no one would be able to sing the song without crying. Eventually Kathy Mattea agreed to record the song.





Says Kathy Mattea: "The song is a true story about Jon's grandparents. They had both gotten very sick and were in the same hospital, but didn't know it. His grandmother had been slowly losing it, and she didn't recognize anybody. She was in unfamiliar surroundings, so she finally quit talking altogether. Jon was there visiting, and he was up seeing his grandfather; he said to the nurse, 'Has anybody brought him down to see her?' She said, 'no,' and he asked if he could do that. They said yes, so he wheeled his grandfather into his grandmother's room. His grandfather kept stroking her hair, saying, 'Look at her hair, nobody has hair like grandma,' and she looked at him and said, 'Where have you been?' It was the first thing she had said in weeks.



"When Jon told me the story for the first time, it was before we had even gotten engaged, and he just cried and cried. When he played the song for me and the first chorus came around, I knew where he was going with the lyric, and I just couldn't believe he could be that vulnerable as a writer, to put that moment in a song."



The song was Matteas biggest hit, winning her a Grammy. It also won Song of the Year at the Grammys, CMAs and ACMs. While Mattea had wondered to herself, "Do people want to hear this on the way to work?," the song struck a deep chord, and it was the first time Alzheimer's had been captured in a mainstream hit song.



Where've You Been?



Claire had all but given up

when she and Edwin fell in love.

She touched his face and shook her head.

In disbelief, she sighed and said,

"In many dreams I've held you near.

Now at last you're really here!"



"Where have you been?

I've looked for you forever and a day.

Where have you been?

I'm just not myself when you're away."



He asked her for her hand for life,

and she became a salesman's wife.

He was home each night by eight,

but one stormy evening he was late.

Her frightened tears fell to the floor,

until his key turned in the door...



"Where have you been?

I've looked for you forever and a day.

Where have you been?

I'm just not myself when you're away."



They never spent a night apart.

For sixty years she heard him snore.

Now they're in a hospital,

in separate beds on different floors.



Claire soon lost her memory,

forgot the names of family.

She never spoke a word again.

Then one day they wheeled him in.

He held her hand and stroked her head,

and in a fragile voice she said...



"Where have you been?

I've looked for you forever and a day.

Where have you been?

I'm just not myself when you're away...

No, I'm just not myself when you're away."

Found this on Alzheimer's Weekly on line Magazine: http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/whereve-you-been
 
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

A shell  of a body or a shell of a soul.

Hear why Lori feels caregivers need never give up, even in the most advanced stages of an illness. She shares two powerful stories of how souls live, thrive and can touch and be touched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bsdRI5q4RU&feature=player_embedded

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Tom Detelich is participating as a challenge match sponsor because he has witnessed the devastating effect Alzheimer's disease has on those living with the disease and their families. He is hoping this challenge will advance the efforts to increase research and improve care for those affected today - and tomorrow.


Paul Stuka agreed to help sponsor this year's World Alzheimer's Month Challenge in order
to honor his father who lived with the disease. His hope is that others will reach out, contribute and make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer's.

Our third challenge sponsor, who prefers to remain anonymous, gives to the Alzheimer's Association in support of our important work to advance Alzheimer's care, support and research

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Dear Friend,

As an advocate you understand better than anyone the importance of speaking up for the needs and rights of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and their families. This month, three different friends of the Association are sending this same message loud and clear. During September, World Alzheimer's Month, these generous donors have given us a great opportunity and have agreed to match , any gift you make to this campaign by September 21 can be doubled, up to $283,000.

That means your gift of $50 can double in value and become $100 and $100 can double to $200. Any amount you give can be worth twice as much!

Each of the three match sponsors have different reasons for supporting the Alzheimer's Association; including advancing research, supporting local chapter programs and honoring a loved one who lived with the disease. But the one thing all three agree on is that we need to do more now to improve the lives of those living with Alzheimer's and provide increased support to their family members and caregivers. These sponsors know that by declaring “The end of Alzheimer's starts with me” they can begin to change the face of this devastating disease.

In the past, you have also demonstrated your commitment to our work through your tireless advocacy efforts. Can we count on you today to make a financial commitment that will double the impact in the fight against Alzheimer's disease? Please join us in the battle against Alzheimer's and give as much as you can to support the estimated 5.4 million Americans who live with the disease.

Thank you for helping to make World Alzheimer's Month a tremendous success.

Many thanks,

Angela Geiger

Chief Strategy Officer

P.S. Visit our World Alzheimer's Month page to learn how you can get involved and show your support throughout the month of September. http://www.alz.org/wam/wam.asp
 
http://www.alz.org/dm/wam/090211-Advocacy.htm?tr=y&auid=9435083
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Bloggging:

I am a retired physician and an emeritus professor of medicine. I also have Alzheimer's disease.




Before my diagnosis, I was certainly familiar with the disease, having seen patients with Alzheimer's over the years in my internal medicine practice. But I was slow to suspect my own affliction.



Now that I've been diagnosed, I can trace my problems back some 10 years, to when I was 76. I had been chairing a monthly program in medical ethics, and I knew most of the speakers and found it easy and enjoyable to introduce them. Then, suddenly, I found I had to rely on prepared material to make the introductions. I started to forget names, though never faces. These kinds of lapses are common in aging brains, so it was easy for me to write them off to "senior moments"...



Since my improvement, I have developed a list of insights I'd like to share with others facing memory problems.



•Carry a small book and write notes whenever there's something you want to recall later.

•When you cannot remember a name, make a joke and ask the person to repeat it, then write it down.

•Read books.

•Take walks.

•If you cannot walk, exercise in bed.

•Draw and paint.

•Garden, if you can.

•Do puzzles and games.

•Try new things.

•Organize your day.

•Learn to prepare food, eat, dress, wash and go to bed in an efficient way.

•Eat a healthful diet that includes fish twice a week, fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids.

•A reliable and good-humored book on a serious subject is "The Memory Bible" by Dr. Gary Small.

Don't withdraw from your friends and your family. This is advice I had to learn the hard way. Afraid of being pitied, I tried to keep my condition a secret, and that meant pulling away from people I cared about. But now that I've decided to be open, I've been gratified to see how accepting people are and how willing to assist.



For the full-length story, go to http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/27/opinion/la-oe-adv-rivin-alzheimers-20100627


Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

My husband loves to cook. My husband puts to much salt in our food according to me. He doesn't think so and when I cook he says I don't put in enough so he will get the salt shaker adding more to his dinner.  When we go to the movies and get popcorn he actually brings salt with him and keeps adding it as he enjoys the treat. I have to take what popcorn I want before he starts adding the salt making it to salty for me. 

 According to a study led by researchers at Baycrest in Toronto  it was found evidence that high-salt diets coupled with low physical activity can be detrimental to cognitive health in older adults.




I think most Italian men are very good cooks. But they use a lot of spices and the one that may be bad for you is Sodium. Sodium can be harmful to your heart and your brain. Older adults who lead sedentary lifestyles and consume a lot of sodium in their diet may be putting themselves at risk for more than just heart disease.  While low sodium intake is associated with reduced blood pressure and risk of heart disease, there is a study to extend the benefits of a low sodium diet to brain health in healthy older adults.

Check out this article: http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/hold-salt 

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Calm Before The Storm



CAREGIVERS ARTICLE From Alzheimer's Weekly On Line Magazine:

"Given the fact that most people do not have a disaster plan, we are urging family, friends and caregivers to get prepared now before a natural disaster strikes."

The MIT AgeLab and the Advance 50 Team of gerontologists at The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., offer new research and life-saving tips to help caregivers, family and friends of those with Alzheimer's disease who live at home prepare for a natural disaster and get their lives back on track in the aftermath.

"We are seeing a disturbing trend in the increase of violent weather across the U.S. and a rapid acceleration in the number of people with Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Lisa D'Ambrosio, research scientist, MIT AgeLab. "In light of these alarming trends and given the fact that most people do not have a disaster plan, we are urging family, friends and caregivers to get prepared now before a natural disaster strikes."

Three out of four Americans are at risk for some type of natural disaster - such as hurricane, wildfire, earthquake, tornado or flood. The 5.3 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease are particularly vulnerable. According to a recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the likelihood of severe weather due to climate changes will only increase in the coming years. Droughts, heavy downpours, excessive heat and intense hurricanes are likely to become more common.

Based on research with caregivers in disaster prone areas, the MIT AgeLab and The Hartford Advance 50 Team identified the top 10 essential elements of a disaster plan for the nearly 10 million family members or friends who provide care for someone with Alzheimer's disease at home.

10 Tips for Caregivers

1. Build a large and diverse network that includes people outside of your day-to-day support system, but who are familiar with your loved one's memory disorder.

2. Designate a substitute caregiver to assist your loved one if a disaster is imminent or strikes while they are home alone.

3. Do not assume your professional caregiver has a plan. Develop one together.

4. Have an evacuation plan. The decision to evacuate is especially complex when someone with Alzheimer's is involved. Research where you would go. Expect noisy and crowded conditions at public disaster shelters, which could exacerbate challenging behaviors. If you need to go do not delay, you do not want to be in traffic for hours or even days.

5. Consider what strategy you would use to get your loved one to leave quickly and calmly. Anticipate resistance. Use tactics that have been successful in the past such as using a favorite possession or food to encourage cooperation.

6. Prepare a disaster kit with basic supplies as well as extra medications and copies of important papers. Expect that your loved one may have forgotten where items are stored.

7. Pack familiar, comforting items to keep your loved one occupied en route and while away, such as a portable DVD player, favorite books, pictures, music, games and comfortable clothes.

8. Sign up for the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return/Medic Alert program, which can give assistance if your loved one wanders. Six out of 10 people with Alzheimer's disease will wander at some point and this behavior is more likely under stress.

9. Plan for pets too. As difficult as it can be for anyone to be separated from pets in a crisis, for a person with Alzheimer's this separation can be even more upsetting.

10. Revaluate your plan as your loved one's disease progresses. His or her functional ability two months from now might be very different from what it is today.

Free Booklet

"Being prepared for a natural disaster is important for all of us, but it is especially critical for family caregivers of those with memory disorders, who face additional challenges during a disaster," said Cynthia Hellyar, gerontologist, The Hartford Advance 50 Team. "Changes in routine or surroundings can be very disturbing for some people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Having a plan helps you as the caregiver function calmly, which is paramount to keeping your loved one calm."

These tips and more are detailed in The Calm Before the Storm: Family Conversations about Disaster Planning, Caregiving, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. To order a free copy of the booklet - the first comprehensive natural disaster planning guide specifically created for caregivers, families and friends of those with memory disorders - visit http://www.thehartford.com/calmbeforethestorm .

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Yes, I am the author of Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal. This book is about the daily trials and tribulations of taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease. In this Journal I share the feelings of confusion, frustration, and blessings I experienced during my ordeal. I wrote this Journal both for myself and with the hope that it might  help others deal with similar situations. It's important for caretakers to know that they're not alone, that others have experienced the same frustrations. Sometimes a caretaker feels very isolated--the world, after all, doesn't stop, despite the sense that  your world is frozen in time.  I'm hoping that this book will offer comfort to those who find themselves in that world.

It is so important to find a good support group. http://www.alz.org/apps/we_can_help/support_groups.asp  This address will help you find a support group no matter where you are in the United States.

As I read through Alzheimer's Weekly I found an article -- Without Warning (Young-Onset Alzheimer's Support Program). 

Without Warning is a program for people journeying with younger-onset Alzheimer's, facing dementia early in life. Designed to enhance vitality and quality of life, it offers education and support. By realizing that "we are not alone," everyone finds purpose, dignity and the opportunity to live each day with meaning and grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAQZqENkGNQ&feature=player_embedded  check this out!! Without Warning!!

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint Of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

I am not a drinker. I remember when my mother in law use to drink herself to sleep. Or so drunk that she would slur her words when she talked.  I remember when I had my first baby at the catholic hospital and the nurse would bring in a glass of wine  telling me that it was good for me and help me with the milk I was producing for my baby.

Today I notice people my age who look so worn out and tired and old looking, due to their life of drinking and smoking. I am not saying that alcohol  is bad for you but any thing and everything you do in abundance of to much can have ill effects on your body.

So you can see my surprise when I read that social drinking reduces the effect of dementia. Moderate drinking means two drinks for men and one drink for a woman on a daily basis.

But for all  of you that don't drink, exercise, education and diet still is on top of the list to reduce the risk of dementia.

Check out this article on Alzheimer's Weekly:  http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/effects-drinking-365000-people

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's  Blog:

CHECK THIS OUT!  http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/geneticsfs.htm

Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Fact Sheet

Hope this helps,
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

ALZHEIMER'S BLOGGING:

Federal Debt-Ceiling Deal and Alzheimer's Disease

As you may have seen in the news, the debt deal reached earlier this month may affect some programs important to individuals with Alzheimer's and their families. While the new law lowers some immediate spending levels, it does not affect Medicare and Medicaid and may not significantly affect funding for Alzheimer's research at the National Institutes of Health. The big threats loom in the near future. A new bipartisan "super committee" of 12 lawmakers created by the law, are tasked with cutting the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade, including possible cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The Alzheimer's Association will continue to represent the needs and rights of the millions of Americans living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer's as this process unfolds in Washington D.C.
Alzheimer's Association Testifies at Congressional Hearings
The Alzheimer's Association recently testified before Congress on behalf of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias who rely on both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligibles). On behalf of the Association, Vice President for Public Policy Robert Egge spoke about issues such as access to care, care coordination, innovation and alignment for people with Alzheimer's using both Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the Association's ongoing efforts to provide them and their unpaid caregivers with care and support. During this Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing, Egge had the opportunity to discuss the HOPE for Alzheimer's Act before the committee with Rep. Ed Markey (MA-07), the sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives. You can read our full testimony or watch a video of the entire hearing.
The Alzheimer's Association also recently testified before Congress on global Alzheimer's research efforts and the impact of Alzheimer's disease worldwide. The Association’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer William Thies outlined the far-reaching impact of Alzheimer's on individuals, families, governments and health care systems throughout the world. He told the committee how the Alzheimer's Association recently called upon the World Health Organization to make Alzheimer's disease and other dementias a priority, and highlighted Alzheimer's Association leadership in international research through the Alzheimer's Association International Grants Program, the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, the World Wide Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, and the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. You can read his full testimony.

TAKE ACTION: Ask your Representative to cosponsor Alzheimer's legislation
The Alzheimer's Association federal legislative priorities continue to gain support in the House of Representatives. The HOPE for Alzheimer's Act currently has 74 cosponsors and the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act currently has 52 cosponsors. Please ask your Representative to support our federal priorities.

Email your member of Congress today.




Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Smiling and attitude are big things when it comes to dementia patients. Did you ever see the movie Patch Adams? This was about a person who had to forget his own problems to help other people.  His philosophy of treating patients was through humor and compassion.  Treating a person's spirit guarantees a win regardless of the outcome. I think at the end of the movie he was told he had excess happiness. 

It is important to understand your loved one with this disease and remember that they can't help it, they didn't ask for it, and they don't want it. You have to distance yourself from the disease but not your loved one.  Start everyday with a hug and a hello. Keep in your mind that if the disease can't be cured the time spent together should still have a win, win ending.

Check out this article on Alzheimer's Weekly on line Magazine: http://alzheimersweekly.com/content/solid-advice-say-hello-each-day   

We announce and prepare ourselves and others for the fact that we have already started to fade away. It started the moment someone in a white coat told us "You have Dementia, probably of this or that type, and certainly with these features." I'm on my way out! It's all downhill from here! Don't look for me anymore; I'm going to be busy fading away and not being me.

Let's not let our loved one have this in there head. Be there for them all the time. They need encouragement to keep trying, to keep living. 

Hope this helps,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Are you in Denial?  I had a patient the other day on my ambulance who was in her 80's and as I took care of her, I asked her all the usual questions like what is your name, how old are you, when is your birthday. She got one out of three correct. Than I got a report from the nurse who told me this patient has a history of Dementia. Makes sense I thought. As I transferred this patient to the hospital, and was giving the nurse my report I mentioned that this patient could not answer my questions correctly and that the nurse at the nursing home said she had dementia. This patients daughter was upset and proceeded to set me straight that her mother does not have dementia or was she ever diagnosed with dementia.

This is real important for you and your family member. Please ask the simple questions and if your loved one can't answer it correctly please don't get upset. Get them checked. They may have dementia and can't help it.

You all know how I love to read Alzheimer's weekly on line magazine. They have an interesting article on  Sleep Apnea Ages Your Brain.

Elderly women who suffer from sleep apnea — characterized by disrupted breathing and sleep and a reduction in the intake of oxygen — are about twice as likely to develop dementia in the next five years as those without the condition, according to a multi-center study led by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco.




Check out this article: http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/sleep-apnea-ages-your-brain

Hope this helps,
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

Have you ever wondered why your loved one gets aggravated in the middle of the afternoon.  I tried so hard to keep my father in law with a normal routine.  It is so hard to move into someones home and try to figure out there routine and keep things as normal for them as possible.  Like one of the  things I had to learn to  do was keep the drapes drawn.  I loved to have the sunshine pour into the rooms but my father in law didn't like that. I had to respect his way of living. As time went on and he became even more confused I had to use imagination to keep him occupied. I kept plastic dishes in the sink for him to wash, and towel in a basket for him to fold.

I was amazed to watch the dementia take over his mind and take his everyday personality away from him. He began to wonder and try to fix things. I had to try and keep him on some kind of schedule so that he knew what he was suppose to be doing and so I knew where he would be. I put him in a day care for four hours each day, just so I could relax. At first I put him in the day care thinking that he would make friends. After I found out that he wasn't making friends and trying to escape I found that the four hours in the day care gave me a break, one that I deeply needed.

Here is a site on Alzheimer's Weekly about agitation and the Alzheimer's Patient.
I hope this helps.
http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/agitation-alternative-treatments

Also check out my new ad on Alzheimer's Weekly Magazine:
http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/alzheimers-caretakers-journal

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 Blogging:

My girlfriend was down for ten days and just went home yesterday. She is only 58 yrs old and I have not seen her in eight years. I picked her up from the airport and she was a little over weight from the last time I had seen her. She was full of excitement and so happy be over. I went to work the next day, I work on an ambulance for 24 hrs so when my kids got home from work they kept her company. My daughter called me in a panic. She told me that my girlfriend's head all of a sudden dropped forward with her eyes shut. She could not tell if she was breathing.  In about ten minutes she lifted her head and started talking like nothing  happened. 

We left the next day for California, to go on a cruise. You see she has never been on a cruise ship and I wanted her to have this fun experience. I was so surprised to see how slow she walked and ate. In fact all of her movements were slow, real slow. While we sat and watched a show or a comic she would all of a sudden just drop her head and sleep for a few minutes and than wake up just like my daughter said she saw her do. She did not like to take the stairs to much so we would use the elevators. But once when we did take the stairs, she was walking so slow a young couple asked her if she was alright. Her answer was, "Hey I am doing pretty good for being almost 60 yrs old."  That came as a shock to me, because you see I am only one year younger than her and I feel like I am twenty years younger than her.

I am writing this post as a reminder that you are as young as you want to be. If you are still young in your heart, exercise and stay in shape you  will stay that way. But if you have yourself convinced that once you hit fifty you should be in a rocking chair the rest of your life, you will see your life pass you by.

I jumped out of an airplane when I turned 50 yrs old and enjoyed every minute of it.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

I remember when the late afternoon would roll around and my father in law would turn into someone else. He would be agitated, and mean. He would wander around more and seem a lot more confused than he was earlier in the day. With an Alzheimer's patient this is called Sun Downers Syndrome.  This is a late day anxiety that the care taker seems to see the patient more disruptive than usual.  There is no standard testing for Sun Downers but you can give your loved one medicine to help the patient to relax.

Check out this article from Alzheimer's Weekly http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/can-aricept-soften-sundowning  

New research provides the best evidence to date that the late-day anxiety and agitation sometimes seen in older institutionalized adults, especially those with dementia, has a biological basis in the brain.
The findings could help explain “sundowning,” a syndrome in which older adults show high levels of anxiety, agitation, general activity and delirium in late afternoon and evening, before they would normally go to bed.

Check out this article from Alzheimer's Weekly http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/content/what-causes-sundowning-frustration-chemistry

I hope these help you as you try to provide the love and  comfort to your loved one as you take care of them with this terrible Alzheimer's Disease. 

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/

Alzheimer's Blogging:

FORT MYERS, FL - The day her husband and lifelong partner Aldo was diagnosed is a day Dolores Bertolini will never forget.

"After three months of testing, we got the diagnosis. He had very early Alzheimer's disease."

It's not something that goes down easy.

"With his personality, he decided that was not a good diagnosis it was not a diagnosis for him and he was not gonna even address it and it would go away," says Dolores.

But experts advise being pro-active. One way to stay independent longer is to keep the body active. Animal testing shows a connection between exercise and the brain. Dr. Michael Raab works with the aging brain.

"The animal studies where animals exercise show that the number of new nerve cells formed in the brain when there's regular exercise is four times the number that are formed in a brain without exercise."
Preliminary research is showing much the same in humans; that staying physically fit may slow brain shrinkage.

Aerobic exercise, walking or anything that gets the heart pumping increases blood volume and promotes new cell growth. It's that cell growth that's linked to improved memory.

"So if you want to stay at home longer, then physical exercise slows the memory loss by generating new nerve cells, making the cells that are there healthier," says Dr. Raab.

And it's not just the body that could use a workout.

"By adding the brain exercises, especially the processing speed and reasoning, and retraining yourself and how to use your brain more efficiently through the memory techniques you're able to slow down the impact on your function and your ability to do things in life," says Dr. Raab.

It's well known that staying fit helps older adults without dementia offset cognitive decline. The hope is that Alzheimer's sufferers can put physical activity to work for them, too.

Check  out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n8dLJvSNOk&feature=player_embedded

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.
http://www.mariefostino.com/
http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/ 

Alzheimer's Blogging:

I would like to share with you an e-mail I received:

Food for Thought
"The idea that Alzheimer's is entirely genetic and unpreventable is perhaps the Greatest misconception about the disease,"

says Gary Small, M.D., director of The UCLA Center on Aging.

Researchers now know that Alzheimer's,

like heart Disease and cancer,

develops over decades and can be influenced by lifestyle:
Factors including cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, depression, education,
Nutrition, sleep and mental, physical and social activity.

The big news:

Mountains of research reveals that simple things you do every day

might cut your odds of losing your mind to Alzheimer's.

In search of scientific ways to delay and outlive Alzheimer's and other Dementia,

I tracked down thousands of studies and interviewed dozens of Experts.

The results in a new book:

100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's and Age-Related Memory Loss (Little, Brown; $19.99).

Here are 10 strategies I found most surprising.

1.

Have coffee. In an amazing flip-flop, coffee is the new brain tonic.

A large European study showed that drinking three to five cups of coffee a day

in Midlife cut Alzheimer's risk 65% in late life.

University of South Florida Researcher Gary Arendash, credits caffeine:

He says it reduces dementia-causing amyloid in animal brains.

Others credit coffee's antioxidants.

So drink up, Arendash advises, unless your doctor says you shouldn't.

2.

Floss.

Oddly, the health of your teeth and gums can help predict dementia.

University of Southern California research found that having periodontal disease before age 35

quadrupled the odds of dementia years later.

Older people with tooth and gum disease score lower on memory and cognition tests, other studies show.

Experts speculate that inflammation in diseased mouths migrates to the brain.

3.

Google.

Doing an online search can stimulate your aging brain even more than reading a book,

says UCLA's Gary Small, who used brain MRIs to prove it.

The biggest surprise:

Novice Internet surfers, ages 55 to 78,

activated key memory and learning centers in the brain

after only a week of Web surfing for an hour a day.

4.

Grow new brain cells.

Impossible, scientists used to say.

Now it's believed that thousands of brain cells are born daily.

The trick is to keep the newborns Alive.

What works: aerobic exercise (such as a brisk 30-minute walk every day),

strenuous mental activity, eating salmon and other fatty fish, and avoiding obesity, chronic stress,

sleep deprivation, heavy drinking and vitamin B deficiency.

5.

Drink apple juice.

Apple juice can push production of the "memory chemical" acetylcholine;

that's the way the popular Alzheimer's drug Aricept works,

says Thomas Shea, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts .

He was surprised that old mice given apple juice did better on learning and

memory tests than mice that received water.

A dose for humans: 16 ounces, or two to three apples a day.

6.

Protect your head.

Blows to the head, even mild ones early in life, increase odds of dementia years later.

Pro football players have 19 times the typical rate of memory-related diseases.

Alzheimer's is four times more common in elderly who suffer a head injury, Columbia University finds.

Accidental falls doubled an older person's odds of dementia five years later in another study.

Wear seat belts and helmets, fall-proof your house, and don't take risks.

7.

Meditate.

Brain scans show that people who meditate regularly have less cognitive decline and

brain shrinkage - a classic sign of Alzheimer's - as they age.

Andrew Newberg of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine says

yoga meditation of 12 minutes a day for two months

improved blood flow and cognitive functioning in seniors with memory problems.

8.

Take D.

A "severe deficiency" of vitamin D boosts older Americans' risk of Cognitive impairment 394%,

an alarming study by England 's University of Exeter finds.

And most Americans lack vitamin D.

Experts recommend a daily dose of 800 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.

9.

Fill your brain.

http://www.brain.it/profilo.htm [Note: will need to click on 'Translate']

It's called "cognitive reserve."

A rich accumulation of life experiences -

education, marriage, socializing, a stimulating job, language skills, having a purpose in life,

physical activity and mentally demanding leisure activities -

makes your brain better able to tolerate plaques and tangles.

You can even have significant Alzheimer's pathology and no symptoms of dementia

if you have high cognitive reserve,

says David Bennett, M.D., of Chicago 's Rush University Medical Center .

10.

Avoid infection.

Astonishing new evidence ties Alzheimer's to cold sores, gastric ulcers, Lyme disease, pneumonia and the flu.

Ruth Itzhaki, Ph.D., of the University of Manchester in England

estimates the cold-sore herpes simplex virus is incriminated in 60% of Alzheimer's cases.

The theory: Infections trigger excessive beta amyloid "gunk" that kills brain cells.

Proof is still lacking, but why not avoid common infections and

take appropriate vaccines, antibiotics and antiviral agents?

What to Drink for Good Memory
A great way to keep your aging memory sharp and avoid Alzheimer's is to drink the right stuff.

a.

Tops: Juice.

A glass of any fruit or vegetable juice three times a week

slashed Alzheimer's odds 76% in Vanderbilt University research..

Especially protective: blueberry, grape and apple juice, say other studies.

b.

Tea:

Only a cup of black or green tea a week cut rates of cognitive decline in older people by 37%,

reports the Alzheimer's Association.

Only brewed tea works.

Skip bottled tea, which is devoid of antioxidants.

c.

Caffeine beverages.

Surprisingly, caffeine fights memory loss and Alzheimer's, suggest dozens of studies.

Best sources: coffee (one Alzheimer's researcher drinks five cups a day), tea and chocolate.

Beware caffeine if you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, insomnia or anxiety.

d.

Red wine:

If you drink alcohol, a little red wine is most apt to benefit your aging brain.

It's high in antioxidants.

Limit it to one daily glass for women, two for men.

Excessive alcohol, notably binge drinking, brings on Alzheimer's.

e.

Two to avoid:

Sugary soft drinks, especially those sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.

They make lab animals dumb.

Water with high copper content also can up your odds of Alzheimer's.

Use a water filter that removes excess minerals.

5 Ways to Save Your Kids from Alzheimer's NowAlzheimer's isn't just a disease that starts in old age.

What happens to your child's brain seems to have a dramatic impact

on his or her likelihood of Alzheimer's many decades later.

Here are five things you can do now to help save your child from Alzheimer's and

memory loss later in life, according to the latest research.

1.

Prevent head blows:

Insist your child wear a helmet during biking, skating,
skiing, baseball, football, hockey, and all contact sports.

A major blow as well as tiny repetitive unnoticed concussions can cause damage,

leading to memory loss and Alzheimer's years later.

2.

Encourage language skills:

A teenage girl who is a superior writer is eight times more likely to escape Alzheimer's

in late life than a teen with poor linguistic skills.

Teaching young children to be fluent in two or more languages
makes them less vulnerable to Alzheimer's.

3.

Insist your child go to college:

Education is a powerful Alzheimer's deterrent.

The more years of formal schooling, the lower the odds.

Most Alzheimer's prone: teenage drop outs.

For each year of education, your risk of dementia drops 11%,

says a recent University of Cambridge study.

4.

Provide stimulation:

Keep your child's brain busy with physical, mental and
social activities and novel experiences.

All these contribute to a bigger, better functioning brain with more so-called 'cognitive reserve.'

High cognitive reserve protects against memory decline and Alzheimer's.

5.

Spare the junk food:

Lab animals raised on berries, spinach and high omega-3 fish have great memories in old age.

Those overfed sugar, especially high fructose in soft drinks,

saturated fat and trans fats become overweight and diabetic,

with smaller brains and impaired memories as they age, a prelude to Alzheimer's.

Excerpted from Jean Carper's newest book:
"100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer's"

Thank you so much for this information.  I hope this helps.

Sincerely.

Marie Fostino

Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal

Seaboard Press An Imprint of James A Rock Pub., Co.

http://www.mariefostino.com/

http://www.mariefostino.blogspot.com/