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/