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/