ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:

OK so as I said yesterday, keeping active is essential for people with Alzheimer's. One of the first things I did when I moved into my father in laws house was take him to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. It was a beautiful sunny day. I think that is the only Zoo that I know of that is free except to park. We had rented a wheel chair for a month at home so I brought it with me. My father in law complained that I had brought the chair but gladly sat on it when we arrived. One thing I love about this Zoo is how the tall city buildings outlined the Zoo. But then I am prejudice when it comes to Chicago. We had a nice morning as I pushed him around the park until his stomach started to get hungry. He instantly started to complain about everything I was doing and wanted to go home. So we got some burgers and parked under an umbrella and ate. Of course then he had to go to the bathroom, and I was lucky enough to find some nice gentleman to help him with that. Next I wheeled him across Lake Shore Drive to the beach and down the strip. What a feeling of being alive and free as the wind gazed our faces and the sound of the waves thundered. It was a nice afternoon, but I am not sure dad enjoyed it as much as I did. It may have been to much for him because he did get unusually frustrated that evening. Maybe I kept him there to long. But it was a learning lesson for me. I just wanted to give to him the love and support he had given to me and I wanted him to have as normal of a life as possible while enduring this terrible disease. Taking care of a loved one at home with Alzheimer's Disease is a 24 hr 7 day a week job. It is not an easy task, and yes you will get frustrated with yourself as you find yourself sometimes getting aggitated. But there is also a feeling of comfort and joy knowing that you provided your loved one with the compassion and love that they once had shown you.

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

ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:

Keeping active is essential for people with Alzheimer's Disease. As this terrible disease progresses their habits and routines are forgotten. So as the caregiver our job is to help reinstate their life as normal as possible. There are different ways you can do this. You may want to play a game, go on a outing, or even exercise so the person with Alzheimer's can feel more vital. These activities offer benefits to the caregiver also by letting you do something enjoyable with your loved one with this terrible disease. Here are a few helpful hints to help you choose some kind of therapeutic activities:

-- Individualize activities to draw on past interests and skills
--Choose activities that recall a person's former occupation
--Stimulate the 5 senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell) as much as possible
--Use existing physical skills
--Help the person with Alzheimer's disease by initiating the activity
--Ensure that activities are voluntary
--Select intergenerational activities
--Choose activities that are appealing to you and the person with Alzheimer's disease
--Keep activities short
--Use even the smallest things as an activity

I remember with my father in law, this was very new to me. I wanted to keep him busy, heck, I wanted to take the Alzheimer's away from him. I thought I was so smart keeping plastic cups and plates in the sink for him to wash over and over again, or the basket of towels I kept in the living room for him to refold. I kept taking him out to lunch with his sister in laws, hoping he was still in a familiar routine. I was wrong. Alzheimer's took him away from me anyway. But I was helping to keep his mind maybe a little bit longer and I was definitely enjoying the time we had together. One of my favorite times was in the afternoon as we would dance to Richard Simmons.

I hope this helps. This is such a terrible disease. Please help with the Memory Walk by you or please donate to my site:
http://MemoryWalk2010.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=336218&u=336218-268736349&e=3655472672 Let's fight together!!

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

Alzheimer's Blog:

Have you look at Alzheimer's Weekly today? Kindness does not leave you when you give it away, but in fact grows more abundant with in your life. This is the thought of the week on the first page.

"On the basis of the results of this study, memantine might be a treatment option in patients with mild to moderate DLB."

Memantine might lessen deterioration and improve behavioural symptoms in patients with a neurodegenerative disease known as dementia with Lewy bodies. Check out this article: Namenda "Mildly Benificial" for Lewy - Body Dementia

http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/Treatment/namenda-mildly-beneficial-for-lewy-body-dementia-a805.html

Also there is a wonderful article on Healthy Brain Foods: Health experts are now finding that certain foods when you eat them and spices can help you fend off Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Please check out this link.

http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/Prevention/healthy-brain-foods-a806.html

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

ALZHEIMER'S BLOG:

Get a call at 200 am for a women with abdominal pain. Run to the nursing home for a 87 yr old female. She has a feeding tube, but has had a tachy pulse so the doctor wants her to be npo. She is on oxygen, and has a foley. She is obese weighing at 300 pounds. She is complaining of abdominal pain, but since they can't give her anything through the feeding tube, they have no way to give her any pain medication. So my job is to bring her to the hospital for pain medication. The nurses ask me if I could give her something. The only thing I carry is morphine and she has allergies to morphine. So we take this poor women at 230 in the morning alone, no family around and put her on a stretcher, take vitals, put her on a ecg monitor because her pulse is 130 and take her to the hospital. Oh yea --- She has Alzheimer's.

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

Alzheimer's Blog:


Today has been an eventful day on my ambulance. I had a young woman of 70 with chest pain and a history of Triple AAA. I had a young man of 47 with chest pain and a history of cardiac stents & pacemaker. We have been pretty busy, but it is a Friday so it is expected. At one point in the emergency room we had 5 ambulances waiting in line to bring in their patients. I talked to one of the patients waiting there. He was in his 80's and told me he was married for 50 something years. I asked him what was the secret to stay married that long. He told me You have to like her. So now you know the secret of staying married forever.

Remember, if you are at home taking care of your loved one with Alzheimer's please get your self a support group. Alzheimer's Association has a map and after you hit the state you live in it has support groups in your city. Also remember if you don't take care of your self, how can you take care of your loved one. It is important to get respite care. You can find respite care through a nursing home, day care, or even a friend or relative. I hope you all have a great weekend. I have the feeling we will be very busy tonight. Say a prayer for me.

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:

Life has a way to throw curves at you. You have no idea what to expect, but you can have choice as to how you are going to pursue what you have been given.

Yesterday, while I was on my ambulance, I got a call for a thirteen year old who was having a seizure. Fire beat us to the scene, and together we got the child in my ambulance, with Valium on board. As I helped take care of this child I learned more about him. He has a history of Autism, Diabetic, and Seizures. Someone may say, that parent thrown a curve in their life. But this mother was so gracious as we took care of her child and so helpful with information. She did not seem like this child was a burden, or like she was being put out. She was strong, and quiet, letting us do our jobs. Her kindness shown as she thanked us for helping.

Your loved one did not ask to have Alzheimer's. You do have the choice to either take this condition with grace and carry yourself with love for your loved one with Alzheimer's or you may look the other way, and be mad at the world. There are many places on the Internet to find information to help you, to find support groups and respite care.

Check out my website for links to look at for more information.

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:

There is so much information on the Internet that it is impossible to think someone doesn't know how to identify dementia of some kind. But many people don't use a computer and so they may not know how identify this disease. One of the sites I check out regularly is Alzheimer's Weekly. They always have so much information on the latest findings or a nurse that can try and answer questions. Have you heard of a song written by Kathy Mattea, called Where've You Been?

"Where've You Been" represents the first time dementia's such as Alzheimer's were captured in a mainstream song. This song is Matteas' biggest hit, winning a Grammy and 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 clearly struck a deep chord.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl5Uog-MDGo&feature=player_embedded

Please check out this article on Alzheimer's Weekly called; Questions Arise on Lilly's Big Drug Setback.

The effort to develop a treatment for Alzheimer's suffered a blow yesterday when a clinical trial was halted after finding that a new drug (called Semagacestat) did more harm than good. Manufacturer Eli Lilly called off the studies after data showed the drug led to a greater risk of skin cancer and more memory loss. Please check out this article.

http://www.alzheimersweekly.com/Research/questions-arise-on-lillys-big-drug-setback-a802.html

If you can't get the video on it here it the link so you can watch the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrVN1SAQA9w&feature=player_embedded#!

This was a blow to find out that this drug won't work and actually hurt you. But the good news is there are still a lot of good drugs out there. Remember that Alzheimer's Association is busy with it's memory walk. Please find one close to you, or you can donate to my site:

http://MemoryWalk2010.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=336218&u=336218-268736349&e=3655472672

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