Alzheimer's Disease

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    Google News: Alzheimer's Disease

  • WindChime sponsors Alzheimer's ceremony - Marin Independent-Journal

    6 Nov 2009 | 11:42 pm
    WindChime sponsors Alzheimer's ceremonyMarin Independent-JournalA candle-lighting ceremony and talks about Alzheimer's disease will be from 5 to 6 pm Nov. 15 in an event sponsored by WindChime of Marin Memory Care Health Notes: Check for a free memory screening near you on Nov. 17Daily PressMemory Walk set to raise money for AlzheimersWMBF10! Spotlight: 2009 Memory WalkNBC PhiladelphiaLake County Record-Bee -Augusta Chronicle -Scottsboro Daily Sentinelall 17 news articles »

  • Spokane Valley couple found dead in their home - Examiner.com

    6 Nov 2009 | 11:04 pm
    Spokane Valley couple found dead in their homeExaminer.comThe wife reportedly was the victim of Alzheimer's Disease she was found in bed dead from a gunshot wound. The husband was found in a chair dead from what Older couple found dead in Spokane Valley homeSeattle Post Intelligencerall 21 news articles »

  • JENSEN BEACH Alzheimer's support group formed - Stuart News (subscription)

    6 Nov 2009 | 8:06 pm
    JENSEN BEACH Alzheimer's support group formedStuart News (subscription)If you are a caregiver of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, or have been recently diagnosed with the disease, Emeritus at Jensen Beach is organizing a

  • Living with Alzheimer's disease - Deseret News

    6 Nov 2009 | 12:03 pm
    Living with Alzheimer's diseaseDeseret NewsKnebl, a geriatrician, is also a prominent researcher in the field of Alzheimer's and dementia. Here she discusses the disease, its treatment and prevention Vigil honors those affected by dementia [Independent Tribune, Concord, NC]Behavioral Health Central (blog)Survivors of Alzheimer's DiseaseBlount TodayBanner Boswell hosts Alzheimer's awareness seminar Nov. 20YourWestValley.comAsheville Citizen-Times -TbNewsWatch.com -PR Web (press release)all 12 news articles »

  • November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month - KTIV

    6 Nov 2009 | 10:15 am
    November is Alzheimer's Awareness MonthKTIVMore>> Sioux City, IOWA (KTIV) - November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. And the Big Sioux Chapter and more »
 
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    Alzheimer's Reading Room

  • Alzheimer's Common in Children of Alzheimer's Patients

    Bob DeMarco
    6 Nov 2009 | 7:56 am
    Our study shows that high blood pressure and an innate pro-inflammatory cytokine response in middle age significantly contributers to Alzheimer's disease. As these risk factors cluster in families, it is important to realize that early interventions could prevent late-onset Alzheimer's disease. One could argue for a high-risk prevention strategy by identifying the offspring of patients with Alzheimer's disease, screening them for hypertension and vascular factors and implementing various non-pharmacological health measures.Source Vascular Factors and Markers of Inflammation in Offspring With…

  • Alzheimer's Care 8 Tips for a Great Holiday Season

    Angil Tarach RN
    5 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am
    The holidays will be here before we know it. When you are a caregiver of a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s, the holiday season can be overwhelming. A little understanding and preparation can make the holiday season enjoyable and special..... Here are some tips to make the holidays great! By Angil Tarach Alzheimer's Reading Room 1. Involve your loved one in the preparation. You can give your loved one small tasks such as signing holiday cards, hanging ornaments on the tree, assisting with holiday baking, and cooking, sorting decorations, flower arranging, table setting, and household…

  • Dimebon Contact and Constellation -- Pfizer And Medivation Initiate Two Phase 3 Trials

    Bob DeMarco
    4 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am
    Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) and Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) today announced the initiation of CONTACT and CONSTELLATION, two Phase 3 trials of the investigational drug dimebon (latrepirdine)* in patients with moderate-to-severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD).The CONTACT study will assess as primary endpoints the potential benefits of adding dimebon to ongoing treatment with donepezil HCI tablets, the leading AD medication worldwide, on neuropsychiatric symptoms and activities of daily living. The CONSTELLATION study will evaluate as primary endpoints the effects of adding dimebon to memantine HCI,…

  • Pending Tragedy of our Broken Healthcare System --Lakeview Ranch

    Bob DeMarco
    4 Nov 2009 | 7:32 am
    Lakeview Ranch located in Darwin MN, specializes in caring for the "hard to place" and "high cost" population of elderly with Alzheimer's. These sufferers evidence challenging, aggressive behavior. Many of these elderly, have come from a life of repeated discharges from other long term care facilities and dementia units....Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email Pending Tragedy of our Broken Healthcare System Judy Berry Economic downturn and healthcare cuts threaten to take away "equal access" for low income elderly to necessary and appropriate specialized dementia care at…

  • New Twitter List -- Alzheimer's

    Bob DeMarco
    3 Nov 2009 | 4:08 pm
    You can get all the news about Alzheimer's, dementia, and Caregiving by following my new list on Twitter -- @ALZHEIMERSread/alzheimer-s Twitter is offering a new feature called Twitter lists. Unlike the standard Twitter Feed where you follow and have followers, the New Twitter lists allows you to control the information that is being fed onto a page without all the clutter of hundreds or thousands of people you are following. Last night on Blog Talk Radio, Patricia Grace asked me how I keep track of all the information about Alzheimer's. She wanted to know if I have people helping me collect…
 
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    "Had a Dad" Alzheimer's Blog

  • Alzheimer's Association's new Comfort Zone program for finding the lost

    GBP })i({
    29 Oct 2009 | 12:31 pm
    The Alzheimer's Association has a new GPS-based program to help find dementia patients who wander.  It seems like an upgrade to the Safe Return program, which I purchased for my dad.  (I still have his bracelet--I don't know why I wanted it.) Rather than try to explain it, here's what they sent me: The Alzheimer's Association Comfort Zone™, powered by Omnilink, is the first comprehensive location management system designed specifically for Alzheimer’s, giving people with the disease more freedom and independence in their community while providing their family some peace of…

  • Alzheimer's clinical trial in Pennsylvania

    GBP })i({
    18 Oct 2009 | 7:47 pm
    This study will evaluate an investigational medication for behavior and personality changes in people with Alzheimer's disease. The research site is in Norristown, Penn.  http://www.clinicalconnection.com/clinical_trials/condition/alzheimers_disease.aspx."Had a Dad" Alzheimer's Blog http://alzheimersdad.blogspot.com (c) Gevera Bert Piedmont })i({ Thank you for visiting!

  • rate of Alzheimer's is doubling every 20 years

    GBP })i({
    29 Sep 2009 | 6:07 pm
    Just came across this article on CBS, saying that the number of Alzheimer's sufferers is doubling every 20 years. Currently 35 million people world wide are afflicted, which is 10% more than had been estimated. Barring a medical breakthrough, the World Alzheimer Report projects dementia will nearly double every 20 years. By 2050, it will affect a staggering 115.4 million people, the report concludes. .... The report urges the World Health Organization to declare dementia a health priority and for national governments to follow suit. It recommends major new investments in research to uncover…

  • A new clinical trial for those on Namenda in California

    GBP })i({
    29 Sep 2009 | 5:33 pm
    I found this on the Spark People website: If someone you care about is taking Namenda (memantine), you may be interested in this study of an investigational drug for Alzheimer's disease. The research site is in Newport Beach, Calif. http://www.clinicalconnection.com/clinical_trials/condition/alzheimers_disease.aspx "Had a Dad" Alzheimer's Blog http://alzheimersdad.blogspot.com (c) Gevera Bert Piedmont })i({ Thank you for visiting!

  • new device offers comforts for dementia patients

    GBP })i({
    20 Sep 2009 | 5:59 pm
    Jeannette Twomey, inventor of the Kind Reminder, sent me an email recently to tell me about her product.  It's a little device that plays a recorded message with the push of a large button.  The caregiver can leave a simple message like, "It's Tuesday and I'll see you at 5 p.m." or any information that the dementia patient may need to access frequently. The recorder is inexpensive and 5% of the purchase price goes to the Alzheimer's Association. If my dad was still alive, I'd have no problem shelling out $20 for this!  Maybe if he had had a recording of my voice to carry…
 
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    WordPress Tag: Alzheimers Disease

  • Highs and Lows: Baseball versus Alzheimer’s and Mass Murder at Fort Hood

    padresteve
    6 Nov 2009 | 8:59 pm
    Field of Dreams This has been a weird week.  There was some great baseball in the World Series and I even nailed the prediction for it.  Just take a look back if you don’t believe me.  I have never gone public with a World Series prediction and I am pretty pleased that my predictions were pretty good considering that I am neither the Prophet nor the Son of the Prophet.  Neither am I infallible like the Pope being that I am just a miscreant Priest and member of the Church of Baseball, Harbor Park Parish where I have my season ticket in Section 102, Row B, Seat 2. The Series was good for…

  • Dr. Klapper at the Starz FilmCenter Tonight

    cherrycreekcolorado
    5 Nov 2009 | 12:46 pm
    Dr. Klapper will be at the Starz FilmCenter in Downtown Denver tonight in cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Association for a special presentation at 7:00pm focusing on the HBO documentary The Alzheimer’s Project. Parking is available outside of the theater. 900 Auraria Parkway, Denver, CO Here is a link to the HBO website with information regarding the documentary. http://www.hbo.com/alzheimers/ If you have questions about the presentation, please feel free to call us at 303-839-9900. Visit sweetcherrycreek.com/Mile-High-Research/

  • Insulin levels in the brain may be the key to understanding how some types of dementia progress

    David Thomas, MD
    5 Nov 2009 | 11:29 am
    Now this concept sounds very plausible to me. Think of how you feel when your blood sugar drops. I’ll be eager to see if anything more comes of it. More….. Warmly……….David

  • Alzheimer's and Curcumin

    jarebe
    5 Nov 2009 | 9:27 am
    Curcumin is the yellow pigment in turmeric, a spice well-known in Indian cuisine. It contains antioxidants that endow it with anti-inflammatory activity, which has been recognized for centuries by the Ayurvedic medicine tradition of India. Curcumin has been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies in recent decades, most dealing with cancer, but some also addressing Alzheimer’s Disease. One of the leading research groups on curcumin and Alzheimer’s is based at the University of California at Los Angeles, so we were interested to check in and see their current posting about…

  • Rain Shower Heads and Alzheimer's disease

    Alzheimer's Speaks
    5 Nov 2009 | 9:02 am
    Rain Shower Heads and Alzheimer’s disease              By Lori L aBey Speak Up – Make a Difference The little things you notice can make a big difference, so talk about them.  Remember, we all see things differently.  Here is something I mentioned; having no idea where they might go with the nursing home my Mother lived in.  The rain showerhead idea stuck with me and would not let go, but I could not bring it to Doug, the administrator of the Nursing home Mom lived in, until I knew why it would help.  It was a couple of years later when the pieces came…
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    The Myth of Alzheimer's

  • Exploring the dark side of hope

    Peter and I often tread the fine line between being critical of the hype of the pharmaceutical industry and their lofty promises for a “cure” or “preventative therapy” for dementia, while promoting a more honest and realistic sense of hope for those affected by brain aging. Sometimes people criticize us for suggesting that we should not [...]

  • Anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss dies at age 100

    Claude Levi-Strauss, one of the most famous anthropologists of the 20th century has passed away at age 100.  I mention this because Levi-Strauss played a central role in The Myth of Alzheimer’s.  He was formative in my thinking about “myths”, and appears on page 3 of the book, where we invoke his work in introducing [...]

  • Ethnic differences in caregiver attitudes about “Alzheimer’s”

    An interesting study in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry examined ethnic differences in female dementia family caregivers’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about Alzheimer disease finding that Hispanic and Chinese caregivers were more likely to believe that AD is a normal part of aging than other groups. The researchers conclude that increased public education about [...]

  • The Myth of Alzheimer’s now out in large print edition

    Just a quick note to let folks know that The Myth of Alzheimer’s is now out in a large print edition from Thorndike Publishing. As someone who is legally blind himself, I am grateful for its release, and hope it will expand our audience to those who are visually challenged.  The book is also out on [...]

  • Thanks for voting!: Our entry wins first prize in EPA’s Rachel Carson Competition

    Thank you to everyone who voted for the submission Peter and I put together to showcase a wonderful intergenerational interaction that took place at Shaker Nature Center last spring.  We have just been informed by the EPA that our submission won first prize and will be featured on the department’s website in coming day at [...]
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    Alzheimers Care Blog

  • Taking Steps

    admin
    20 Oct 2009 | 7:13 pm
    Recently,  Senior Living Residences (SLR), www.SeniorLivngResidences.com, teamed up with its academic affiliate, the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC), www.bu.edu/alzresearch, to raise more than $10,000 for research, education and care in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Our team included faculty, professionals, and volunteers from both SLR and the BU ADC. We joined thousand of other Massachusetts residents taking part in Memory Walk, www.alz.org/memorywalk, a nationwide effort to raise vital funds for care, education, and research. Memory Walk is the…

  • Diet Reduces Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

    admin
    29 Sep 2009 | 9:04 pm
    Having my own family history of Alzheimer’s disease, I was particularly interested in some recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA). Last month, JAMA reported findings from a compelling study describing a direct connection between diet and cognitive health. Researchers found that individuals who follow a “Mediterranean-type diet” have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. In the study, individuals who adhered to a Mediterranean diet had a 32-40 percent decreased risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. In the same study,…

  • Senior Living Residences Receives Award

    Tadd Clelland
    19 Aug 2009 | 12:49 pm
    Senior Living Residences, www.seniorlivingresidences.com,  recently received a Recognition Award from  the Boston University School of Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC), www.bu.edu/alzresearch. The Award was presented to SLR for its contribution to Alzheimer’s disease research and community outreach, including the research and education initiatives of the  BU ADC. The BU ADC is one of the 31 National Institute on Aging funded Alzheimer’s Disease Centers nationwide. Dr. Robert Stern, Associate Professor of  Neurology and Co-Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease…

  • ICAD, Now an Annual Event

    Erin Whalen
    31 Jul 2009 | 5:56 pm
    Close to 3000 researchers and scientists convened in Vienna, Austria for the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) this month. The meetings, workshops, and presentation highlighted the latest research results in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and focused on new diagnostic tools, prevention methods and treatment options. Sponsored by National Alzheimer’s Association, the conference brings together the best and brightest in the field. For a full listing of news releases and research findings announced this year, go to www.alz.org/icad. Noting the expected increase…

  • Educating Ourselves about Alzheimer’s Disease

    Erin Whalen
    30 Jun 2009 | 7:37 pm
    Today, there are many different resources for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their family members. Individuals who want to learn about Alzheimer’s disease can participate in community education programs, join a support group, choose from a variety of books, or join a social network of people in a similar situation. Another excellent tool to use for research on Alzheimer’s disease is the internet. There is a broad amount of information available about living with Alzheimer’s, caregiving, the stages of the disease, the latest research towards treatment and more. There are a number…
 
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    KnowItAlz.com Blog

  • Straight "A"s

    4 Nov 2009 | 11:21 pm
    I got my caregiver report card today. I know there is really no such thing, but when I received the results from my Dad's latest physical, I felt like I had made the Dean's list. Keep in mind, he is 81 years old, has Alzheimer's and takes 19 pills a day. Here is how the results read: Glucose - Normal Calcium - Normal Protein - Normal Sodium - Normal Potassium - Normal CO2 - Normal Chloride - Normal Liver Function - Normal Kidney Function - Normal I've never thought of Dad as normal, but the tests don't lie! Whoopee!

  • Sherwin Hatfield Williams

    4 Nov 2009 | 2:20 am
    Dad and I took a drive up to the mountains this past weekend to see the beautiful Autumn leaves. It is a long-standing tradition that Dad started when I was in the 5th Grade or so. It was always just the two of us, each Fall. We were taking a charming North Carolina back road, when we passed a beautiful horse farm with a mile-long white fence. It was like a scene from a Norman Rockwell picture. I commented to Dad, I sure am glad I don't have to paint that fence. Me too, but I wish I owned the paint store! He replied with a grin.

  • Asserting His Parental Right

    1 Nov 2009 | 11:38 pm
    Last night Dad, David and I were watching the 48 Hours Mystery on cable. I am always intrigued by the criminal mind and how the police are able to catch these psychopaths. After each commercial, the network flashed a warning and announced: This program contains graphic images and content. Parental Discretion is Advised. My father chimed in with a giggle, Kathy I don't think this is appropriate for you. I never realized how nice it would be, even for a fleeting moment, for my Dad to be in charge of me again for a change. When I switched the channel, I noticed a look of satisfaction on his…

  • Fair Trial

    30 Oct 2009 | 12:33 am
    With all the hype this week surrounding the new Michael Jackson movie, it had reminded Dad once again that Michael Jackson died. David and I were talking about how hard it would be to find a jury that had no prior knowledge of the back-story. I never heard or read anything about his death. Dad said. What happened to him? Then it hit me. Dad was summoned for jury duty a few months ago and I declined noting that he had Alzheimer's and would not be able to serve. Maybe they should stack the jury with dementia patients because they are the ONLY people on Earth that don't know what…

  • Remember Me?

    26 Oct 2009 | 5:43 am
    Dad has continued to have problems with his pooping this week, so much so that he has not even noticed that Comeer is gone (thank goodness). I have tried everything I could think of to get him regulated, but no luck so far. So, I decided to go onto the Alzheimer's Association Message Boards and ask other caregivers if they have had the same issue, and if so, how they handled it. Over the past five years, I have had lots of good ideas come from my fellow caregivers. When I went to sign in, they had changed web hosts since my last question, and I had to re-register. As I finished the…
 
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    The Tangled Neuron

  • Another Video, Another Grim Portrayal

    riverwren
    4 Nov 2009 | 4:18 am
    Last month, a group of people with memory loss, their families and doctors successfully petitioned the French Alzheimer’s Association to drop plans to promote a video of people who appeared to have very advanced dementia in dire situations. This week,...

  • German Institute Cites Lack of Evidence for Alzheimer's Treatments

    riverwren
    29 Oct 2009 | 5:04 pm
    The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare has issued a new report on Alzheimer's treatments. Comissioned by the German government, the report concludes: there is not enough proof that memantine (sold as Namenda in the U.S.) is effective in...

  • Brain Fitness Trial Online

    riverwren
    27 Oct 2009 | 3:02 pm
    Brain fitness is a controversial topic. Can you really prevent or slow memory loss by "training your brain?" Do improved scores on brain fitness programs translate to improved functionality in everyday life? There's not enough evidence to answer these questions....

  • Richard Taylor's New DVD

    riverwren
    26 Oct 2009 | 8:52 am
    I just watched Richard Taylor’s new DVD “Be With Me Today.” The DVD is from his presentation to professionals at the Person-Centered Dementia Care Conference in Atlanta. In the 51 minute video, he talks about what caregivers (family and professional)...

  • Q & A with John Zeisel, Author of I'm Still Here

    riverwren
    7 Oct 2009 | 6:37 am
    Last spring, I read a book by John Zeisel, Ph.D. called I'm Still Here: A Breakthrough Approach to Understanding Someone Living with Alzheimer's . I liked how the book emphasized that some memories and abilities can remain intact in people...
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    Caregiving, Aging & Alzheimer's

  • Memory Tests for Alzheimer's Scare the Caregiver

    artbylt
    6 Nov 2009 | 9:13 am
    Today I took Adrian to see a new psychiatrist, and the doctor asked Adrian a few memory questions to check for Alzheimer's.  Whenever that happens, I always try to answer the questions silently, and get anxious when I have trouble.  I think, for example, that the one about drawing a clock showing the time of ten minutes to two is not that easy in these days of digital clocks and watches.  How often do we actually look at clocks to tell the time?  By the time my grand-kids take these tests, the clock question will be totally obsolete.When the doctor heard that Adrian watches tennis,…

  • Losing Touch: A Sign of Alzheimer's

    artbylt
    4 Nov 2009 | 10:16 am
    The other night I rented The Truman Show and watched it with Adrian.  About half-way through, we stopped for a break.  He said the movie frightened him. "I feel like I'm gradually losing touch with everything," he said.  The movie had a "happy" ending, when Truman left his make-believe world inside the studio for real life.  Unfortunately, the loss that Alzheimer's patients feel will not be restored.  The best that can happen is that good care and medication postpone the most devastating effects.  And at some point, when the disease has advanced far enough, the…

  • Two Brothers Visit: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

    artbylt
    30 Oct 2009 | 8:28 am
    I didn't have much time for Adrian recently, because two of my brothers were in town for 3 days.  Bob stayed with us, and Don and his partner stayed at my sister's house.  We all played games, took walks, and ate together for 2 1/2 days.  Games:  ping-pong, bridge, Oh Hell (card game), Shanghai Rummy (card game in which Don made up the rules as we played); chess (Bob and Adrian only).  The Good:  Adrian got along fabulously with Bob, which was great because they spent a lot of time together, and it would have been awful if they didn't get along, since Bob was staying at…

  • Patience: Where Did I leave It?

    artbylt
    28 Oct 2009 | 7:14 am
    Yesterday in my morning meditation group, I felt so centered, calm and peaceful.  I was ready to focus on my breath, to be present and mindful the rest of the day.  Yet, when Adrian and I went downtown to see a movie, I lost it soon after we left the parking lot.   We had a half hour to kill, I mean "enjoy," until the movie started, and I noticed a new store across the street:  Urban Outfitters.  The word "outfitters" made me think it was an outdoors sporting type of store, so I suggested we take a look.  Aach, the minute I got inside, I realized it was a store for…

  • Super-Brain Yoga Exercise to Improve Memory & Brain Function

    artbylt
    26 Oct 2009 | 8:58 am
    This morning at Sunday's meditation group, I learned an exercise that is supposed to help with memory and brain function.  This "super-brain yoga" video describes the benefits to everyone, from children with autism to seniors with Alzheimer's.  The video doesn't show the exercise completely, but it gives you the general idea.  With your left hand grasp your right ear-lobe, then with your right hand grasp your left ear-lobe.  Now, bend at the knees and as you bend, breathe out.  As you rise, breathe in.  Continue to do this for three minutes. I came home and…
 
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    950 Miles Away

  • Mourning

    31 Oct 2009 | 5:30 pm
    I had heard that this time would come, but as we often do when faced with the painful and unpleasant, I never really believed it would happen. The mother I knew is gone. The woman who was intelligent, quick witted, and open minded is no more.She has been replaced by a woman who says bigoted outrageous things, gets angry if she's contradicted, and often acts like a spoiled child.My visit did not go well.I was not prepared for the changes that have occurred in my mom since I last visited in December. I was impatient and angry with her. I could not label it "the illness" when she behaved badly…

  • Another Year Gone, Part 2

    25 Jun 2009 | 2:47 pm
    Fortunately after about two weeks she relented and asked Diane to go to her home. However, she insisted that she didn't need her more than two days a week. When I would remind her that she had agreed in the doctor's office to have Diane every day and every evening during the week, she would become very angry. Here's how it normally goes: Me: Mom, when we went to see the doctor he was very concerned about your being all alone in your house. He wanted you to have Diane in during the day and the evening.Mom: He can't tell me what to do. I'm independent. I've been independent all of my life. I'll…

  • Another Year Gone

    21 Jun 2009 | 6:00 am
    It's been a year since I last posted. In that time I resolved to have my mother go into the nursing home and then changed my mind. And changed it again. And again. So many times I went back and forth on the issue and never felt completely good about either decision. I haven't been to see her since December. That was the deadline I had set for her to make a decision either to move to my town or go into the nursing home. I was pretty sure she wouldn't move to my town, so I had talked to her doctor about how we could get her into the nursing home. The plan was to take her in to see him, and he…

  • New World

    15 Jun 2008 | 1:00 pm
    So, one day you wake up and find it's a whole new world. After the worst visit ever in December, I had one of the best visits ever in May. The visit in December was unmitigated hell. Mom treated me with contempt and hostility. She seemed to be trying to hurt my feelings intentionally, if that is even possible in one with dementia. Everything came back to the money. In addition to the usual accusations, she added a new one: I had spent all her money. Every day I was there, sometimes several times a day, I had to answer these charges.Then something happened. In February she said that I had…

  • By the time you figure it out, it's too late

    30 Jan 2008 | 2:52 pm
    Dealing with someone with dementia is like raising a child. By the time you get it somewhat figured out, it's too late. With children, they're grown; with the demented they're gone.
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    Minding Our Elders (R)

  • Holiday Celebrating Can Be Wearing When You Are a Caregiver

    Carol Bradley Bursack
    6 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    Abbit and I both realize the challenges of balancing the "merry" holiday season with the reality of elder care, and in my case, Christmas deaths. When you are raising children and caring for elders at the same time, the holidays can become more of a juggling act than you ever imagined possible.

  • Alzheimer's Video a Powerful Reminder for Compassion

    Carol Bradley Bursack
    5 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    This video is a must-see for anyone who has become impatient with repeated questions from an elder with dementia (who...

  • National Family Caregivers Month Good Time to Get Educated

    Carol Bradley Bursack
    3 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    Anytime is good for education, but since November is officially National Family Caregivers Month you will see many opportunities to learn more about caregiver stress cropping up.

  • High Tech Systems Help Keep Track of People with AD

    Carol Bradley Bursack
    2 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pm
    Wandering is a huge issue for many caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. The biggest problem may be that one never knows when the urge to wander will hit the person with the disease. Even if the care receiver has never wandered before

  • "I Still Do" Alzheimer's Book Powerful Imagery, Beautiful Prose

    Carol Bradley Bursack
    1 Nov 2009 | 2:36 am
    Dear Readers: There are books and there are books. I get many sent to me to review, way more than I can give attention to. However, when a publicist asked permission to send,” I Still Do:
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    Caring for Hawaii's Elders

  • Updated Resource Guide

    Caring for Hawaii's Elders
    6 Nov 2009 | 3:51 am
    One of the most comprehensive directories for local eldercare resources -- the Senior Information & Assistance Handbook -- is now updated and available at American Savings Bank branches and Satellite City Halls. It is produced by the City's Elderly Affairs Division. With hundreds of services listed, it is an essential publication that all elders and caregivers should have in their possession. It is FREE, thanks to financial support from American Savings Bank, which has been sponsoring the handbook's publication for nearly 30 years. You can also download the publication as a PDF file by…

  • Ebony and Ivory, and Yellow Sibling Rivalry

    Caring for Hawaii's Elders
    4 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am
    Okay, here's a bit of a hot topic.  On conversing with people who are caregivers or who have been, I have found that there seems to be a general trend of one person, or sibling carrying the load of caring for the elder, while the rest of the siblings go on auto pilot.  It happened with one of my friends where he was caring for his elderly mother, and his two sisters rarely came to visit or to bring food, yet they somehow had gotten a hold of their mother's social security checks and were diverting the funds.  My friend had to go back to the social security office on several occasions to…

  • Garden Therapy: Restoring the Soul

    Caring for Hawaii's Elders
    1 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am
    From Kevin: A woman I know told me that she coped with the emotionally painful loss of a loved one by starting a flower garden in his memory. She had conventional psychological therapy for her complicated grief, but what she really enjoyed was going out into her garden and spending time with her plants, digging up  the soil, getting her hands dirty, channeling her sadness and anger into a project that would grow into something beautiful in memory of the person she deeply cared about who was no longer present in her life, at least not in bodily form. She said she could spend hours in her…

  • Aging in Place Site

    Caring for Hawaii's Elders
    23 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am
    An organization called the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC) recently announced a nation-wide launch of a new Web site: http://www.ageinplace.org "Our goal is to provide one-stop shopping for seniors who have problems and are searching for help," said Marty Bell of NAIPC in a press release. “This new site is designed to make it as easy as possible for seniors to find the services they need.” NAIPC is comprised of healthcare professionals, home accessibility consultants, in-home care specialists, interior designers, home remodelers, real estate professionals, insurance providers,…

  • The Lighter Side of Dementia

    Caring for Hawaii's Elders
    21 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am
    by Melissa K. I know that my mother has dementia and it's taken us the better part of a year to come to grips with her physical condition, but getting to acceptance regarding her mental state has been jumping over a huge hurdle.  My mother used to have the memory of an elephant and she probably had the ears of one too.  She remembered insignificant trivia that no one else would bother recalling,  like what someone wore to an event and what their hair looked like.  She  was able to recount stories of things that happened to her or her friends decades ago.  Her short term memory was…
 
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