Have you ever come close to “losing your cool,” as you cared for an Alzheimer’s spouse or parent?  Have you had to calm your frustrations when your patient became irritating?
When you’re tired (getting adequate sleep as a full time caregiver becomes challenging), juggling many roles (especially if you’re a mom as well as cargiver) and taking care of a home, possibly even working outside, frustrations come to the foreground more easily.  So leaning to keep your cook becomes important so that you don’t fall into the abuse trap.
A British study reveals that Many Alzheimer’s Caregivers Admit to Abusive Behavior.  This …read more

After I wrote last week’s Thursday Thirteen  about 13 Birds Creating Memories in my mother’s life, Krista at Alzheimer’s Team, left me a comment, “My dad remembers he had horses but he can’t go in to detail about it. Maybe if we talked with him more about it he might remember more.”
Yes, often if you talk with your Alzheimer’s family member about places, persons, things and events, they will remember more. These may be bits and pieces of memories that you’ll enjoy jotting down or recording for family history, too.  Sometimes they will be lengthy stories.  You also may find …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
In recognition of   National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, the Health & Wellness Channel has initiated a project.  Various bloggers are writing posts revolving around the Twelve Steps of Recovery designated by Alcoholics Anonymous.  The bloggers have selected one or more steps to write about in relation to their own blog topic.  Then Liz Lewis at Healthbolt will compile them.
Although I didn’t participate by writing about any of the steps, I considered how this topic might relate to Alzheimer’s patients.  Do they become addicted because they are prescribed medications, depressants, stress relievers to enable them to cope?
When my mother was very agitated, even hostile, …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
One of the most frustrating aspects of caring for an Alzheimer’s family member or one with some form of dementia is their lack of need for sleep at night and their wandering when you want to sleep.  I found I cat napped and never slept soundly for the months Mother lived with us.
One of my Alzheimer’s Notes readers shares with us and asks for a solution:

I have a friend whose mother also has mild dementia and when she takes her turn at caring for her mother, she is up all night long.
We have had many conversations about what she and …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
As youngsters get ready to return to school (and some schools already have started), there may be apprehension.  Grace at  Kids Health Notes has some tips and resources for parents and children that may help make this day easier and even enjoyable. 
Do you have any suggestions or helpful resources for going back to school that work in your home?  Do you have any extra juggling because you have an Alzheimer’s family member in your home?
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(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

AlzheimersNotes.com

Tea time is a sharing time so I’ll be sharing my thoughts and those of readers who contribute through their comments.  We’re sitting down to a “virtual” tea party and finding encouragement from one another in the Alzheimer’s caregiver journey.
Dixie left this message, and I think many of you can relate:
I am a nurse at an Alzheimer’s Care facility.
I see the daily struggles and heartache that families go through. I have always thought that Alzheimer’s is one of the diseases that affects the whole family-perhaps more so than any other, on so many levels.  
It is true that Alzheimer’s affects family members …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
When Alzheimer’s patients can’t communicate, it often becomes very difficult to tell when they’re in pain, when they don’t understand, or when they’re being obstinate.  Are there any clues or signs we should look for?
Marijke Durning, of Help My Hurt, has some suggestions:
You need to be observant and pick up on body and nonverbal cues; some are obvious, others may not be.
Check out her post for suggestions: If someone can’t talk – how do they tell you they have pain?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

AlzheimersNotes.com

Finding opportunities for summer fun (vacations, days at the beach, barbeques with friends, attending the latest movie) often seem limited for Alzheimer’s caregivers.  They’re tied to the home caring for a person they find it difficult to take out with them.  Or it requires a great deal of work to plan and accomplish, whether you’re arranging for care when you’re away or taking them along.
*Plan more backyard and at-home activities that the Alzheimer’s patient can watch (or stay in their room if they desire).  More people are aware of Alzheimer’s disease and are more accepting of someone with Alzheimer’s than …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
Do you refuse to let siblings and others care for your parent or spouse because you think there will be negative effects?
Do you complain about the stress and strain of caring for an Alzheimer’s family member, yet won’t look into respite care and continually find reasons why it won’t work?
In other words…Are You a Caregiver Martyr?
You may not be aware that you are.  You may think only you can care for this person.  Yes, they may complain if you change their routine, if you aren’t at their “beck and call” or leave them with someone else for awhile. 
However, take stock of …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
Alzheimer’s disease is not always an isolated diagnosis.  You may be dealing with other illnesses and disabilities as well.  One of these could be breast cancer which the patient may have encountered before Alzheimer’s. Or she could have developed it while her memory was fading.
Also, often the caregiver and/or other family members have health problems., which makes the caretaking more difficult.
My aunt, who developed Alzheimer’sand ultimately became my responsibility (as well as my mom with Alzheimer’s) had experienced colon cancer several years before.  Surgery resulted, and fortunately Auntie didn’t have a recurrence.
My mom had some lesions on her face that required removal.  The doctor …read more