Alzheimer’s Decisions
Moving an Alzheimer’s family member to a nursing home presents a heartwrenching challenge for many people.  Some have made promises that they would never do this.  Others feel it’s their responsibility to care for their parent, spouse or sibling at home.
However, there comes a time, I realized, when I couldn’t care for my mother, and she couldn’t care for her sister any longer   Mother was developing Alzheimer’s when I had to make other arrangements for the sister with Alzheimer’s who lived with her.
Mother finally needed more care than I could give her when I moved her to the nursing home …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
“Take pictures of my Alzheimer’s family member!  I’d never want to do that,” you say. However, this can be enjoyable, both for you and your Alzheimer’s patient.  I’m pleased I have now, a series of photos of Mother and Auntie during those years.  Many of Mother’s I’ve placed in  a scrapbook, calling it Legacy of Love.
Included are photos of my grandchildren visiting their great grandmother and participating in activities and special events with her at the nursing home.  The photos bring back special memories for them.
Also, at the nursing home, the staff took photos of the residents (with the families …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
In my Alzheimer’s Word of the Week post last week, I wrote about nursing homes and mentioned some people didn’t like to mention the word.  Alicia, blogger at Mental Health Notes, wrote a very enlightening comment, which I think gives insight into the varying reactions to this term.
The term “nursing home” always strikes different emotions from different people, doesn’t it? I think it’s due to a variety of reasons (the poor reputations some nursing homes have, the idea that putting your loved ones in a nursing home is neglectful and selfish, the sad fact that some people actually do “dump” their loved …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
Yesterday I explained Sundowning in Word of the Week. I began thinking about Mother’s sundowning experiences. This wasn’t a big problem with her, but some crisis situations did occur in late afternoon.
I found her sundowning activities usually were connected to something she customarily did in late afternoon in her earlier life.  When I delve deeper into other patients’ sundowning, I’ve realized this often is connected with an afternoon event of former days.

*Feeding chickens – When I was growing up on the dairy farm, we also raised chickens and sold eggs.  We fed the chickens mid-morning and again in later afternoon.  After we discovered Mother …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
My husband and I have been on planes all day and just got home from a business trip.  This reminded me of flying with his parents, when we took them from New Hampshire to visit relatives in Utah several years ago.  Dad was beginning to get confused, but Mum was still very alert.  However, both needed assistance in getting around.
Jim and I realized we had to be with them all of the time so they didn’t get confused or lost.
Have you traveled with an elderly family member or friend?  Have you traveled with someone who has Alzheimer’s?
Do you have tips …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com

I think one of the most discouraging situations for Alzheimer’s patients, and possibly for family, too, is the “You can’t drive anymore scenario.”  This often creates a big hassle.
Even without someone having Alzheimer’s, there often comes a time when their reflexes aren’t so good,  their eyesight may be failing, stiff or arthritic joints keep them from moving swiftly, and their hearing may not be acute.  For someone who is accustomed to driving, loss of independence ,when they are no longer able, can be a shattering experience.
However, at some time, driving must be curtailed…before they injure themselves or someone else. 
*With my …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
 Giving up their independence and seeing their ability to do tasks by themselves slowly erode, becomes one of the most frustrating aspects of the disease for many Alzheimer’s patients.  They know something is amiss, but often don’t understand why they’re not allowed to do the ordinary, everyday activities on their own.  Or why they can’t do them.

Driving – this becomes difficult to explain and for them to comprehend
Staying home alone
Going outside on their own
Cooking
Living in their own home
Taking care of their finances

These are just a few areas that cause frustration as the Alzheimer’s patient loses their independence.  The loss of …read more

I just finished reading a wonderful little book called High Heels to Hormones (A Woman’s Guide to Spine Care) by Christina Lasich, M.D.  Short and easy to read with plenty of cartoons to get the points across, I’d recommend it to any woman who suffers from back pain, and especially to anyone who is the role of caregiver.
Caregivers, after all, are at great risk of back injury and would find this book useful for learning more about how to prevent and manage back pain.
Christine has been kind enough to write a guest post for Alzheimer’s Notes looking at ‘Three Tips for Avoidng …read more