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| ElderCare at Home Newsletter |
June 2009 | |
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Greetings!
ElderCare at Home brings you this newsletter in the spirit of cooperation and education. We hope you find this information useful and informative. Please give us a call or email us if there is anything we can do for you.
Sincerely,
Elayne Forgie, President/CEO
ElderCare at Home & ElderCare Resource Center
800-209-4342 |
Elayne Forgie, CMC, Featured In AARP Video on Alzheimer's disease
 A few months ago I had the opportunity to work with AARP and a film crew from NBC news to create a video series for their web site and their Retirement TV Network.
"Billy's" family was wonderful. They allowed us into their home and into their lives for two solid days of filming. Billy was amazing. He is one of the most pleasant patients I have ever worked with and I thoroughly enjoyed helping his family with some tips to help make their lives just a little easier.
Recently, Billy has taken a turn for the worse. Although we know that our patients and loved ones that suffer from Alzheimer's disease do indeed suffer from a progressive brain disorder, it is never, ever easy.
Please take a moment to watch these two videos and send your blessings out to Billy and his family.
Elayne Forgie, CMC
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Ask the Expert
 QUESTION: My parent just received a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. What are the most important things our family should do?
PART TWO
Last month, I began my response to this very important question. This article continues the answer. I mentioned that I would offer condition-specific answers, but first I need to introduce a framework to organize that answer.
I have studied medicine for the past 30 years and have seen over 30,000 patients. I have realized that many of the things I was taught and that I thought I knew proved ultimately to be inaccurate or incorrect. The lesson is that the specifics are continually evolving or changed; the principles tend to remain stable and enduring. Click here to read more! |
Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia
The vast majority of dementia cases are one of two types: Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of memory and the progressive decline of cognitive abilities. The slow progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain leads to Alzheimer's disease.
While it is natural to lose a certain number of nerve cells as we get older, the loss occurs much more rapidly in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. As a result, the victim's brain cannot function normally.
The second most frequent cause of dementia is known as vascular dementia. The condition is not a single disease but a group of syndromes relating to different vascular mechanisms.
Just as vascular disease damages arteries and causes a buildup of plaque-which can lead to a heart attack or stroke-vascular disease can also damage the neural nets in the brain and cause cognitive decline.
This is why the risk factors for vascular dementia-high blood pressure, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, etc.-are the same risk factors as for heart attack and stroke. To learn more and how Vitamin B-12 works, click here! |
For Caregivers: Developing Emotional Intelligence
I was honored to be a speaker at the Alzheimer's Educational Conference held last week in Palm Beach County. My presentation was entitled "Stress, Depression and the Alzheimer's Caregiver".
The presentation included educating the audience on emotional intelligence and how it can help.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage your emotions in positive and constructive ways. It's about recognizing your own emotional state and the emotional states of others. Emotional intelligence is also about engaging with others in ways that draw people to you.
Although I can not reproduce my presentation in this newsletter, I do encourage you to read more about developing emotional intelligence here! |
Survival Kit for Those In Need
 I recently discovered a wonderful company called "Joni's Hope Chest" . The company was founded by a caregiver whose story is sure to be an inspiration to all.
Joni's Hope Chest creates beautiful designer boxes, or "Hope Chests" that are individually created just for you. Their motto is "We must change our thoughts in order to change our lives". Please read more here and be sure to visit their site! |
Pages of the Past
 If you have read many of our newsletters or visited our websites, you know how passionate we are about preserving memories. A dear friend of mine was recently featured in The Palm Beach Post's Residence Section.
The story is entitled "Pages of the Past" and not only reiterates how important it is to preserve those precious memories, but gives you some great tips on how to do it!
Suzanne Woodie is an amazing designer! Be sure to read the complete article here and visit her website. |
Request for Stories From Alzheimer's/Dementia Caregivers & Family
 Author Nadine Rudner has asked that we pass along the following information to our readers:
After taking care of my mother-in-law, my wife is compiling stories for a book that she is writing for family, friends and caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and dementia.
While it's a very sad disease, and life is tough watching someone you love decline, there are so many funny moments and things that come out of my mother-in-law's mouth. And other folks we've talked with say the same thing.
So to bring some comic relief to our daily grinds with our dementia-stricken parents, family and friends, she is looking for funny stories and anecdotes for our book. If we choose one or more of your stories, she'll send you a free copy of the book upon publication.
Feel free to send as many humorous stories as you like, to Nadine Rudner: mailto: alzbook@aol.com
Please include your full name and return email address so that she can contact you. Also, feel free to pass this notice to anyone you know who works with or cares for people with dementia and Alzheimer's. Thank you! |
Are You Ready? Hurricane Season 2009 is Here!
ElderCare at Home and ElderCare Resource Center offer extensive hurricane and disaster preparedness planning services to seniors who are vulnerable during hurricane season or in the event of a disaster.
Our Care Manager's will work with you before, during and after the crisis. They will ensure that you have a place to go if you're evacuated and if you choose to stay at home, they'll also make sure you have plenty of supplies, extra medications and when possible, a caregiver to see you through. To learn more about our Hurricane Preparedness Program, click here! . Don't wait until the last minute! Call us today at 800-209-4342 | |
Congratulations!
 A special CONGRATULATIONS to Alzheimer's Community Care and the Alzheimer's Alliance for their sold out 2009 Alzheimer's Disease Educational Conference. If you missed it, be sure to register VERY EARLY next year! It is an event you don't want to miss! | |
ElderCare at Home is South Florida's premier provider of Alzheimer's/dementia specific geriatric care management and at-home assisted living services for patients and families suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other memory impairments. We provide all levels of in-home nursing as well as homemaker and companion care. All services are fully integrated, coordinated, and monitored by one of our professional geriatric care managers ~ at no charge to our clients! ElderCare at Home serves as an advocate for our clients and a surrogate for their family members. Please visit our web sites at www.ElderCareatHome.org or www.ElderCareResourceCenter.com You can call us at 800-209-4342 or email us at ElderCareatHome@msn.com
ElderCare at Home & ElderCare Resource Center
2328 10th Ave. N #101
Lake Worth, Florida 33461
800-209-4342 |
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