Treatment and Support for Families Affected by Alzheimer's and other Memory Disorders |
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March 2011 | Vol 1, Issue 10 |
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 | Forget-Me-Nots | forget-me-nots
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Caregiver
Network
News
A monthly newsletter for caregivers of loved ones with memory loss
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THIS ISN'T DEMENTIA
-- IS IT?
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Ruth is an active, cheerful, 79-year-old widow living on her own. She lunches with friends, attends book club every month, emails her grandchildren, goes to church, serves on committtees, plays bridge, works in the garden, cooks her meals, and drives herself wherever she needs to go. Once a year she visits her doctor, who tells her she's just fine; she takes no medications except for an occasional mild sleeping aid. She manages her own finances, does her own grocery shopping, looks after her own home.
And she's in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.
Neither Ruth, nor her family, nor even her doctor know it. On the outside, she appears to be the same as she's always been. But it's what going on inside that's the real story. Connections in her brain are literally disappearing. It doesn't show up on a blood test or X-ray, and nobody realizes it's happening - not even Ruth - until she's well into the disease. It's only a matter of time before these changes in her brain show up as changes in her behavior.
Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, followed by vascular dementia, Lewy Body Disease, Fronto-temporal Disease (FTD), Parkinson's, and others. Presently there exists no cure. However, if you know some of the common early signs to watch for, you can identify behaviors that appear to be normal signs of aging, but that might actually be symptoms of early memory loss:
- Difficulty managing a checkbook, paying bills, or counting change; paying bills twice, or not at all; giving money to telemarketers.
- Inability to use common household items, such a the TV remote, telephone answering machine, kitchen appliances, thermostat, etc., or complaints that they're "broken" or "don't work."
- Making more frequent telephone calls or having repetitive conversations.
- Confusion with appointments, calendar entries, times and dates; showing up a day or week ahead, or making repeated calls to confirm.
- Reluctance to engage in familiar social situations, or decline in conversation, especially in groups.
- Saying in restaurants, "You order for me" or "I'll have what you're having."
- Change in sleeping habits, or sleeping more during the daytime.
- Change in personal hygiene; wearing the same clothes; not bathing regularly.
- Difficulty with preparing meals or following instructions on packaged foods; tendency to leave food sitting out or improperly stored (i.e., putting an uncovered plate of leftovers in the freezer); forgetting to turn off burners.
- Hoarding food; piling up supplies such as tissue, plastic bags, cosmetics, etc.; accumulating packets of sugar or crackers in purses or drawers, or piles of papers and mail.
- Disinterest in or frustration with lifelong activities - gardening, reading, sewing, cooking, sports, etc.
- Misplacing items frequently, such as purse, keys, TV remote, etc., or putting them in inappropriate places (i.e., the iron in the refrigerator, the purse in the pantry).
- Becoming suspicious of other people's actions, or believing that personal items are being stolen.
- Not remembering conversations, information, plans, or instructions, even when told repeatedly.
Of course, everyone forgets things occasionally, but if you are concerned that your loved one's memory lapses are increasing, talk to his or her physcian. You can be better prepared to recognize the early stages of a memory disorder by being watchful and alert for its initial warning signs. Early detection and assessment of the disease is crucial to maintaining the best quality of life for you and your family.

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VOCABULARY
LESSON
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As Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of memory loss become more a part of our everyday lives, we often come across words and phrases that are unfamiliar or confusing. Here's some you should know:
Dementia
The umbrella term for a large group of illnesses which cause memory loss or cognitive impairment. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, but the term also includes Lewy Body Disease, vascular dementia, and others.
Early-Onset
Describes diseases that begin in someone younger than 65. Not to be confused with Early-Stage, which can occur at any age.
PWD
Person With Dementia
UTI
Urinary Tract Infection. Frequent cause of increased agitation or confusion in dementia patients, especially those who are incontinent.
Confabulation
Making up facts to cover up behaviors. It isn't the same as lying; the person actually believes what they're saying.
ADLs
Activities of Daily Living, i.e., bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, etc. criteria that long-term care facilities use to determine a person's functioning level.
Aphasia
Loss of ability to understand and compre-
hend spoken language, loss of words, and inability to express themselves.
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CAREGIVER STORIES
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THIS STORY was submitted by a care-husband from South Africa:
We had a scary incident when we were on a picnic at a park. Before leaving the park, I took my wife to the Ladies' room while I went to the Men's room. I came out and waited for her, and after a long time asked a woman to please see if she was OK. She came out and said there was nobody in there at all. Everyone began looking for her all over the camp. A concerned couple finally found her walking down the road a fair distance from the camp, where she had been talking to a huge bull elephant that was standing at the side of the road. She remembered nothing about the incident afterwards, but all the people who had tried to help were wonderful about it.
The elephant was good-natured, too.
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The Feil Method - Breaking Through the Barrier of Dementia
Validation Worker Certification Course
For nurses, CNAs, social workers, long-term care facility administrators and staff, OTs and PTs, clergy, family members, and anyone who works with older adults with memory impairment
"This is awesome! Gave me techniques for communicating that I should have been using all these years, but I didn't know how!" -C.P., Special Care Unit R.N.
Course Dates (all five blocks required)
June 13-14, 2011

August 15-16, 2011
October 17-18, 2011
January 9-10, 2012
March 12-13, 2012
Tuition is $850.00 ($800.00 if paid prior to May 1)
Enrollment limited to 20. Reservations being accepted now.
IN-SERVICE INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS FOR FACILITY STAFF
ARE AVAILABLE AT NO COST THROUGH MAY 15.
For more information or to register:
Visit www.vfvalidation.org,
or contact WNC Coordinator Mary Donnelly, CVW, network@memorycare.org
Sponsored by:
Givens Estates MemoryCare Park Ridge Health Land of Sky Alzheimer's Association
Regional Council
*Validation is a tested method of communication with disoriented elderly persons that helps reduce stress and enhance dignity and happiness.
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CAREGIVER CALENDAR
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MEMORYCAREGIVERS NETWORK
SUPPORT GROUPS
free & open to the public
FIRST TUESDAY GROUP 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Calvary Episcopal Church (in the library), Fletcher, N.C. Hendersonville Road across from Fletcher Ingles THIRD TUESDAY GROUP
New Hope Presbyterian Church
3070 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, N.C.
(across from Givens Estates) "MEMORYCARE CLUB" Our Support Group for persons with early memory loss
(Initial screening required. Please call for information)
Meets concurrently with the Third Tuesday Group NEW! THIRD TUESDAY PARK RIDGE GROUP Duke Room of Park Ridge Hospital, Naples Road, Fletcher, N.C.
Third Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
(supper available in hospital cafeteria at 5pm)
For more information about any of these, contact:
Mary Donnelly Pat Hilgendorf 828.230.4143 828.645.9189
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WEAVERVILLE SUPPORT GROUP
Weaverville's First Baptist Church is sponsoring a new support group
for caregivers of persons with Alzheimers or other memory disorders.
Led by Pat Hilgendorf and Mary Donnelly,
the group meets on the Fourth Tuesdays from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
in the church fellowship hall, 63 North Main Street, Weaverville.
Free and open to the public.
Call 828.645.9189 or 828.230.4143 for further information. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Caregiver Workshop:
THE JOURNEY - CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGES OF MEMORY LOSS
A seven-part series of community education events presented by The Alzheimer's Association, MemoryCare, and other area service providers. Free and open to the public. All sessions will be held at Biltmore United Methodist Church (393 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803),
from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. on the THIRD THURSDAYS of each month beginning in March 2011.
First Session - March 17, 2011
"So You Think There May Be a Problem"
What are the early warning signs of memory loss? What is considered "normal" and "not normal" memory loss? What steps do you take if you suspect there is a problem?
For more information, call the Western Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association
828.230.3885 or 704.532.7390.
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CAREGIVER COLLEGE
MemoryCare's 12-week education series for caregivers, consisting of six two-hour sessions. Classes are held on Tuesdays, 4-6pm Cost $100 (free to MemoryCare families) Prior registration required. Call (828) 712.2219 to enroll.
The next series begins April 5, 2011.
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NOTABLE QUOTABLES
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"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember,
amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic."
-unknown
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MemoryCare relies on charitable donations for operations. Please consider MemoryCare in your estate planning.
To visit our website, click on
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MemoryCare gratefully acknowledges support from the
Glaxo-Smith-Kline Foundation's Ribbon of Hope Program
for making this newsletter possible.

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