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Tips, Ideas, and Products to Help on the Care Journey   April 2012

 

In This Issue
What needs to change?
Dementia Care Tips
Doing Things Together
 
Share this press release about the new MindStart website with friends, physicians, anyone who needs to learn more about LIVING with dementia.  You will be providing them with an invaluable resource for helping people with dementia to keep 'doing things'.
 
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Video Shows Life!

(original) Man In Nursing Home Reacts To Hearing Music From His Era

Have you seen this YouTube video yet that has had nearly 800,00 views? The gentleman with dementia in the video is slumped in his wheelchair, looking down.  He barely responds to his daughter when she visits.
 

But the scene changes once music he enjoys is put on.  Eyes are wide open and his face is animated, followed by very intelligible comments about his music. Indeed, the MIND can START when given the right tools to elicit it.

 
  
Currently, there are  35.6 million people worldwide living with dementia.  This is expected to rise to 115 million by the middle of the century, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  The report released by WHO, Dementia: a Public Health Priority, states that only 8 countries currently have active national programs to tackle the problem.  Issues they recommend be addressed, include:
 
 Early diagnosis: even in rich nations, only 1 in 5 dementia cases are recognized
 
Raising public awareness: the stigma of dementia hampers diagnosis and support for caregivers
 
Finding ways to support caregivers: caregivers face financial and health repercussions that they face with little to no support
 
 
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Greetings! 

Greetings!  April has brought attention to Alzheimer's and the demands it will place on our public health systems in the future.  This newsletter will share important updates, so your organization can find its way to progressively meet the challenges. 

It will "take a village" ...
What Needs to Change? - The Alzheimer's Advisory Council Speaks
  
On April 16, the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research Care and Services, made many recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt as an adjunct to the National Alzheimer's Project Act signed by President Obama. Some of these are highlighted below. 
  • Release a national public awareness campaign to encourage early detection and increase visibility.
  • Redesign Medicare coverage to encourage early diagnosis and care planning by physicians.
  • Develop quality indicators for the care and treatment of individuals with Alzheimer's.
  • Develop models of palliative care for those with advanced dementia
  • Expand funding and incentives for providers to become more knowledgeable about dementia.
  • Include advance care planning (health, estate, and financial) during the process of diagnosis
  • Support the regular assessment of caregiver health
  • Increase funding for research

These are all great plans, but time is of the essence.  Read below about some ideas you might start now at your facility, to support these recommendations made by the council. 

Dementia Care Tips - What Does Pat Summit Teach Us?

Women's basketball head coach, Pat Summit, stepped down from her postion last week. This ends a tremendously successful tenure, a coach who has more wins than any other man or woman coach.

 

She bravely faced her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease and openly shared about it. She has put a face to this disease. Even though she has stepped down, she has not thrown in the towel, as she bravely continues to fight Alzheimer's publicly.

 

Pat will be awarded the Medal of Freedom, the her nation's highest civilian honor, by President Obama for her work both on and off the court. Thanks to her and others in the public eye, such as Glen Campbell, the word Alzheimer's can slowly come out of the clouds of avoidance and fear and be a condition that can be addressed and talked about.

Doing Things Together: Reminiscing

  

Reminiscing is a powerful tool that is helpful in all stages of dementia.  Why does it work so well?  It relies on past memories, not current thoughts or future plans.  

 

Early Stage Dementia 

  • Individuals at this stage may still remember recent events, but in a more vague manner.  They might need visual cues to aid their memory.
    • Provide pictures with labels of the event
    • Video tape important moments; have them available to play back.
  • The person can start recording memories and events they want to be remembered in the future.
  • Use digital photo frames

Middle Stage Dementia

  • Use objects to help spark memories.
    • Different hats
    • Various garden vegetables
    • Different types of music, etc.
  • Choosing a theme may help structure the reminiscence timeThis Is My Life Memory Book
    • Holidays
    • Seasons
    • Self -care
  • Use of memory albums to support and honor the past memories of each person 

Late Stage Dementia 

  • Use the strengths that still remain at this stage - the senses of seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting.
    • Music (see the memories triggered from music for this gentleman)
    • Holding hands, hugs, rubbing shoulders, combing hair
    • Eating favorite foods, as able.

 

Until next month...
Monica Heltemes, OTR/L
MindStart