It’s so easy to think that we should get the new high definition cable box, the new stovetop that can only be washed with a special cleanser and a soft cloth, or that sleek new microwave. However, these new and improved household appliances can be hard for people without Alzheimer’s to figure out. For someone with Alzheimer’s, it can be downright impossible, so don’t be surprised if Mom washes your new stove with her trusty cleaner and a scouring pad even if you explained everything to her.
Honestly, if you can avoid buying the newest and best gadgets, at least for the areas your loved one with Alzheimer’s is using, it is really a good idea. Moving to a new home can increase an Alzheimer’s patient’s confusion and having something in his or her current home change can do the same thing.
2006 has been an eventful year for the Alzheimer’s research community. They have made some tremendous strides and are so close to putting the puzzle pieces together. As 2006 draws to a close, I know we all hope that 2007 will be remembered as the year that a cure for this devastating disease was discovered.
Now a look at the advances from 2006:
We started off January with a bang, as researchers reported that memantine could help patients with advanced Alzheimer’s.
In February, we heard that genes play a part in Alzheimer’s development, but environment can also affect the onset of the disease.
March roared in with a report that blood pressure medication could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and left us with a heated debate over the use of Aricept.
In July, we heard that heart and diabetes problems could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Pretty good for one year, huh? And this doesn’t include all of the legal wrangling that resulted in a renewal of OAA and prescription coverage for Alzheimer’s medications.
By the way, if you are interested in reading other people’s reviews and predictions for almost any topic imaginable, you’ll want to check out ProBlogger’s Group Writing Project.
For the best in Alzheimer’s care and for any of your in home health care needs go to Comfort Keepers.
According to a study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine, you aren’t the only one with a chance of developing Alzheimer’s. Cats can also develop mental deterioration when they develop a protein build up in nerve cells. This is actually good news for Alzheimer’s victims, since scientists studying animal diseases may have a breakthrough that will help cure Alzheimer’s more quickly.
When I asked for stories about Alzheimer’s patients and their pets, I never expected anything this sad. A reader asked that I share a story about her grandmother with Alzheimer’s who went on a 2 week cruise with family members. They didn’t think to question her about boarding arrangements for her dog. She forgot she had a pet and didn’t take it to a kennel or hire a petsitter. She came home to find her devoted dog was dead.
Please don’t assume that your loved one will remember something as obvious as making sure someone is there to care for pets, stopping mail delivery, locking the front door, etc. before a long vacation. Go through his or her home with the patient to make sure everything is in order before the vacation begins.
If you have a family member with Alzheimer’s who is still living alone and has a pet, there are a few things you should consider. First, you’ll need to be sure that he or she is remembering to care for the pet. If not, you will need to intercede and hire someone to help give the pet food, water and exercise. Pet care doesn’t have to break the bank. While a professional pet sitter or errand service would be the ideal option, a neighborhood teen or stay at home mom may be willing to stop by once a day to care for the pet for a reasonable fee.
For a dog, a pet door is a great option if it is at all possible. If not, you may need to hire a dogwalker to be sure the pet is getting enough exercise and to avoid accidents in the house.
Finally, you should talk to the Alzheimer’s patient about contacting the pet’s veterinarian to explain that you are authorized to get medical information and to request treatment for the pet. Otherwise, the vet may refuse to release records to you or may not agree to treat the pet in an emergency situation without the owner’s consent. The vet will probably require something in writing stating that you have permission to care for the pet and access records.
We have a new addition. She’s sweet and loving and spent the last few weeks living alone in her former owner’s house after the owner’s daughter had to move her into a spare bedroom. The daughter didn’t have room for poor Casey and left her behind. She was let out once a day for a few minutes, but she was very upset and anxious to go from having a constant companion to noone at all.
When the daughter mentioned that Casey was on her way to the SPCA, I brought her home. It made me think - what do we need to do about pets of people with Alzheimer’s? What benefits do they offer? What are the drawbacks? Over the next few weeks, I’ll be talking about pets and Alzheimer’s patients. If you have a story or tip, please share it with us.
I’m going to preface this post with a note about my mom. She rarely reads and I can’t remember the last time she actually went out and bought a book. So when she says something was so helpful that she purchased a copy for herself when the library needed their copy back, I tend to take notice!
Elder Rage, or Take My Father… Please!: How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents
is a book that outlines the struggles one woman faced in taking care of a parent with senile dementia. The first several hundred pages are an account of what she experienced, but my mom says that knowing someone else experienced the same thing and finding out what worked for her was extremely beneficial. Marcell writes about her experiences in a humorous way, which makes it much easier to read about some of the tough issues she dealt with.
If you’re having trouble dealing with someone who has elder rage, then you won’t want to miss this book. It helped us deal with really tough behavior issues more than once.
