“Silent Voice’s”… and Alzheimer’s Disease

November 6, 2010 by Alzheimer's Speaks

Norm McNamara

I just received from one of our readers, Norm McNamara,?this beautiful poem called “Silent?Voice’s”?and wanted to share it with you.??This poem has also made an impression?on me.? It is time to have a?poetry section?on the Alzheimer’s Speaks Resource Website.? If you have a poem regarding?your journey with dementia please submit via comments on this blog?and I will also add it to the resource website to share with others.? The site URL to the resource website is:

?www.AlzheimersSpeaks.com?

Now here is Norms Poem:

Silent Voice’s

By Norm McNamara

Silent voices shouting everywhere

Silent, yet still rising through the air,

Eyes that look but do not see,

Beating heart inside of me,

Forever wanting their life back,

No more wandering this lonely track,

To talk, to laugh, be understood,

To live their lives as they should,

One year there, next year gone,

Like the setting of the sun,

The Dementia Demon comes along,

Takes away your favorite song,

I have all this yet to come,

Vacant stare, body numb,

But to the end and from the start,

Place your hand around my heart,

Feel it beat inside of me,

Look in my eyes and you will see,

Happy scenes without a tear,

And my silent voice you will hear

Here? is your chance to meet Norm and learn a bit more about his journey with Alzheimer’s disease.? I think you will find this interview with BBC Radio Devon very interesting.? It is?about a drug that has worked wonders for him inearly stages.? Please take the time to watch.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWTkWACwFWw

Posted in Alzheimer's Speaks Resource Website, Caregiver, Dementia, Find Opportunities within an Obstacle, Grief, Guilt, Hospice, Living with Alzheimer's disease, Sandwich Generation, Simple Pleasures, Speaker on Alzheimer's disease, Speaker on Caregiving, adult children, aging, alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, caregiving, caring for edlerly, caring for loved ones, caring for parents, elderly, gift ideas, loss, memory care, memory loss, nursing home, old, parenting parents, seniors | Tagged Lori La Bey, Norm McNamara, Alzheimer's Speaks | 2 Comments

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Holiday Caregiving Challenges

November 4, 2010 by Alzheimer's Speaks

Check out the guest article I wrote for Roshini Rajkumar, entitled “Holiday Caregiving Challenges.”? Here is the link

?http://www.roshinimedia.com/blog/

The Roshini?Performance Group, and they?are dedicated?to empowering individuals?and organizations to communicate powerfully in their most dynamic and authentic voice. If you are looking for one on one coaching or a fantastic energizing Keynoter, Roshini won’t let you down.? She is amazing.? Here is a link to her site.

http://www.roshinimedia.com/

Posted in Alzheimer's Speaks Resource Website, Caregiver, Dementia, Denial, Find Opportunities within an Obstacle, Grief, Guilt, Hospice, Living with Alzheimer's disease, Sandwich Generation, Simple Pleasures, Speaker on Alzheimer's disease, Speaker on Caregiving, adult children, aging, alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, caregiving, caring for edlerly, caring for loved ones, caring for parents, elderly, gift ideas, loss, memory care, memory loss, nursing home, old, parenting parents, seniors | Leave a Comment

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For caregivers, it's OK to feel good and bad

In a recent blog, Linda wrote: "As a caregiver, this early stage of my husband's Alzheimer's is a bag of mixed actions. He's not reacted to the diagnosis any more than a common cold. I often feel he is kidding around with me and finding ways to get out of doing things. I don't know what to feel and I don't know what to do. What is going on?"

I wanted to share some thoughts on what Linda wrote because I'm convinced many other Alzheimer's caregivers feel the same. One of the most common neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's is apathy. Apathy is a symptom of the disease caused by changes in certain regions of the brain.

Persons with apathy show a lack of interest, initiation and motivation. Activities that they once engaged in seem of little interest anymore. They appear passive, indifferent and may lack "normal" emotion or concern toward others or the environment around them.

When apathy is present, Alzheimer's caregivers often describe their loved ones as stubborn or lazy. Caregivers feel that they have to take responsibility for everything; understandably, this can lead to conflict. Caregivers can feel like they are constantly giving orders, nagging, and questioning the intentions of their loved one with the disease. Over time, they may feel resentment toward their loved one, and become more angry and overwhelmed as their caregiving responsibilities increase.

It's important to keep in mind that persons with Alzheimer's generally lack the ability to scheme or plot a way to "get out of" something. No degree of nagging or persuasion will motivate someone with apathy. In addition, pointing out their lack of interest, inability to complete common tasks, or overall unwillingness, will not improve the situation. In fact, it will probably make things worse.

This does not mean that Alzheimer's caregivers should never feel angry. To the contrary, caregivers have every right to feel all emotions that come their way — anger, fear, sadness, guilt, pain. If caregivers don't give themselves permission to feel what they feel, all emotions eventually go numb. To feel love, joy, contentment, we must accept whatever our lives (and our feelings) are at the moment. Give yourself permission to feel it all Linda — good and bad.

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Protecting Caregiver Health: When the Caregiver's Health Fails the Care System Can Collapse

Protecting Caregiver Health: When the Caregiver's Health Fails the Care System Can Collapse (Minding Our Elders®)Minding Our Elders®Breaking the Isolation: Information, Support and Shared Experience for Caregivers and Seniors by Author, Columnist, Consultant and Speaker Carol Bradley BursackHomeArchivesSubscribeInterested In Sponsorship? Email CarolBulk Book Orders for "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories?" Email Carol MEDIA GUIDE CLICK HERE
Mission Statement
Supporting SitesMedical Alarm DevicesReal Online Degrees CNA TrainingSan Francisco DentistMesothelioma TreatmentAll My Faves | Seniorsblogs's FavesPhoenix Homes For Sale CategoriesAgingAlzheimer'sBookscaregivingCurrent AffairsDeathDementiaEmpathy for CaregiversEmpathy for SeniorsFamilyFilmFood and DrinkGamesHealthMusicNews and ResearchReflectionsReligionScienceSpiritualitystudyTelevisionTips for CaregiversTips for SeniorsTravelVideosWeb/TechWeblogsWhen We Are Both@import url(http://www.google.com/cse/api/branding.css); Custom Search AARP Guide to Health Care Reform
ArchivesOctober 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010More...

See how we're connected More Favorite Sites and BlogsEnduring CareHelp! Aging ParentsIncontinenceKnowItAlz.com BlogMy Elder AdvocatePuzzles and More: Diversional therapy resources Richard Taylor, Ph.D.The Boomer ChroniclesThe Dementia Caregiver's ToolboxWell Spouse Associationwww.agelessdesign.comBlog powered by TypePad
Member since 09/2006? ABC TV Alzheimer’s Series Riveting |Main

Saturday, October 23, 2010Protecting Caregiver Health: When the Caregiver's Health Fails the Care System Can Collapse

Think of it like this: Caregivers are the base of a pyramid. When the base collapses, the whole pyramid crashes. Many of us are “natural caregivers.” We put other people’s needs ahead of our own. It feels good to give. However, everyone has a breaking point. Whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, spiritual - or more likely a combination of all of these – if the caregiver breaks down, the whole care system can collapse. Caregiver self-care is vital to all involved.

Read more about caregiver health and the Shriver Report 2010:

Find help with your caregiving:

Give a caregiver the gift of a portable support group:

Posted on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 01:01 AM in Aging, Alzheimer's, caregiving, Family, Health, News and Research, Television | Permalink

Technorati Tags:Alzheimer's, caregiving, Shriver

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AboutMinding Our Elders Home

To Order BookCarol Bradley Bursack: Minding Our Elders

Free Ezine and Book Chapter? JOIN NOW @import url(http://www.google.com/cse/api/branding.css); Custom Search Ezine Archive Carol's Article ArchiveHear Carol on NPR's TOTNHow To Talk To Parents About Assisted Living : NP
HEAR CAROL: Caregiving TeleseminarSubscribe to my Podcast

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Powered by FeedBlitzNeed a Speaker?Testimonials
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Watch Your DrugsConsumer Med Safety
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The Beers List: Potentially Inappropriate Medications for the Elderly
Subscribe to this blog's feed ResourcesWorking CaregiverSocial Security AdministrationService and Benefits for SeniorsNursing Home Abuse Center North Dakota Interagency Program for Assistive Technology National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource CenterNational Family Caregivers AssociationNational Council on AgingNational Associaton of Area Agencies on AgingNational Association of Family CaregiversNational Alzheimer's AssociationIsaacs FoundationHospice Foundation of AmericaAlzheimer's Foundation of AmericaAlzheimer's Association | HomeMinding Our Elders®Powered by TypePad

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Studies Show Good Cholesterol May Protect the Brain against Alzheimer’s

Studies Show Good Cholesterol May Protect the Brain against Alzheimer’s (Minding Our Elders®)Minding Our Elders®Breaking the Isolation: Information, Support and Shared Experience for Caregivers and Seniors by Author, Columnist, Consultant and Speaker Carol Bradley BursackHomeArchivesSubscribeInterested In Sponsorship? Email CarolBulk Book Orders for "Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories?" Email Carol MEDIA GUIDE CLICK HERE
Mission Statement
Supporting SitesMedical Alarm DevicesReal Online Degrees CNA TrainingSan Francisco DentistMesothelioma TreatmentAll My Faves | Seniorsblogs's FavesPhoenix Homes For Sale CategoriesAgingAlzheimer'sBookscaregivingCurrent AffairsDeathDementiaEmpathy for CaregiversEmpathy for SeniorsFamilyFilmFood and DrinkGamesHealthMusicNews and ResearchReflectionsReligionScienceSpiritualitystudyTelevisionTips for CaregiversTips for SeniorsTravelVideosWeb/TechWeblogsWhen We Are Both@import url(http://www.google.com/cse/api/branding.css); Custom Search AARP Guide to Health Care Reform
ArchivesOctober 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010More...

See how we're connected More Favorite Sites and BlogsEnduring CareHelp! Aging ParentsIncontinenceKnowItAlz.com BlogMy Elder AdvocatePuzzles and More: Diversional therapy resources Richard Taylor, Ph.D.The Boomer ChroniclesThe Dementia Caregiver's ToolboxWell Spouse Associationwww.agelessdesign.comBlog powered by TypePad
Member since 09/2006? Calling Elders by Preferred Name is Important To Caregiving Bond |Main| Maybe It Isn't Dementia ?

Wednesday, October 13, 2010Studies Show Good Cholesterol May Protect the Brain against Alzheimer’s

If you are over 50 and you see your doctor regularly, you are likely being told to get your cholesterol levels checked. Those of you with a family history of heart disease may get nagged at even a younger age. “Watch your weight.” “Watch your cholesterol.” “Exercise.” Don’t eat anything you actually like – oops, they don’t really say that, but often that’s how we feel after a chat with the doc.

Read more about good cholesterol protecting our brains from Alzheimer's:

Find care agencies to help you care for your loved one:

Support a caregiver by sharing these real caregiver's stories:

Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 01:01 AM in Aging, Alzheimer's, Dementia, Health, News and Research, Tips for Seniors | Permalink

Technorati Tags:Alzheimer's, cholesterol, dementia

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AboutMinding Our Elders Home

To Order BookCarol Bradley Bursack: Minding Our Elders

Free Ezine and Book Chapter? JOIN NOW @import url(http://www.google.com/cse/api/branding.css); Custom Search Ezine Archive Carol's Article ArchiveHear Carol on NPR's TOTNHow To Talk To Parents About Assisted Living : NP
HEAR CAROL: Caregiving TeleseminarSubscribe to my Podcast

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitzNeed a Speaker?Testimonials
Topics
Watch Your DrugsConsumer Med Safety
Consumer's Tips on Drug Interactions
RxList - The Internet Drug Index for prescription drugs and medications
The Beers List: Potentially Inappropriate Medications for the Elderly
Subscribe to this blog's feed ResourcesWorking CaregiverSocial Security AdministrationService and Benefits for SeniorsNursing Home Abuse Center North Dakota Interagency Program for Assistive Technology National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource CenterNational Family Caregivers AssociationNational Council on AgingNational Associaton of Area Agencies on AgingNational Association of Family CaregiversNational Alzheimer's AssociationIsaacs FoundationHospice Foundation of AmericaAlzheimer's Foundation of AmericaAlzheimer's Association | HomeMinding Our Elders®Powered by TypePad

View the original article here