Clearing up confusion over dementia symptoms, Alzheimer's

Let's clear up some confusion about "dementia" and "Alzheimer's disease." The words are sometimes used interchangeably, or people think that if they are told they have dementia that means they don't have Alzheimer's.

Dementia is not a specific disease. Dementia is simply a word for a group of symptoms that affect cognition and thinking. These symptoms can include:

ForgetfulnessLanguage difficultiesConfusion with time and placeDecreased judgmentPersonality changes

These symptoms can be caused by conditions that include underactive thyroid, vitamin deficiency, brain tumors and depression. Even certain medications can cause dementia symptoms.

If these conditions are present and treated, dementia symptoms often improve. However, if during an evaluation these reversible causes of dementia symptoms are ruled out then the probable cause may be due to a progressive, non-reversible disease such Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia or vascular dementia. For a description of each of these causes, please see the dementia article in the See Also area below.

blog index

View the original article here

Dementia Care Foundation Oct 7th – Dr. Richard Taylor Keynoter

September 28, 2010 by Alzheimer's Speaks

Lori La Bey of Alzheimer's Speaks & Senior Lifestyle Trends

Dementia Care Foundation? Oct 7th – Dr. Richard Taylor Keynoter??

Please join me at this wonderful fund raiser?and?meet Dr Richard Taylor.? Personally I can’t wait to meet him!? If you haven’t signed up for his newsletter check it out.? It is one a only a very few newsletters I make sure to read top to bottom.? He is informative, honest, and a true passionate leader in the industry.? Richard knows best.? He has the disease and speaks from his heart, soul, and mind;?yet keeps the rest of us current with meaningful and powerful updates industry wide.?Richard is truly an amazing example of what one can do with or without disease.???

In addition, Dr. G Allen Power, Geriatrician, Author from Rochester NY who wrote the book ” Dementia without Drugs” and also speaks internationally. They will both be available to visit after the silent auction and to?answer questions.??

Here is?Richard’s website so you can sign up for his newsletter:??

http://www.richardtaylorphd.com/??

Here is the information on the fundraiser.? Please consider coming to the fund raiser?for the Dementia Care Foundation and joining me in meeting Dr. Richard Taylor and Judy Berry the owner of Lakeview Ranch which is a leading concept in commercial care.? Judy has found a way to take the sterile environment out of community care and has brought a refreshing home comfort into her homes.? The staff ratio she provides is rarely seen and her ability to remove behavior problems of her clients which have been seen?in multiple settings disappear in her cutting edge?environment.? Judy is the Director of the Dementia Care Foundation.? She was just recognized nationally for her work by?RWJF Community for their Health Leaders?Award. Congrats Judy!? Keep up the great work.??

??

Click form to ENLARGE??

Posted in Caregiver, Dementia, Denial, Find Opportunities within an Obstacle, Grief, Guilt, Hospice, Sandwich Generation, Simple Pleasures, 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 fundraiser | Leave a Comment

View the original article here

Dementia Hope Formula

October 8, 2010 by Alzheimer's Speaks

Please check out my friend Holly??Eburne’s

Holly Eburne of Dementia Hope Formula

great new site for Caregivers.? Holly is Caring for her husband Dave who has??frontotemporal dementia.? She is starting to teach a new class? via teleseminars ?Oct 13th.? Don’t miss out…Check it out!? “Dementia Hope Formula: 13 Ways to bring hope, joy, and renewed energy to the lives of Caregivers and their families.”

http://dementiahopeformula.com/13ways/

Posted in Caregiver, Dementia, Denial, Find Opportunities within an Obstacle, Grief, Guilt, Hospice, Sandwich Generation, Simple Pleasures, 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 frontotemporal | Leave a Comment

View the original article here

Be Open and Learn: People with Dementia Have Much to Teach Us

Be Open and Learn: People with Dementia Have Much to Teach Us (Minding Our Elders®)Minding Our Elders®Breaking the Isolation: Information and Support 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 AffairsDeathEmpathy 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 AssociationBlog powered by TypePad
Member since 09/2006? Communicating With Elders Who Cannot Speak |Main| One Man's Love Letter to His Alzheimer's Stricken Wife ?

Sunday, October 10, 2010Be Open and Learn: People with Dementia Have Much to Teach Us

In Erasing the Stigma of Dementia, I wrote about my dad and others with a dementia diagnosis who become "oddities" to those who don't understand. As a society, we may think we've come a long way in our attitudes toward mental illness and diseases of the brain. And, indeed, we have. But we haven't come far enough. An inspiring post on Huffington.com by Marguerite Manteau-Rao, titled Overcoming the Alzheimer's Negativity Bias, took me back in time.

Read more about dementia stigma:

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

Read real caregiver's stories:

Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 01:01 AM in Aging, Alzheimer's, caregiving, Family, Health, Tips for Caregivers | Permalink

Technorati Tags:aging, Alzheimer's, dementia

Reblog (0) | | Digg This | Save to del.icio.us |

Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Verify your Comment Previewing your CommentPosted by: ?|?

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type: Your comment has been posted. Post another comment The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Post a comment Comment below or sign in with TypePad Facebook Twitter and more... You are currently signed in as (nobody). Sign Out

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)

Name is required to post a comment

Please enter a valid email address

Invalid URL

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

Creative expression helpful to those with dementia

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination."
- Henry David Thoreau

Not long ago, the topic of creativity and dementia came up. This is an area of great interest. Each of us is creative in some way; it may be cooking, gardening, dancing, poetry, music, inventing, decorating, fashion, drawing, writing, storytelling, pottery or painting just to name some.

Dr. Gene Cohen, who passed away last year, was the first director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities at George Washington University, where he was a professor of health care sciences and psychiatry and behavioral sciences. He was well known and respected for his creativity and aging studies. He said "the inherent capacity for creative expression exists throughout the entire lifecycle." His research has lead to the findings that brain plasticity (the brain's ability to change throughout life and form new connections) is present in older individuals and is thought to promote creativity.

Dr. Bruce Miller of the University of California at San Francisco has been a key person in drawing attention to the creative abilities in some individuals with frontotemporal dementia. He has pioneered research recognizing that degeneration in the left side of the brain may limit language but may actually enhance and release musical or artistic abilities. His work moved him to realize just how much creativity exists in dementia patients.

"Even though our brains age, it doesn't diminish our ability to create," he said.

Over the past decade, more and more research has demonstrated the benefits of the arts for older persons especially those with cognitive decline such as memory loss due to Alzheimer's, as well as other causes of dementia. At a forum held at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, in November 2006, leading researchers acknowledged that although more research was needed in the area of creativity, the benefits of creativity for those impacted by dementia were undeniable.

Some of the benefits suggested include: positive emotional responses, reduced agitation, greater social interaction, improved cognitive processes, functional improvements, increased food intake, greater physical strength and balance, improved mood and attention span, reduced stress (caregivers and receivers alike) and improved quality of life.

With a disease like Alzheimer's that limits verbal expression and communication, creativity is way to fill that void. When words fail, a work of art or music, or the movement of a dance can tell a story, express an emotion, recreate a memory and serve as a vehicle of expression.

I've witnessed firsthand the facial expressions of persons with dementia engaged in a creative activity. Their joy, laughter, pride, sense of peace and calm are universal states of expressing fulfillment. It seems clear that art and creativity can be an emotional release when other means of self expression are lost or misunderstood.

In a yoga class I teach for persons with mild cognitive impairment, I see creative expression through movement. Students follow both verbal and visual cues and are supported in knowing that their pose, movement and flow is exactly the way it is suppose to be.

This form of creative expression can foster a sense of calm, self esteem and acceptance. And as long as we (caregivers, family and friends) play a role in getting a person with dementia started in a creative process, we've tapped into their retained abilities to express.

"To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak."
- Indian Proverb

blog index

View the original article here

Tips for diffusing anger in those with dementia

Vickie, 57, wrote in previously about caring for her 74-year-old husband (I'll call him Dan) who has dementia. She shared that they recently went out of town with two other couples. On the second night, Dan began saying he wanted to go home. But because they came with another couple and were 300 miles from home, that was impossible. Vicki told Dan they couldn't go home and he got very angry. After a while, a friend took Dan for a drive and he calmed down. Vicki asked for suggestions in handling these types of situations.

The desire to "go home" is not unusual for people with dementia. Home is a place of security, comfort, familiarity and routine — being away from home compromises each of these. Vicki's story probably resonates with many of you, so let me offer some thoughts that may be useful in these situations.

Whether we have dementia or not, each of us desires a sense of control in our lives. When Vicki told her husband, "Dan you can't go home," his sense of control was threatened and he became angry.

In people with dementia, when we use phrases such as "You can't," "I want you to," "You need to," "I told you," "That's not what I said," and so on, we can make a tough situation worse.

Yet, I completely understand the reality of Vicki's situation and that it wasn't possible to take her husband home. Vicki was simply being honest with her response. Vicki employed a good strategy in having a friend take Dan for a drive- an attempt to redirect Dan's attention.

Consider this, if we as caregivers can respond to our loved one with dementia in a way that offers them a sense of control or an illusion of control, we can diffuse reactions of anger and the outcome may be more desirable. A way to do this is by validating their feelings, joining their agenda, and lastly redirecting. Think of it as a 3 step process. Here's what this could sound like using Vicki's scenario:

"Dan, I can tell that you'd rather be home right now. I want what's best for you because I love you (validating Dan's feelings). If you give me some time maybe I can work something out (joining Dan's agenda). In the meantime, George would love your company — he's going out for a short drive, let me grab your coat (redirection)."

Dan may now feel that he's been heard and his needs are being addressed — as a result he is more likely to be redirected and accept the invitation of a car ride.

It's also at this time when we need to leverage what the disease gives us — short term memory loss. Once Dan is redirected to another activity, time will pass and there is a good chance he'll forget about wanting to go home. At least, he may forget for a while and that's not a bad outcome either. The next time Dan wants to go home, which may be in 15 minutes or the next day, you can cycle through a similar process.

As in all dementia caregiving strategies, what works for one person may not work for another and what works one day may be a complete disaster the next. Thanks, Vicki, for asking for some suggestions, you aren't alone.

View the original article here

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

September 30, 2010 by Alzheimer's Speaks

The Alzheimers Reading Room has clear, concise, usable news, research, insight and advice for the entire Alzheimers community. The website focuses on those suffering from Alzheimers disease and Dementia, Alzheimers caregivers, and the art of Alzheimers caregiving. 100 Million people have been touched by Alzheimers disease, and 35 million are worried about Alzheimers.

via What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?.

Posted in Caregiver, Dementia, Denial, Find Opportunities within an Obstacle, Grief, Guilt, Hospice, Sandwich Generation, Simple Pleasures, 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

View the original article here