Two Men With Alzheimer’s Connect on a Deep Level
The whole incident made me feel warm inside; and, I knew then that I’d done the right thing.
By +Marie Marley
+Alzheimer's Reading Room
I remember reading somewhere that people with Alzheimer’s enjoy being with others like themselves. The following story clearly illustrates that.
I’d just moved Ed, my Romanian soul mate of 30 years, into the Alois Alzheimer Center, one of the best facilities anywhere for people with dementia.
Initially he’d been quite upset about the move, but as the days went by, much to my relief, he gradually forgot he’d even been moved at all.
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Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 14, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
5 Things You Should Never Say to a Person With Alzheimer’s
When relating to a person with Alzheimer’s there are many guidelines to follow. I’m going to discuss five of the most basic ones here.
By Marie Marley
+Alzheimer's Reading Room
Yesterday afternoon I walked into Mary’s spacious room. Mary is a woman who has few visitors and whom I’ve volunteered to spend a little time with every week. I greeted her, complimented her on her beautiful turquoise sweater, and shook her hand.
Then I sat down at her little table that was overflowing with books, photographs, the newspaper and other items she wants to keep close at hand. I started off by picking up a small framed photo ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - August 9, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Visiting Ms. Daisy
I was hesitant at first because I was afraid visiting people with dementia would make me sad. That it would remind me of Ed, my Romanian soul mate of 30 years, who had passed away with Alzheimer’s seven years earlier.
By Marie Marley
+Alzheimer's Reading Room
“I’ve come to visit you, Ms. Daisy” I said in a perky tone of voice after introducing myself.
“Me?” she exclaimed – smiling, looking up at me, raising her eyebrows and putting her hand over her heart.
“Yes. You,” I answered, delighted by her excited reaction.
She had already won my heart. It was obvious she was thrilled to have m...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - July 21, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
iKnife Combines Electrosurgery and Mass Spectrometry to Distinguish Cancerous Tissue
Electrosurgical knives, aka Bovies, are common surgical tools that use an electrical current to rapidly heat and cut tissue, as well as cauterize blood vessels to minimize blood loss. These are useful tools for excising diseased tissue such as tumors, however, it is nearly impossible to distinguish cancerous tissue that needs to be removed from vital, healthy tissue. Oftentimes, this difficulty prolongs surgical procedures as excised tissue is sent to a lab to be analyzed while the patient is still on the operating table and unconscious, or in worse cases, the patient has to completely undergo a second operation to remove ...
Source: Medgadget - July 18, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Scott Jung Tags: Diagnostics Ob/Gyn Oncology Surgery Thoracic Surgery Urology Source Type: blogs
Can People With Alzheimer’ Experience Joy? Let Me Count the Ways
This article is longer than those I usually post so it is being broken down into two parts.
If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, please try to read it all. It could lead to a significant improvement in your ability to engage and connect with your loved one.
According to Virginia Bell and David Troxel, writing in The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care, “Too much attention has been paid to the ‘tragic side’ of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a terrible disease. Yet, by dwelling on the negative it is too easy to victimize people with the illness and settle for lower standards of care.”
I recen...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - July 9, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
My Transformation as a Caregiver
I realized that little by little and without noticing, I had accepted his illness and I had found new ways to relate to him, ways that were genuinely satisfying for both of us.
By Marie Marley
+Alzheimer's Reading Room
I went to the Alois Alzheimer Center one day to visit Ed, my Romanian soul mate of 30 years. I didn't really want to visit because my visits were boring. And I was angry about Ed's condition. I wanted my old Ed back, but I knew that was impossible. So I just forced myself to visit that day.
Once I was there I spontaneously got an idea for a little game to play with Ed.
I started the vis...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - June 30, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
How Do People With Alzheimer’s Really Feel?
If any of us experienced memory or judgment problems, if any of us was afraid of something, if any of us had to give up most or all of his or her favorite activities, it would be perfectly normal to be depressed or anxious, to hide things, to wander away from a possibly threatening situation or to strike out at someone we think is trying to hurt us.
By +Marie Marley
+Alzheimer's Reading Room
I’ve been publishing articles about Alzheimer’s disease for nearly two years. And, I have to admit almost all have focused on the caregiver. Many have focused specifically on what it feels like to be a caregiver.
We ca...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - June 18, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
What to Do When Your Love One Behaves Inappropriately in Public?
Sometimes Alzheimer's patients act out in public, or express challenging behaviors. This can lead to embarrassment. What can you do?
By Marie Marley +Alzheimer's Reading Room
It isn't unusual for people with Alzheimer's to behave inappropriately in public at times. And often that leads to embarrassment for the caregiver.
For example, the person may become agitated and make scenes in public, causing people to stare. This could include behaviors such as arguing loudly with you or strangers, even about inconsequential matters.
Furthermore, Alzheimer's patients tend to lose their sense of inhibition and ma...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - May 3, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Who Me? Getting Alzheimer’s? You’ve Got to Be Kidding
By Marie Marley
Alzheimer's Reading Room
I thought I was getting Alzheimer’s. I really did. And how ironic would that be?
I blog on the Huffington Post and here on the Alzheimer’s Reading Room about my experiences as an Alzheimer’s caregiver to my Romanian life partner, Edward Theodoru.
I even published an award-winning memoir about my relationship with Ed that focuses on the years he had Alzheimer’s.
For more than three years I’ve been having hallmark symptoms of the disease. I frequently forget things, lose things, mix things up and screw things up.
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I...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - April 8, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
An Alzheimer’s Patient Experiences Profound Love
As I was driving home I realized he wouldn't remember that feeling the next day or perhaps even the following hour, but he had experienced love for those few moments and that's what mattered.
By Marie Marley
Alzheimer's Reading Room
It is often said that pets and children reach dementia patients on a level people cannot.
Every time Ed, my Romanian soul mate of 30 years, saw my little Shih Tzu, Peter, he said, "Oh, the lee-tle one. I love him so much."
I often took Peter to the Alois Alzheimer Center, a wonderful long-term care facility in Cincinnati for patients with dementia. And most of the time, as so...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - February 24, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Three Things I Regret – Are You Doing Them, Too?
Although it was difficult for me to master the new approaches, when I finally did our relationship blossomed again and life with him was much more peaceful and emotionally rewarding.
By Marie Marley
Alzheimer's Reading Room
As Leeza Gibbons wrote in her book, Take Your Oxygen First,
“If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s and you’ve never lost your temper with the person – just wait. You will.”
To that I add: If you don’t, then either you’re a saint or you’re incredibly out of touch with your feelings.
I was a caregiver for seven long years for Dr. Edward Theodoru, my...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - February 18, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Alzheimer’s Disease: Are You Secretly Afraid You’re Getting It?
How are we to know whether these are normal sign of aging or whether they may be something more ominous?
By Marie Marley Alzheimer's Reading Room
Given all the attention Alzheimer’s is getting these days, it wouldn’t be unusual for people to fear they are getting it.
When you have ‘a senior moment’ you may laugh about it with your friends and family, but you may also be among the numerous people who are secretly afraid it may be an early sign of dementia.
Two groups of people are especially vulnerable to this fear - those who have a loved one with dementia and those who work with dementia patients....
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - January 27, 2013 Category: Dementia Authors: Bob DeMarco Source Type: blogs
Quick Weight Loss Exercises; Sculpting Sexy Legs: Ask The Trainer
Time for a new workout? Our trainers have tips!
We've got some very cool stuff in this next edition of "Ask the Personal Trainer."
For one, we have a new panelist, Adria Ali! And Dave put together a couple of great custom videos explaining exactly how to do the quick but challenging workouts he talks about. And as usual, Taylor delivers sound advice you can relate to.
You may notice some common themes among the responses, which is heartening, don't you think? I personally hate it when experts come to opposite conclusions and you have no idea what in hell you're supposed to do next. But the specifics from wise panelis...
Source: Cranky Fitness - January 14, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Crabby McSlacker Source Type: blogs
Binge Drinking in America
And the numbers are… fuzzy.
Public health officials in the UK have been wringing their hands for some time now over perceived rates of binge drinking among the populace. In a 2010 survey of 27,000 Europeans by the official polling agency of the EU, binge drinking in the UK—defined as five or more drinks in one, er, binge—clocked in at a rate of 34%, compared to an EU average of 29%. Predictably, the highest rate of UK binge drinking was found in people between the ages of 15 and 24. This still lagged well behind the Irish (44%) and the Romanians (39%). Scant comfort, perhaps, given the historical role drinking has...
Source: Addiction Inbox - January 13, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Dirk Hanson Source Type: blogs
