As I was scrolling through Facebook, I stumbled upon this article related to something else entirely. It was about police walking away from a situation that involved a mentally ill individual. You know how off to the side they have those "related articles," I saw one that mentioned medications leading to Alzheimer's disease and decided to read it. It is frightening!
As per Google when I went to search for the article again.
"Older people who have relied on a class of drugs called benzodiazepines to reduce anxiety or induce sleep are at higher risk of going on to develop Alzheimer's disease, new research finds, with those whose use of the medications is most intensive almost twice as likely to develop the mind-robbing disorder."
Alzheimer's and/or dementia is bad enough, but why are we "poisoning" our population with drugs that could potentially cause dementia or worsening of this horrid disease?
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-sn-anxiety-drug-alzheimers-20140909-story.html
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/27/sleeping-drugs-increased-risk-alzheimers
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/benzodiazepine-use-may-raise-risk-alzheimers-disease-201409107397
If you are dealing with someone with dementia, I highly encourage you to talk to his/her doctor about the medications he/she is taking and, if at all possible, remove the medication from his/her regimen. Sometimes the risks far outweigh any benefits one might experience.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Tony Abbott Cuts Funding for Caregivers
This is another frightening blow for Alzheimer's caregivers. Yes, I realize Tony Abbott is out of Australia, but Alzheimer's is Alzheimer's no matter the country. It is a horrid, mean, nasty disease and to take money away from caregivers is unfair.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/the-blocks-shaynna-blaze-attacks-pm-tony-abbott-over-budget-cuts-to-health-program/story-fn907478-1227012670477
A couple of excerpts from the above referenced article - "An estimated 332,000 Australians live with dementia but the country’s rapidly ageing population means that figure is expected to jump by one-third to 400,000 in the next decade.
"Experts say without a medical breakthrough, the number of people with dementia will reach 900,000 by 2050."
These statistics are frightening.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Glen Campbell and Alzheimer's
I don't know if any of you are country music fans or if you know who Glen Campbell is. He has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I just found this fascinating article about his disease, written by his wife. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/24/faith-alzheimer-and-my-husband-glen-campbell/
You see, Alzheimer's does not discriminate. It does not care if you are famous. It does not care if you are a singer, a writer, a politician, or just an "every day" person. It does not care. Alzheimer's is mean.
Mr. Campbell also did a farewell tour when he knew what was happening to him. That is sad, don't you think? When the person knows something is wrong? Click on the link above and it will take you directly to the Fox News article. He wrote one final song "before Alzheimer's took him away."
Here is the article as written by his wife, Kim Campbell, who I suspect will become another of my heroes.
My husband, Glen Campbell, has stage 6 Alzheimer’s disease. Seven months ago, at the recommendation of his doctors, we placed him in a memory care facility close to our home in Nashville.
It’s a community that’s designed specifically for the needs of those who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They have all kinds of therapies and activities that stimulate parts of the brain affected by the illness. It’s a safe and secure environment where he receives around-the-clock care.
It’s been good for him. He just seems more at peace there than he was at home, where he became increasingly agitated and frantic.
He lives in a mental fog most of the time. He’s lost most of his language skills and has a hard time communicating. He still has moments of lucidity, though, and those moments let us know he’s still in there and that he’s the Glen we’ve always known. He can make short sentences and say things like “I love you” and “We are so blessed.”
The aides and nurses say he must have been a godly man because they always see him thanking the Lord. I’ve seen him walk over to the window and lift up his hands and say, “Thank you, heavenly Father.”
Those moments are so comforting because when you’re facing your mortality, that’s when you want to know God is there. That’s when you really want to draw close to Him.
When I see him do that, I know God is with him, and he’s aware of His presence. He’s relying on the Lord and gets his strength from Him.
People should not give up on others who have dementia. The essence of who they are is still alive and still in there.
He’s still the Glen Campbell he’s always been. He’s always especially loved children and old people. There’s this little lady in a wheelchair in the facility, and she can’t speak at all. He will walk over to her and take her little hand in his and say, “You are so precious.”
He’ll kiss her on the forehead, and she’ll just look up at him. She has no idea who he is, but you can tell it comforts her.
Even in his affliction, he’s ministering to people and trying to be a blessing.
In between those moments, he’s lost. He wanders. He can’t communicate. He doesn’t understand what others say to him. It’s very hard to direct him even to sit in a chair in the dining room.
When we did the film, “Glen Campbell... I’ll Be Me,” which documents his last farewell tour, Glen was in stages 2-4. He knew what was happening to him and he wanted to let people know what Alzheimer’s is really like.
He was passionate about making this film because he hoped it would be a catalyst for more funding for research to find a cure. He wanted to encourage other families who are dealing with this disease to keep living their lives, supporting each other and lifting each other up.
When Glen got the diagnosis and decided to go public, it was because he wanted fans to know what was going on in case he exhibited odd behavior on stage, like repeating a song or forgetting what key it was in.
He just wanted them to understand. But after he made the announcement, we all wondered if anyone would want to come see someone with Alzheimer’s perform.
We wondered if his fans would rather remember him the way he was. Maybe it would be depressing. Or maybe no one would be interested either way.
But what we found was the exact opposite. The first show he did after making the announcement sold out. From the time he walked on stage to the time he walked off, it was one standing ovation after another. It was clear fans were there to shower him with love and to root for, support and encourage him. It really blessed Glen and encouraged him to continue on.
Offers began to pour in from around the country for Glen to come to their cities to perform.
What began as a five-week farewell tour turned into 151 dates. His last show was at the Uptown Theater in Napa, Calif., on Nov. 30, 2012.
The first 15-20 minutes were a train wreck. He was having difficulties. His guitar wasn’t loud enough. It didn’t have the quality he wanted. He became very agitated on stage. He kept turning his back to the audience. His band was very uncomfortable. It was a tough show.
But the audience, again, was so supportive. They cheered for him without fail and without question. They loved him unconditionally.
He snapped back and finished the show strong. It was good, but it was clear it was time for us to end the tour and say farewell.
He closed the show with “A Better Place.”
Daily we pray for grace and mercy as he approaches the final stages of this illness and are so thankful for the moments we see Glen being Glen.
Kim Campbell is married to country music singer Glen Campbell.
Here is the YouTube video link to Mr. Campbell's song, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TsAh-zYFI
You see, Alzheimer's does not discriminate. It does not care if you are famous. It does not care if you are a singer, a writer, a politician, or just an "every day" person. It does not care. Alzheimer's is mean.
Mr. Campbell also did a farewell tour when he knew what was happening to him. That is sad, don't you think? When the person knows something is wrong? Click on the link above and it will take you directly to the Fox News article. He wrote one final song "before Alzheimer's took him away."
Here is the article as written by his wife, Kim Campbell, who I suspect will become another of my heroes.
My husband, Glen Campbell, has stage 6 Alzheimer’s disease. Seven months ago, at the recommendation of his doctors, we placed him in a memory care facility close to our home in Nashville.
It’s a community that’s designed specifically for the needs of those who have Alzheimer’s and dementia. They have all kinds of therapies and activities that stimulate parts of the brain affected by the illness. It’s a safe and secure environment where he receives around-the-clock care.
He lives in a mental fog most of the time. He’s lost most of his language skills and has a hard time communicating. He still has moments of lucidity, though, and those moments let us know he’s still in there and that he’s the Glen we’ve always known. He can make short sentences and say things like “I love you” and “We are so blessed.”
The aides and nurses say he must have been a godly man because they always see him thanking the Lord. I’ve seen him walk over to the window and lift up his hands and say, “Thank you, heavenly Father.”
Those moments are so comforting because when you’re facing your mortality, that’s when you want to know God is there. That’s when you really want to draw close to Him.
When I see him do that, I know God is with him, and he’s aware of His presence. He’s relying on the Lord and gets his strength from Him.
People should not give up on others who have dementia. The essence of who they are is still alive and still in there.
He’s still the Glen Campbell he’s always been. He’s always especially loved children and old people. There’s this little lady in a wheelchair in the facility, and she can’t speak at all. He will walk over to her and take her little hand in his and say, “You are so precious.”
He’ll kiss her on the forehead, and she’ll just look up at him. She has no idea who he is, but you can tell it comforts her.
Even in his affliction, he’s ministering to people and trying to be a blessing.
In between those moments, he’s lost. He wanders. He can’t communicate. He doesn’t understand what others say to him. It’s very hard to direct him even to sit in a chair in the dining room.
When we did the film, “Glen Campbell... I’ll Be Me,” which documents his last farewell tour, Glen was in stages 2-4. He knew what was happening to him and he wanted to let people know what Alzheimer’s is really like.
He was passionate about making this film because he hoped it would be a catalyst for more funding for research to find a cure. He wanted to encourage other families who are dealing with this disease to keep living their lives, supporting each other and lifting each other up.
When Glen got the diagnosis and decided to go public, it was because he wanted fans to know what was going on in case he exhibited odd behavior on stage, like repeating a song or forgetting what key it was in.
He just wanted them to understand. But after he made the announcement, we all wondered if anyone would want to come see someone with Alzheimer’s perform.
We wondered if his fans would rather remember him the way he was. Maybe it would be depressing. Or maybe no one would be interested either way.
But what we found was the exact opposite. The first show he did after making the announcement sold out. From the time he walked on stage to the time he walked off, it was one standing ovation after another. It was clear fans were there to shower him with love and to root for, support and encourage him. It really blessed Glen and encouraged him to continue on.
Offers began to pour in from around the country for Glen to come to their cities to perform.
What began as a five-week farewell tour turned into 151 dates. His last show was at the Uptown Theater in Napa, Calif., on Nov. 30, 2012.
The first 15-20 minutes were a train wreck. He was having difficulties. His guitar wasn’t loud enough. It didn’t have the quality he wanted. He became very agitated on stage. He kept turning his back to the audience. His band was very uncomfortable. It was a tough show.
But the audience, again, was so supportive. They cheered for him without fail and without question. They loved him unconditionally.
He snapped back and finished the show strong. It was good, but it was clear it was time for us to end the tour and say farewell.
He closed the show with “A Better Place.”
Daily we pray for grace and mercy as he approaches the final stages of this illness and are so thankful for the moments we see Glen being Glen.
Kim Campbell is married to country music singer Glen Campbell.
Here is the YouTube video link to Mr. Campbell's song, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8TsAh-zYFI
Thursday, March 5, 2015
7 Stages of Alzheimer's
There are 7 stages of Alzheimer's disease. These are as found on the Alzheimer's Association web site (alz.org).
Stage 1: No impairment (normal function): The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.
Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease): The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses - forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers.
Stage 1: No impairment (normal function): The person does not experience any memory problems. An interview with a medical professional does not show any evidence of symptoms of dementia.
Stage 2: Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease): The person may feel as if he or she is having memory lapses - forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects. But no symptoms of dementia can be detected during a medical examination or by friends, family or co-workers.
| Stage 3: Mild cognitive decline (early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms): Friends, family or co-workers begin to notice difficulties. During a detailed medical interview, doctors may be able to detect problems in memory or concentration. Common stage 3 difficulties include: - Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name - Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people - Having noticeably greater difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings. Forgetting material that one has just read - Losing or misplacing a valuable object - Increasing trouble with planning or organizing Stage 4: Moderate cognitive decline (mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease): At this point, a careful medical interview should be able to detect clear-cut symptoms in several areas: - Forgetfulness of recent events - Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic - for example, counting backward from 100 by 7's - Greater difficulty performing complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills or managing finances - Forgetfulness about one's own personal history - Becoming moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations Stage 5: Moderately severe cognitive decline (moderate or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease): Gaps in memory and thinking are noticeable, and individuals begin to need help with day-to-day activities. At this stage, those with Alzheimer's may: - Be unable to recall their own address or telephone number or the high school or college from which they graduated - Become confused about where they are or what day it is - Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic; such as counting backward from 40 by subtracting 4's or from 20 by 2's - Need help choosing proper clothing for the season or the occasion - Still remember significant details about themselves and their family - Still require no assistance with eating or using the toilet Stage 6: Severe cognitive decline (moderately severe or mid-stage Alzheimer's disease): Memory continues to worsen, personality changes may take place and individuals need extensive help with daily activities. At this stage, individuals may: - Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings - Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history - Distinguish familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver - Need help dressing properly and may, without supervision, make mistakes such as putting pajamas over daytime clothes or shoes on the wrong feet - Experience major changes in sleep patterns - sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night - Need help handing details of toileting (for example, flushing the toilet, wiping or disposing of tissue properly) - Having increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels - Experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions (such as believing that their caregiver is an imposter) or compulsive, repetitive behavior like hand wringing or tissue shredding - Tend to wander or become lost Stage 7: Very severe cognitive decline (severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease): In the final stage of this disease, individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, to carry on a conversation and, eventually, to control movement. They may still say words or phrases. At this stage, individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired. Remember: It is difficult to place a person with Alzheimer's in a specific stage as stages may overlap. If you would like to share your story of dealing with Alzheimer's, please do not hesitate to contact me (mjammons@comcast.net). Together, we can "put a face" to Alzheimer's. |
Monday, March 2, 2015
New Facebook Page!
I am please to announce the launching of my new Facebook page!
I have also chosen this design to be my cover photo and my business card!
This new page is a culmination of both of my other pages, Melissa A's Beaded Makes and Melissa A's Rosary Page. I will have my other two pages active on Facebook, I just won't be posting to them as often. It will take some time to get all my pictures moved over, but I do have a few uploaded. Come on over and take a peek!
https://www.facebook.com/melissaacraftingforacause
I have also chosen this design to be my cover photo and my business card!
This new page is a culmination of both of my other pages, Melissa A's Beaded Makes and Melissa A's Rosary Page. I will have my other two pages active on Facebook, I just won't be posting to them as often. It will take some time to get all my pictures moved over, but I do have a few uploaded. Come on over and take a peek!
https://www.facebook.com/melissaacraftingforacause
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