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Tag Archives: alzheimer’s disease

Caregiving |

February 25, 2015

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

How Did Julianne Moore Highlight the Isolation of Alzheimer’s at Oscars?

On Sunday, Julianne Moore won the Best Actress Oscar for her role as Alice Howland in “Still Alice.”

After accepting her award, she used the spotlight to highlight the isolation of Alzheimer’s disease and raise awareness. She said, “I’m thrilled that we were able to shine a light on Alzheimer’s disease. So many people who have this disease feel marginalized. People who have Alzheimer’s disease deserve to be seen so we can find a cure.”

Julianne Moore Highlights Isolation of Alzheimer's at Oscars for Still Alice

It’s caregivers, carereceivers and their loved ones who often find Alzheimer’s disease isolating and feel marginalized.

Ms. Moore reportedly spent 4 months researching the role with persons with Alzheimer’s disease.

Today over 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s. And that number is expected to rise to 16 million by 2050. In the film, Alice Howland had Early Onset Alzheimers, which is diagnosed before age 65. In the U.S. there are an estimated 200,000 people with Early Onset.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. And the article Alzheimer’s Symptoms: What Are the 7 A’s of Dementia? describes 7 signs and symptoms of dementia.

To your Happy&Healthy Caregiving,

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D.

“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

Ambassador of Caregiving at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

P.S. For simple solutions to the isolation of dementia and caregiving join our free monthly webinars at www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com/webinar

Originally posted here:
How Did Julianne Moore Highlight the Isolation of Alzheimer’s at Oscars?

alzheimer's disease, ambassador of caregiving, dementia info, ina gilmore, julianne moore, still alice, the knitting dr., www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com | Comment
Caregiving |

December 6, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Caregiving With Purpose Nominated for Best Health Blog

The editors of Healthline chose Caregiving With Purpose for the third year as one of the Top 20 Alzheimer’s and Dementia Blogs in 2014. And now they’ve nominated it for Best Health Blog of 2014.

Healthline has an annual contest for Best Health Blog. The top 3 blogs are featured on Healthline for an entire year, and they get a prize. This is an opportunity to raise awareness for caregiving and dementia. Caregivers are among the most silent of the “silent majority” and the ones who often feel alone and need support.

Did you know that many caregivers don’t see themselves as caregivers?

Instead they see themselves as adult children or grandchildren, spouses, siblings, parents and grandparents. And raising awareness about them involves not only alerting others to their situations, but also getting them to realize they’re caregivers.

And caring for someone with dementia—whether it’s Alzheimer’s disease or something else—is even more challenging.

Why?

Because you are dealing with changes in your carereceiver’s personality, thinking and communication. And they can be continually changing as your carereceiver’s dementia progresses.

How can you help?

Caregiving With Purpose Nominated for Best Health Blog

Caregiving With Purpose has finished in the top 20 the past 2 years, and this year I hope it finishes in the top 3. As I write this it’s number 5, due to the support of readers, fans, family and colleagues.

The contest runs through January 15, 2015 and it’s possible to vote twice in a 24 hour period: once on Facebook and once on Twitter. I’m asking you to vote for Caregiving With Purpose. If you have an account on both Facebook and Twitter, please vote on both. Vote every day of you can, if not as often as you can. Click here to vote now.

Help get the message of hope and community to caregivers so they no longer feel isolated and alone. The wonder of the Internet is it’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week… even on weekends and holidays.

To your healthy and happy caregiving,

Dr. Ina

Ina Gilmore MD

Founder www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com

Ambassador of Caregiving on www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Purple Angel Global Ambassador for Dementia Awareness

P.S. Please help raise awareness by voting often at www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com/vote , which redirects you to the Healthine voting page.

Originally posted here:
Caregiving With Purpose Nominated for Best Health Blog

alzheimer's disease, ambassador of caregiving, news, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com
Caregiving |

September 12, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Who Wants to Join This Alzheimers Giveaway?

Find out about giveaway of a copy of novel about Alzheimers disease: An Absent Mind by Eric Rill at CaregivingWithPurpose.com for World Alzheimer’s Day.

Read the original here:
Who Wants to Join This Alzheimers Giveaway?

alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, ambassador of caregiving, an absent mind, dementia info, eric rill, ina gilmore, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com | Comment
Caregiving |

May 7, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

How Can Palliative Care Become Your Partner in Caregiving?

I’m delighted to welcome Diane E. Meier, M.D. as a guest blogger for Caregiving With Purpose. Dr. Meier is Director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Co-Director of the Patty and Jay Baker National Palliative Care Center.

Palliative care differs from hospice. While hospice provides palliative care for the terminally ill, palliative care can also be given to patients with serious illnesses who also receive conventional including curative treatment.

Dr. Meier is an expert in palliative care, and understands the issues caregivers face with it. More than just caring for your loved one, palliative care includes support for the family and caregivers. Dr. Meier explains…

Palliative Care: Your Partner in Caregiving

Diane E. Meier, MD

Diane Meier MD

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is an around-the-clock effort – one that can tap a family’s emotional, physical and financial resources. Many families go from crisis to crisis, putting out one fire here only to quickly react to another one emerging there.

Planning is essential to ensure that the needs of patients are met throughout the course of their illness and provide caregivers with resources to help them with the many decisions that lie ahead. This is one of the many things palliative care can do.

One of the roles of a palliative care team is to help family caregivers with emotional and practical support, such as treatment decisions and long-term care options.

Critical to this is making sure that you – the caregiver – are okay. What supports do you need to help keep you emotionally and physically well?

We want to know:

  • Are you sleeping?
  • Are you eating?
  • Are you depressed?
  • Do you take time for yourself?
  • Do you spend time with friends and family?

When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, the focus is on them. But illness happens to the family and primary caregivers bear an unusually high burden. To help the patient, we also have to help the family caregiver.

Family members can talk to the palliative care team about their many concerns, such as:

  • How can we get the best care for our loved one?
  • What should we do when she can no longer eat or drink?
  • How do we deal with her agitation?
  • How do we ensure her safety in the home and the community?
  • What at-home supports are covered by government agencies and insurance?

Palliative care teams help answer these and many other questions and guide the decisions that will lead to the best care possible. This allows you to be in the driver’s seat – fully informed about options and supported in the decision-making process.

How you can access palliative care

  • Ask your doctor or nurse about it.
  • Learn more about palliative care, including how to find it in your area by visiting www.GetPalliativeCare.org.
  • If your family member is in a nursing home or assisted living facility, or receives homecare services in New York State, you are entitled to palliative care services. Learn more at www.health.ny.gov.
  • The Alzheimer’s Association is also an excellent resource for caregivers and has local chapters throughout the country.

While palliative care can be a part of end of life care, it is not limited to the terminally ill. It can be part of the care of many serious illnesses, including Alzheimers disease and other dementias.

What do you think about palliative care and dementia? Leave a comment below.

From my heart to yours… Laugh Well, Love Well and Live Well!

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D.

“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Caregiving at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

View original post here:
How Can Palliative Care Become Your Partner in Caregiving?

alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, ambassador of caregiving, caregiver, ina gilmore, palliative care, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com | Comment
Caregiving |

April 7, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Climbing Mt Everest for Alzheimer’s Disease

Today is the start of an inspirational climb up Mt. Everest for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Kuntal Joisher, an Indian-born man who turned around his life to ascent Mt. Everest is attempting to scale the world’s highest peak starting today. His target date for completion is mid-June 2014.

His climb is in honor of his father who has Lewy Body Dementia, a form of dementia closely associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. When Kuntal crests the Summit, he plans to mark the accomplishment by setting the world record for sending the largest mass text from the highest peak in the world.

You can read more about it here…

Climbing Mt Everest for Alzheimer's

Software Engineer Climbs Everest for a Cure
CallFire FUEL Program Ignites Kuntal Joisher’s Climb to Summit Mount Everest; Achievement to be Marked by First Mass Text from the Highest Point in the World

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — CallFire, the cloud-based text and voice communications platform that enables organizations to reach their target audiences by phone in real-time, today launched the CallFire FUEL program. FUEL’s inaugural initiative will be sponsoring Kuntal Joisher, an inspiring individual who will be ascending Mt. Everest to raise awareness and funds to support dementia research and care. Joisher will ascend Mt. Everest is honor of his father, who is afflicted with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive degenerative dementia of the elderly.

A video illustrating the inspiration behind Joisher’s expedition can be found here.

Joisher begins his climb this week, and is expected to summit Mt. Everest by mid-June. A map tracking his journey is available here, along with his daily audio diary. When Joisher reaches the peak, he will use the CallFire platform to send the first mass text from the highest peak in the world. Anyone who would like to get involved and receive this historical mass text can sign up by texting ‘EVEREST’ to 67076.

A CallFire employee, Joisher’s commitment to leading a healthier, vegan lifestyle and growing interest in amateur mountaineering inspired the challenge. As his passion for climbing developed, he set his goal to ascend Everest, thus realizing a lifelong dream while also raising funds to support dementia research and care. Joisher is one of the first known vegans to ascend Mt. Everest.

Joisher is the inspiration for the CallFire FUEL program, also launched today, an initiative that recognizes and supports the missions of Fearless, Unique, Exemplary Leaders. CallFire’s mission is to empower businesses of any size to communicate with the masses in order to attain their goals. The company is now bringing that mission to other communities, enabling individuals and organizations to express their passions and reach their goals.

To sign up to receive the first mass text sent from Mt. Everest, text ‘EVEREST’ to 67076. To learn more, or to make a donation to fund dementia research, care, and support, go to Fuel CallFire.

Show your support via social media with the tags #CalltoEverest, #GoKuntal and #CallFireFUEL.

Original Source:
Software Engineer Climbs Everest for a Cure

Wow!

Amazing how one person can inspire a company… and the world.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

From my heart to yours… Laugh Well, Love Well and Live Well!

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)

“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Caregiving at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Originally posted here:
Climbing Mt Everest for Alzheimer’s Disease

alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, ambassador of caregiving, dr. ina, the knitting dr., www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com | Comment
Caregiving |

March 3, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

What Can You Learn About Alzheimer’s Disease From the Senate Testimony of Seth Rogen?

Last week actor and Alzheimer’s activist Seth Rogen passionately spoke about Alzheimers disease.

And how his mother-in-law being diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimers Disease in her mid-50s has affected his family. It’s a powerful testimony, and I urge you to watch…

If you cannot see the video player, click here to watch now.

Did you know that that only two senators stayed for his testimony?

What Can You Learn About Alzheimer's Disease From the Senate Testimony of Seth Rogen?

Yes, U.S. Senators are busy. They invited him to testify… yet the empty chairs show most committee members did not stay for his testimony. Is this…

A reflection on how Congress views Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is a disease without a cure, without treatment that slows it and it affects enough people worldwide to become a global epidemic. A disease that’s widespread over a continent or the entire world is more than an epidemic — it’s a pandemic.

Does this explain why so little money is allocated for Alzheimer’s research?

How much money does the National Institutes of Research (NIH) spend on Alzheimer’s research?

In all fairness, it may be that some money is in categories other than Alzheimer’s. What is known of their 2014 estimated budget is that

  • $562 million in 2014 is targeted for Alzheimer’s research.
  • That translates to $1.77 per person in the U.S. For the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.!
  • The amount is approximately 0.36 percent of the NIH allocated research budget. That’s about 1/3 of 1 percent!

Alzheimer’s disease is isolating, for the person with it, family and caregivers. As you can see from Seth Rogen’s unfortunate experience. I hope he got an apology from the committee!

Triumphing Over the Isolations of Alzheimer's Telesummit Banner

Wondering about the isolation of Alzheimer’s?

You can find out more in the “Triumphing Over the Isolation of Alzheimer’s Telesummit.” While the live sessions have ended you can still get the replays by Joining the Alzheimer’s Telesummit now.

From my heart to yours… Laugh Well, Love Well and Live Well!

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D.

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

Purple Angel Ambassador

Ambassador of Caregiving, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Here is the original post:
What Can You Learn About Alzheimer’s Disease From the Senate Testimony of Seth Rogen?

alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, ambassador of caregiving, dr. ina gilmore, seth rogen, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com | Comment
Caregiving |

February 20, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Alzheimer’s Caregiving and a Winter Storm?

Last week this area was hit by the worst winter storm in 10 years, leaving power and other services out for days.

It was also during the “Triumphing Over the Isolation of Alzheimer’s Telesummit: Simple Solutions for Family and Professional Caregivers.” With the loss of power, there was a sudden quiet and disconnection from distractions. And there was time to reflect…

How Caregiving With Purpose started focusing on Alzheimer’s and other dementias, especially just before “CNN Presents: A Larry King Special—Unthinkable: the Alzheimer’s Epidemic” in 2011. In writing about it in the blog post, “What Do Famous People Know About Alzheimer’s Symptoms?” I learned the extent of the global epidemic — or pandemic.

By 2011 Alzheimer’s was identified as the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. And with an aging population, the numbers are just expected to grow, affecting both the famous and non-famous.

Did you know the following celebrities’ families mentioned in the Larry King Special have been touched by Alzheimer’s and other dementias?

  • Former First Lady Laura Bush…
  • Maria Shriver…
  • Angie Dickinson…
  • Leeza Gibbons…
  • And more…

With more blog posts about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, Caregiving With Purpose was recognized in the Healthline.com Top 25 Alzheimer’s Blogs of 2012 and 2013.

It became clear that the mission of Caregiving With Purpose included increasing awareness about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, while helping care providers with their isolation and other challenges. And so, the “Triumphing Over the Isolation of Alzheimer’s Telesummit: Simple Solutions for Family and Professional Caregivers” was born.

"Triumphing Over the Isolation of Alzheimer's: Simple Solutions for Family and Professional Caregivers" Free Telesummit

It included an amazing group of speakers, all of whom are making strides to help caregivers and raise awareness. It truly fulfilled its goal of bringing simple solutions to family and professional caregivers.

The speakers included global leaders in the Alzheimer’s movement. You may recognize some of them from their work; several are bringing dementia awareness to the forefront as Purple Angel Ambassadors.

The Alzheimer’s Telesummit speakers included…

  • Dr. Ina Gilmore, M.D.,
  • Lori La Bey,
  • Janet Edmunson,
  • James Creasey,
  • Kirti Khalsa,
  • Michael Ellenbogen,
  • Cathie Borrie,
  • Ellayne Ganzfried,
  • Marc Wortmann,
  • Lisa Hirsch,
  • Tom and Karen Brenner,
  • Dennis Stack,
  • Gary Le Blanc,
  • Harry Urban,
  • Denise Craig, and
  • Israel Ellen.

 

Some speakers have Alzheimer’s, several have started pilot programs for Alzheimer’s, and several are using social media including Face book and blogs to get out their messages.

Founding this telesummit is an honor, bringing these amazing people together. While the live sessions are over, you can still get the replays and hear all the talks by Joining the Alzheimer’s Telesummit now.

From my heart to yours… Laugh Well, Love Well and Live Well!

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D.

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

Purple Angel Ambassador

Ambassador of Caregiving, www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

See original here:
Alzheimer’s Caregiving and a Winter Storm?

alzheimer's disease, ambassador of caregiving, Angie Dickinson, cathie borrie, denise craig, ellayne ganzfried, Larry King, Leeza Gibbons, lori la bey, Maria Shriver, michael ellenbogen, tom and karen brenner, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com | Comment
Caregiving |

February 5, 2014

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Looking For Solutions to the Loneliness of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregiving?

Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias are among the loneliest diseases.

When I was growing up, it was cancer. So much so many people referred to it in whispers or “The Big C.” Then in the 1980s it was surpassed by AIDS. Now both of those have received more acceptance, while dementias seem to be lonelier than ever.

Just at the time when they are becoming more widespread.

  • More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s,
  • Alzheimer’s is now the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.,
  • 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Are you an Alzheimer’s caregiver or know one struggling daily?

It’s likely you will know someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, their caregivers or become a caregiver yourself.

While caregiving can be the best thing you ever do for love, it can also be the hardest. You can get so involved in giving care that your own wants and needs take a back seat, often ignored.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia can be additionally challenging and isolating.

Additionally, there’s a social stigma too often attached to Alzheimer’s and other dementias. People often are uncomfortable around someone with dementia. Even talking about dementia and the changes is brings can be upsetting and embarrassing.

Caregivers get included in this isolation due to the disease itself, the caregiving and the lack of time for a social life.

The causes of isolation are multiple and often chronic, easily going on for years.

That’s why I’m thrilled to have founded the first Alzheimer’s Telesummit for caregivers, February 1- through 15, 2014. It’s free and available online or by phone. No travel involved! Replays will be available if you can’t make the sessions “live.”

"Triumphing Over the Isolation of Alzheimer's: Simple Solutions for Family and Professional Caregivers" Free Telesummit

Click here now to join!

The “Triumphing Over the Isolation of Alzheimer’s: Simple Solutions for Family and Professional Caregivers” Telesummit is a place for experts in Alzheimer’s and other dementias to share their resources and information about Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It truly is a worldwide problem, affecting more people every day.

And predicted to just increase over the next few decades.

Wondering who will be speaking in this telesummit?

The speakers include…

Lori La BeyLori La Bey, Recognized as the #1 Alzheimer’s Influencer by Sharecare and Dr. Oz, speaking on “Improving Dementia Care Through Economical & Global Collaborations”. She explains how Memory Cafes, The Purple Angel Project and Dementia Friendly Communities reduce the isolation of Alzheimer’s care.

James Creasy of Jiminy WicketFive years ago on a summer vacation, James Creasey discovered new connections with his father in the silence and confusion of dementia. Playing croquet together, Maxwell smiled. And his family now had an activity to enjoy with their ‘Poppa’.

Since then, James has been running a weekly croquet program for the Alzheimer’s Association in Denver, Colorado. He founded Jiminy Wicket to make smiles for people living with dementia.

Janet EdmunsonJanet Edmunson, Inspirational Author and Speaker with over 30 years experience in health promotion. She cared for her husband Charles who fought a degenerative neurological disease. Janet will speak on the “Importance of Positive Emotions for Caregivers.” She uses science, personal stories of caring for her husband during his neurological illness, and practical activities to explore positive ways to get through this challenging life experience.

G J LeBlancGary Joseph LeBlanc of Commonsense Caregiving will speak on “Alzheimer’s/Dementia Hospital Wristband Program.” How this simple program identifying dementia patients, alerting hospital staff to their special needs, and improving their care.

 

Lisa HirschLisa Hirsch, is a popular blogger with a worldwide audience. When her mother Ruth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Lisa was surprised how it brought the two of them together. Her book, “My Mom My Hero” tells this mother-daughter story from entries in her blog.

 

 

And 12 more!

This is your opportunity to connect with these Alzheimer’s experts and with other caregivers who understand the isolation and pain of giving care to someone with dementia.

You need this information, and it won’t cost you a dime.

Join now to discover the secrets of moving from stressed to blessed… from isolated to nurtured… from just surviving to thriving!

Click here now to see the Speaker’s Schedule and Join This AMAZING Telesummit!

From my heart to yours… Laugh Well, Love Well and Live Well!

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D.

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com

See the original post:
Looking For Solutions to the Loneliness of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Caregiving?

alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, caregiving, ina gilmore, www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com | Comment
Caregiving |

October 15, 2013

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Why Is Understanding Alzheimer’s World Helpful?

Why is Understanding the Alzheimer’s World Helpful in Caring for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer’s World is a term coined by Bob DeMarco, Founder of Alzheimer’s Reading Room and Alzheimer’s Front Row. These wonderful blogs were named #1 and #2 in the Healthline.com 25 Best Alzheimers Blogs of 2013.

And Bob has clearly and concisely describes how caregivers can peek inside Alzheimer’s disease by understanding how someone with it sees the world, and reacts to it. Over the past 6-plus years he has blogged about his journey caring for his mother Dotty.

And in this post he explains how recognizing Alzheimer’s World changed his caregiving…

Why Is Understanding Alzheimer's World Helpful?

Friday, October 11, 2013

Alzheimer’s World and the Power of Positive Reinforcement

You have to be actively involved with a person living with dementia in everything they do.

By Bob DeMarco
+Alzheimer’s Reading Room

Many of you are new to the Alzheimer’s Reading Room so I’ll start by mentioning that I studied communication in college and graduate school.

For six and a half years I studied how people communicate, how they make decisions, and everything from Aristotle, to nonverbal communication, to risky decision making.

My initial goal was to teach at a University, do research, and eventually consulting with businesses. That all changed when I found my way on to Wall Street.

I studied and learned all kinds of communication techniques during those years in school, and then I embarked on a mission to perfect them.

So when I arrived on the scene to take care of Dotty in 2003 you would think all I had to do was use the communications skills I had developed over the course of my life and everything would be “hunky-dorey”.

As is turned out it was more like “heartbreak hotel” in the beginning.

I had a good grasp from day one that when my mother was being mean spirited or downright crazy that it was the Alzheimer’s disease that was causing the problem.

Her brain was sick — broken so to speak. So I never had a problem understanding why she was being so difficult and challenging.

In spite of knowing and understanding this as clear and clear can be, it was still driving me crazy. Our daily interactions included an enormous amount of stress and dread even though I was trying as hard as I could to avoid it.

After about 18 months, I finally concluded that I was going to need to stop trying to “reason” with my mother; and that, I needed to find a “new way’” to deal with her.

I was trying to unlearn the things that didn’t work and use the things that did work. This didn’t work.

I had been communicating with my mother in a certain way for my entire life,
and no matter how hard I tried I would eventually fall back into that pattern.

I couldn’t unlearn what I had been doing my entire life. Bingo. Aha. I finally understood I needed to learn a brand new way of communicating with my mother. A new way to communicate with someone living with dementia.

One night while working with my da Vinci pad I came to an important conclusion — something had to change, and that something was me.

I would never be able to “unlearn” my entire life. I just couldn’t do it.

I concluded I needed to invent a brand new world, a place that was very different from the world I had lived my life in.

I needed to invent a new place, go in there, and start learning from scratch how to deal with a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t get me wrong, I was taking my skill set with me, but I needed to learn how to think, act, and communicate in a new way.

In my new world, I was going to learn how to walk backwards, turn left instead of right,

and to accept everything that was happening as the “new normal”.

After a long long time, I gave my new world a name — Alzheimer’s World. Dotty and I would live together in this new world.

Alzheimer’s World.

Next, I did something I could never have expected. When I knew that I needed to shift gears, to get into the World, I started taking one giant step to the left. In order to get to Alzheimer’s World, I had to physically step into Alzheimer’s World.

After a couple of hundred practice steps it started to work. I would step in, shift the mental gears in my brain seamlessly, and I learned how to communicate with someone living with Alzheimer’s disease.

I learned how to communicate with my mother on her terms.

Here are the best parts.

First, instead of getting bent out of shape when problems arose, I actually started feeling very comfortable, very calm.

Second, the same exact behaviors that were hurting my heart, that were driving me crazy, and that were stressing me out were now expected. I had arrived. I finally accepted the new normal.

Some of the things that Dotty did still bothered me. But mostly they made me laugh (happily I mean).

I thought, “here we go again”. Imagine that, laughing instead of crying or getting all bent out of shape.

Once I learned how to live and thrive in Alzheimer’s World,

Dotty became a nicer, kinder, gentler person.

Now don’t let me mislead you. This took about 4 years. Don’t worry, you can do it quicker than I did. You now have the benefit of my experiences here on the ARR.

Once I had Dotty calmed down and secure, and me calmed down and confident, I decided based on that positive experience that I could accomplish much more.

I mean, Dotty stopped being mean and nutty, and I stopped feeling all stressed out.

Alzheimer’s World is a good place. A wonderful place in fact. This is what I learned.

Once I could actually deal with Dotty effectively, communicate, I decided we could start attacking the big problems.

The big problems? Pee, Poop, Shower, and a real big problem — the word NO.

As far as I can tell the majority of Alzheimer’s patients say NO (about 70 percent). Now in the real world, NO means NO.

In Alzheimer’s World NO means, I don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

Read — Why Do the Deeply Forgetful Say No So Often

Everything you do with a person living with Alzheimer’s has to start and end with positive reinforcement.

You have to be actively involved with a person suffering from Alzheimer’s in everything they do.

Original Post:

Alzheimer’s World and the Power of Positive Reinforcement

Finding the way someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia looks at the world can change your caregiving. It can lead to reduced stress and increased understanding.

After Lisa’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Lisa learned this for herself.

Lisa’s mother became afraid of the shower. She became angry when Lisa wanted to give her a shower. Her mother’s fear was so great Lisa was afraid her mother would injure herself or Lisa.

So, Lisa started giving her mother sponge baths. No shower, no bathtub. Sitting in a chair for most of it, and finishing up in the bed to reach places not accessible when Lisa’s mother was sitting in a chair.

It made bathing safe and MUCH less stressful. In fact, it became a time of joy and togetherness for Lisa and her mother.

What have you learned about communicating in Alzheimer’s World?

Share your story in the comments to help other caregivers find solutions.

From my heart to yours… Laugh Well, Love Well and Live Well!

Dr. Ina signature

Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)

“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Caregiving at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

Original Source:

Why Is Understanding Alzheimer’s World Helpful?

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Why Is Understanding Alzheimer’s World Helpful?

alzheimer's disease, alzheimers, ambassador of caregiving, bob demarco, ina gilmore, the knitting dr., www.caregivingwithpurpose.com, www.howtoliveonpurpose.com, www.theknittingyarn.com | Comment
Elder Care |

November 15, 2012

| by Ina Gilmore, M.D. ("The Knitting Dr.")

Alzheimer s Disease: How Can I Help?

When President Ronald Reagan first declared November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, there were less than 2 million persons in the U.S. with Alzheimers Disease.

Today, there are 5.4 million.  That’s more than a 170% increase! 

And it means 1 in 8 persons over the age of 65 has it.

Alzheimer’s Disease is now the 6th cause of death in the U.S.  And according to the Alzheimer’s Association, the only one that has no –

  • Cure…
  • Prevention or…
  • Way to slow its progression.

Wow.

More sobering statistics are that about 1 in 10 grandparents has Alzheimer’s.  And for people over the age of 85, almost 1 in every 2 — or almost 50 percent — have either Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

Alzheimer s Disease: How Can I Help?

So what can you do to help?

Each case is unique, and your situation probably is too.  Here are some suggestions –

  • Support Alzheimer’s research and awareness through donating money and / or time…
  • Support an Alzheimer’s caregiver.  Caregiving can be very lonely, and caring for someone with dementia is especially exhausting.  You could offer to help.  Some examples include grocery shopping, shoveling snow or mowing the lawn, pay some bills, provide hot meals or respite for the caregiver.  You could arrange a vacation for the caregiver, although often a few hours break more often is what is really needed.
    Just offering a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen without criticism can be invaluable to the caregiver and the one receiving care.
  • Or maybe you know there’s something else you can do to individually help. 

And if you’re a caregiver, how about asking someone for help before you reach your breaking point?

Friends and family may think you have everything under control and don’t need help.  Maybe they’re busy with their own lives.  Sometimes just asking for help is all you need to do.

Do you care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease who still likes to get out, but you’re nervous about taking them because you never know how they’ll react?

How about asking someone to help you take them to a favorite restaurant?  You might be surprised how helpful another person can be.  Especially if you are stressed and tired.  And what caregiver isn’t?

Unexpected situations can be frightening to someone with Alzheimer’s disease or a dementia.  And sometimes waiters, receptionists and others can make the situation worse without realizing it.  They may be impatient – and even rude – when they don’t understand what’s going on. 

Now you can discretely hand them a card explaining the situation, without alerting the whole room or embarrassing your companion. They’re called Alzheimer’s companion cards and they can be very helpful.

If you know someone who could use these cards why not get some as a gift?  Or get some for yourself if you’re the caregiver and can use them.

Just click here now for Alzheimer’s companion cards.

To your healthy and happy caregiving,

Dr. InaAbout The Knitting Dr Logo
Ina Gilmore, M.D. (Retired)
“The Knitting Dr.”

Founder, www.CaregivingWithPurpose.com and www.TheKnittingYarn.com
Ambassador of Elder Care at www.HowToLiveOnPurpose.com

 

Original Post:

Alzheimer s Disease: How Can I Help?

 

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Read the original here:
Alzheimer s Disease: How Can I Help?

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