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Senior Site presentation on Dementia and Alzheimer\'s
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WHAT IT ISAND
WHAT IT ISN’T
DEMENTIAALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Jo T. Letwaitis, President/CEOThe Senior Site, Inc. www.TheSeniorSite.com
630-200-1149 or [email protected]
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: A DEGENERATIVE DISORDER THAT
AFFECTS THE BRAIN AND CAUSES DEMENTIA, ESPECIALLY LATER IN
LIFE.
MICROSOFT ENCARTA COLLEGE DICTIONARY
definition
INCREASED INCIDENCE – 350% WITHIN THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF THIS DECADE
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES 5 MILLION PRESENT DAY SUFFERERS
BY 2050 THAT NUMBER WILL RISE TO 14 MILLION
50% WILL DEVELOP ALZHEIMER’S IF WE LIVE PAST AGE 85
OF ALL DEMENTIA-RELATED DEATHS, 70% ARE RELATED TO ALZHEIMER’S
33% IS RELATED TO GENETICS AND THE REMAINING 64% TO LIFESTYLE
Alzheimer’s Diseasestatistics
WHAT IT ISWHAT IT IS WHAT IT ISN’TWHAT IT ISN’T
A chronic, generative disease
FatalAffects older
individualsTreatableA cause of dementiaCaused by a variety of
factorsDetectable with testing
Mental illnessUnavoidableCaused by agingInevitableThe prevalent cause
of memory lossWidely inheritedApparent physically
in its early stages
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Stage one:No cognitive impairment – unimpaired individuals
experience no memory problems; none are evident to a health care professional during medical interview
Stage two:Very mild decline – memory lapses, forgetting
familiar words or names or locations, yet not evident during exam or apparent to others
The many stages of Alzheimer’s
Stage three:
Mild cognitive decline – those around begin to notice changes such as problems with memory or concentration
Words and name finding noticeable
Decreased ability to remember
Performance issues; retaining little
Misplacing valuable objects
Decline in ability to plan or organize
STAGES CONTINUED
Stage four: Moderate cognitive decline (mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease)
Careful medical interview can detect deficiencies in the following areas:
Decreased knowledge of recent eventsImpaired ability to perform mental arithmetic
Decreased capacity to perform complex tasks such as planning a dinner, paying bills
Reduced memory of personal historyPerson may seem subdued and withdrawn
STAGES CONTINUED
Stage five: Moderately severe cognitive decline or
Moderate/mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease
Major gaps in memory and deficitsUnable to recall important details
Become confused about surroundingsNeed help choosing proper clothing
Can retain substantial knowledge of themselves, eg nameRequires no assistance, usually, with eating and using the toilet
ALZHEIMER’S STAGES CONTINUED
Stage six: Severe cognitive decline or
Moderately severe/mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease
At this stage, individuals may:
Lose most awareness of recent experiencesRecollect their personal history imperfectly, although they ay recall their
own nameOccasionally forget the name of spouse or primary caregiver
Need help getting dressed properlyExperience disruption of normal sleep/wake cycle
Trouble toiletingExperience significant personality changes
Tend to wander and become lost
STAGES CONTINUED
Stage seven: Very severe cognitive decline or severe/late-stage Alzheimer’s disease
Some lose their ability to speakIndividual lose capacity for recognizable speech, although some words
are utteredNeed help eating and toileting with general urinary incontinence
Lose the ability to walk without assistanceReflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid
Swallowing is impaired
LAST STAGE
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
EARLY DETECTION - learn these subtle detectors
FINGERPRINTS – whorls and arches decrease with Alzheimer’s
SENSE OF SMELL – can experience a loss of the sense as early as two years prior to cognition problems
VISION – may not be able to interpret sights, eg clock test HEARING – loss is more prevalent DEPRESSION – can surface two years prior to detection PROFESSIONAL TESTING – not yet 100% accurate NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING – noninvasive way to
appraise different areas of the brain TESTING FOR CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PROTEINS
NUTRITION – REALLY?
CHECK YOUR DIET, WHAT ARE YOU EATING?
HOW ABOUT: FAT AND SALT – THE EVIL TWINS ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS – OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6
OMEGA-3 IN FLAXSEED, FLAX OIL; ENGLISH WALNUTS, SOYBEANS, TOFU
OMEGA-6 FOUND IN ANIMAL PRODUCTS – KEEP A BALANCE
THE NUN STUDY – KEEP LEARNINGCONTINUE SOCIALIZING
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR STRESS
REMOVE YOUR STRESSORS
EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN THROUGH DAKIM BRAINFITNESS OR OTHER BRAIN
EXERCISES
EXERCISE YOUR BODY
YOUR BRAIN – USE IT OR LOSE IT?
WHAT ABOUT YOU?WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?
WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN?
ARE YOU THE
SPOUSE
ADULT CHILD
RELATIVE
LOVED ONE
CAREGIVER
OF SOMEONE
WITH
DEMENTIA?
YOU WILL FEEL:ALONEANGRYUPSETHURTGUILTY
FRUSTRATED WITH THEM AS WELL AS YOURSELF
IMPOTENT TO DO ANYTHING
Living with, or otherwise caring for, someone with
dementia
BEGIN BY EDUCATING YOURSELF ON THE DISEASE
THEY SAY “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER” – IT IS!
AS A STUDENT OF NAOMI FEIL I CAN SINCERELY SAY THAT HER RESEARCHED METHOD, THE
VALIDATION METHOD, WORKS FOR COMMUNICATING
GO TO WWW.VFVALIDATION.ORG FOR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS
Validation is a method of communicating with and helping disoriented very old people.
It is a practical way of working that helps reduce stress, enhance dignity and increase happiness. Validation is built on an empathetic attitude and a holistic view of individuals.
When one can "step into the shoes" of another human being and "see through their eyes," one can step into the world of disoriented very old people and understand the meaning of their
sometimes bizarre behavior.
Validation theory explains that many very old disoriented people, who are often diagnosed as having Alzheimer type dementia, are in the final stage of life, trying to resolve unfinished issues in order to die in peace. Their final struggle is important and we, as caregivers, can
help them.
Using Validation techniques we offer disoriented elderly an opportunity to express what they wish to express whether it is verbal or non-verbal communication.
What is Validation?
Validation has three basic components
Validation is a theory that very old people struggle to resolve unfinished life issues before death. Their behavior is age-specific. Their movements reflect human needs.
Validation is a way of classifying their behaviors into four progressive stages:
Malorientation- expressing past conflicts in disguised forms.
Time confusion- no longer holding onto reality; retreating inward.
Repetitive motion- movements replace words and are used to work through unresolved conflicts.
Vegetation- shuts out world completely and gives up trying to resolve living .
Each phase has specific physical and psycho-social characteristics.
Validation includes specific techniques for individual as well as group work, based on the needs of the individual and his or her phase of resolution.
Examples…………………
1. All very old people are unique and worthwhile.
2. Maloriented and disoriented old people should be accepted as they are: we should not try to change them
3. Listening with empathy builds trust, reduces anxiety and restores dignity
4. Painful feelings that are expressed, acknowledged and validated by a trusted listener will diminish.
5. There is a reason behind the behavior of very old maloriented and disoriented people
Examples of Validation principles
6. The reasons that underlie the behavior of maloriented or disoriented very old people can be one or more of the following basic human needs:
resolution of unfinished issues, in order to die in peace To live in peace Need to restore a sense of equilibrium when eyesight, hearing, mobility
and memory fail. Need to make sense out of an unbearable reality: to find a place that feels
comfortable, where one feels in order or in harmony and where relationships are familiar.
Need for recognition, status, identity and self-worth Need to be useful and productive Need to be listened to and respected. Need to express feelings and be heard. Need to be loved and to belong: need for human contact Need to be nurtured, feel safe and secure, rather than immobilized and
restrained. Need for sensory stimulation: tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory,
as well as sexual expression Need to reduce pain and discomfort
Examples of Validation principles
7. Early learned behaviors return when verbal ability and recent memory fails8. Personal symbols used by maloriented or disoriented elderly are people or things (in present time) that represent people, things or concepts from the past that are laden with emotion. 9. Maloriented and disoriented old people live on several levels of awareness, often at the same time10. When the 5 senses fail, maloriented and disoriented elderly stimulate and use their "inner senses'. They see with their "mind's eye' and hear sounds from the past.
Examples of Validation principles
THANKS AND CREDITS TO:
Naomi Feil Validation Method for knowledge on communication methods
www.vfvalidation.org
Alzheimer’s - A Message of Hope
By: Dr. Abraham Isaac Anbar
