Elder Care “ Like the rest of your body, your brain changes with age. Starting in your twenties, your brain begins to lose cells and produces fewer of

Elder Care

“Like the rest of your body, your brain changes with age. Starting in your twenties, your brain begins to lose cells and produces fewer of the chemicals to make it work. Over time, these changes affect the way information is stored and retrieved.”

Alzheimer’s Disease

“There is a big difference between forgetting where you parked your car and forgetting what your car looks like.”

http://www.pbs.org/theforgetting/diagnosis/index.html

10 Warning Signs1. Memory Loss

2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks

3. Problems with Language

4. Disorientation to Time and Place

5. Poor or Decreased Judgment

6. Problems with Abstract Thinking

7. Misplacing Things

8. Changes in Mood or Behavior

9. Changes in Personality

10. Loss of Initiative

Developed by The Alzheimer’s Association

Normal or Not Normal

This is one of the most common early signs. Someone with Alzheimer’s will progressively forget more information. Alzheimer’s attacks the brains hippocampus first, so short-term memory is usually the first to fail. In the late stage of Alzheimer’s, new memories become impossible for the brain to make and store.

Forgetting your ATM pin number or where you parked your car.

Forgetting what an ATM card is or what kind of car you own.













People with Alzheimer’s may find it difficult or impossible to do things that were once commonplace, such as writing checks or cooking a familiar recipe. These tasks become progressively more difficult over time.

Forgetting how to do an everyday task, like writing a check.

Forgetting what you were about to say.













People with Alzheimer’s often have trouble finding the correct word to use and will substitute descriptors for common, well-known terms. The temporal lobe plays a key role in memory, language and high-level sensory processing, like understanding speech. Early in the disease, problems in the temporal lobe start to cause aphasia—the inability to remember or recall words.

Frequently forgetting everyday words or terms.

Occasionally grasping for a word while sharing a story.













Disorientation—not knowing where you are or what time it is—happens when the parietal lobe starts to deteriorate. This common symptom can be very worrisome to the individual and to family members.

Forgetting which day of the week you had a dental appointment.

Getting lost in your own neighborhood.













People with Alzheimer’s experience changes in the frontal lobe of their brains—the part of the brain that helps us carry out purposeful behaviors and complex reasoning. People with Alzheimer’s may exhibit behaviors that are completely out of character, and judgment may become cloudy.

Dressing inappropriately or placing an inappropriate amount of trust in an unknown person.

Making a poor decision once in a while.













The brain suffering from Alzheimer’s has fewer nerve cells and synapses. Over time, this makes complex mental tasks more difficult. When Alzheimer’s strikes, victims often lose the ability to plan and initiate complicated activities.

Having a checkbook that is occasionally off balance.

Completely forgetting how to perform mental tasks, like calculations or estimations.













Even in the earliest stages (long before diagnoses can be made) plaques and tangles can be found in the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s. Researchers believe that the components of these plaques and tangles disturb the chemical and electrical signals in the brain, resulting in loss of memory. This may cause people with Alzheimer’s to misplace things or put them in strange places.

Misplacing or losing your keys or wallet.

Putting the ice cube tray in the oven instead of the freezer.













Once Alzheimer’s disrupts the brain’s emotional center a person may display surprising, and out-of-character behaviors such as paranoia, emotional outburst and inappropriate sexual advances. A person with a typically calm personality may suddenly turn hostile and anxious due to shifts in the amygdala, which regulates basic emotions such as fear and anger.

Feeling moody or blue periodically.

Severe mood swings not caused by depression or another illness













People with Alzheimer’s may experience severe personality and mood swings. They may also do things that are completely out of the ordinary or that seem insensitive to the feelings of others. It is important to remember that these changes are beyond the person’s control, as the disease attacks and changes the person’s brain.

Becoming more or less talkative as you age.

Extreme confusion, suspicion, fear or dependency













With this warning sign, it’s important to rule out other potential medical conditions, like depression. For anyone concerned with memory loss or impaired thinking, a depression screening is a must. In early stages of Alzheimer’s people may sense that something is not quite right and may feel depressed and down. An early intervention and accurate diagnosis can help the person feel more control and give them a sense of direction with their care.

Wanting to rest and avoid social appointments when tired.

Dozing in front of a television for hours on end, sleeping more, not showing interest in things.

The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’shttp://www.pbs.org/theforgetting

Coping and Planning Ahead

“Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t develop overnight, and you don’t need to cope overnight. Try to take things

one step at a time”

Alzheimer’s Disease



Steps for Managing the Future

1. Get a diagnosis

2. Ask your doctor about treatment options

3. Find Support

4. Read helpful pamphlets. They’re free.

5. Locate legal and financial documents

6. Find out about care options


Step 1: Get a diagnosis

Don’t assume that it is Alzheimer’s.

Have a physician make the medical

assessment. The earlier you get an

accurate diagnosis, the more options

you have for treatment and planning.

If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.


Step 2: Ask your doctor about treatment options

Get the maximum benefit from available

treatments – You can explore

treatments that may provide some

relief of symptoms and help you

maintain a level of independence

longer. You may also increase your

chances of participating in clinical drug

trials that help advance research.

“Volunteering for a clinical trial is one of the greatest public services that an individual with Alzheimer’s can contribute.” “These clinical trials may also offer you or your family free care and monitoring by health care professionals who specialize in Alzheimer’s


Step 3: Find Support• Find a group—you will be much more effective and

helpful if you are healthy and happy.

• Call in the troops—talk to your friends and family, and let them help you. Alzheimer’s is bigger than one person should handle on his/her own.

• Consider a Geriatric Care Manager—who can help with planning issues like arranging care services, acting as a distance care liaison, counseling, reviewing finances, and determining assistance eligibility.

• Caregivers—limit what your loved one needs to remember. Keep appointments for them, take the person places, help with tasks like housework and bill paying

- The Alzheimer’s Association- The Area Agencies on Aging- A doctor, nurse, social worker, psychologist, or clergy member you trust

On-Line Support Groups

- The Alzheimer’s List- The Elder Care Chat Forum- The Alzheimer’s Association Message Boards


Formed in 1980, the Alzheimer's Association advances research to end Alzheimer's and dementia while enhancing care for those living with the disease.

Step 4: Read Pamphlets

A few recommended pamphlets include the “Caregiver Guide”, “Home Safety for People with Alzheimer’s Disease”, and “Challenging Behaviors: Special Issues for Family Care”.

Visit trusted websites to gather information and to ask for materials.

The Alzheimer’s Association1-800-272-3900

The Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referall Network1-800-438-4380

The Area Agencies on AgingHotline: 1-800-677-1116

http://www.alz.org/


Step 5: Locate Legal and Financial Documents

• Wills and Living Wills• Durable health care power of attorney *• Financial powers of attorney• Insurance policies• Stock and bond certificates• Bank and brokerage statements• Pension and retirement benefit

summaries• Social Security payment information• Rental income paperwork• Deeds and mortgage papers or

ownership statements• Monthly or outstanding bills

“If you have been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s, you will need to prepare for the management of your finances. It is important to find someone you trust to assist you with your financial matters. The sooner, the better. For caregivers, it is important that financial and health-care durable powers of attorney are prepared and accessible.”

*For explanation go to http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/durable-power-of-attorney-health-finances-29579.html


Step 6: Find Out About Care Options

“From home health aides to adult day programs to assisted living, there are a range of options to explore in addition to full-time home care or nursing home placement. Your decision will depend on your unique situation, including finances, the disease’s progression, availability and physical capabilities.”

The support groups and organizations found in Step 3 can help you with what would work best for the person, family members and caregivers.

“Know your options before you become

overwhelmed”


Visit The Alzheimer’s Association website at https://www.alz.org/

Find the section shown below on their home page

Click and click START TOUR

https://www.alz.org/




Sparrow Video1. List information from today’s

lesson that would explain why the father could remember the diary but not the word sparrow.

2. Why did this video affect Ms. Abbonizio more than it did you?

3. For what purpose do you believe this video was made?

http://www.lifebuzz.com/father-son-temper