The Tournament of Rose Parade will have a float called the Boomer Express to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease.
The float will have a bell on it that will ring every 70 seconds to bring attention to someone being develops Alzheimer's.
They have also made a website in which you can submit your pictures, and stories. Heck even check out the website just to look at neat designs they made from all the photo submitted!
The float, titled "The Boomer Express," is sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association and Pfizer. It's the final piece of their "It's Time to Face Alzheimer's" initiative designed to encourage all Americans to join the fight against the disease.
This message is now more crucial than ever for the 10 million at-risk baby boomers in the country -- with the oldest members of the group turning 65 in 2011. By 2030, the number of seniors with Alzheimer's is estimated to grow by 2.5 million. Along with that growth comes a critical need for caregivers such as Miranda who have the skill and compassion to care for individuals with this disease.
When the first wave of baby boomers begins to turn 65 next year, the numbers of people affected will only continue to escalate. I pray that brings the awareness to others, and it helps research on how to top dementia or Alzheimer.
I was doing a bit of reading about the dementia patient and driving again. Recently, I found Alzheimer's reading room. and the site presented a podcast about driving and the dementia patient. Carole B. Larkin is the Geriatric Care Manager for ThirdAge Services, specializing in all forms dementia care.
When we had an in home dementia evaluation we also had a Geriatric Care Manager come to our home. Carole is from Dallas Texas, and that is where my mother whom has dementia was born.
Anyway, here is the podcast about when its time to stop the dementia patient from driving.
My brother called this morning, and mother canceled the driver's test. He said that she genuinely doesn't feel good. I'm sure part of it is nerves over the test, but she was vomiting all last night. It sounds like they have rescheduled things for tomorrow.
He was mentioning that he feels he needs to go over, and take away her keys to the car. I mentioned to him that I have purposely been placing myself in the position when visiting with her to have her drive when we had to go places. I have done this a couple of times recently, and she never scared me so far.
I think that relieved him a bit, but at times he can be rather laid back. You never really know, but I think he was okay. I can sure understand his position, and maybe I'm wrong as well. I'm thankful we can talk without getting nasty. I don't believe either of us are like that, but when emotions are on high alert? You just never know what can happen I suppose. I think we even each other out pretty well. I admire him very much.
Dementia and driving as you can imagine may not be the best combination. I think we can all giggle at the picture I found today, but on the other hand it can also be a sad reality.
I have to admit I have been in the car with my mother, and so far she hasn't scared me.
I remember going to visit my grandparents for vacation when I was younger, and my grandmother could scare the daylights out of anyone driving. Heck that was BEFORE the Alzheimer! I was adult by the time her condition of Alzheimer's changed things, and we always drove after that until they finally took her driving privileges away.
According to the letter I received from my mother's doctor he doesn't seem to think mom should be driving at all.
Mom is a very social creature, and she has always participated in church, AARP functions, and once my father passed away a senior grief group. She also gets her hair done on a regular basis.
We recently had a new major road in our area completed, and it saves us time for travel at this point. During the Christmas dinner family members were telling her about the road, but I'm sure at this point if she continues to drive? She will stick to what she is familiar with.
Tomorrow my brother is taking her to a rehab evaluation test for driving at a hospital. He told her that this will either keep her insurance rates 'as is', or possibly reduce them. That maybe true, but we all know the real reason behind this.
My brother called to see how this all works, and they told him they only report directly to the doctor. I have to admit my heart dropped when I heard that. I mentioned the doctor's opinion on the subject already.
Well I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday! As I had mentioned before we had an in home dementia evaluation done. My brother had received a letter from my mother's doctor regarding his recommendations, and he gave me a copy.
It was nice to read from the doctor that he felt my brother and I were taking the appropriate actions towards my mother. He had also mentioned what I'm sure most that deal with dementia patients do at first, and that is clearly 'resistance'. My mother is warming up to this reality slowly but surely.
I had to go over to my mother's house after the in home assessment, because it looked to me as if she was hoarding food. The refrigeration and freezer were packed, and the cabinets were just as full. I don't think she was hoarding as the condition you read about, because I don't think she knew what she had and what she didn't. I have read that hoarding with dementia patients also makes them feel secure. It was the in home evaluation that called my attention to this circumstance.
I went over to clear out the kitchen, and I only got as far as the refrigerator, freezer, and one cabinet. I had 9 to 10 black garbage bags full of either spoiled or expired food.
I tried to keep the conversation light as we worked, and asked her to wash down the shelves as I emptied them in the refrigerator. I figured it would keep her busy, and she wouldn't question every last item I pulled out. I will say after a while she just gave up, and went along with anything I dumped. I don't think she realized HOW much she had.
I had been doing some searching on youtube for Dementia and Alzheimer videos.
I watched this one, and I have to say it bothered me. I guess because it seemed like the man's approach to the relative would leave him confused. The rapid fire of questions to me wouldn't give him any time to process, or even acknowledge the questions.
I know my grandparents would have flipped out if I approached them like this.
It seems like the wrong approach for a dementia patient, and seems to go against the communication techniques they speak about for dementia patients.
Persons with dementia may attempt to describe an object that they cannot name or create a word to describe the object. I have noticed with my mother it doesn't even have to be an object. I found another article I felt was helpful in the area of communicating with a dementia patient.
One thing I noticed about yesterday that I didn't mention was I saw my brother answering the questions posed to her by the Geriatric Care Manager. It didn't happen all the time, but I did notice he jumped in when he knew she would struggle answering the questions. I'm sure that is our 'human side' isn't it?
Something tells me we will both be in the habit of that soon.
The clock drawing test makes so much sense, but I have to admit it has to be rather humiliating to the dementia patient.
The clock is very universal, and so I can see WHY they use it. It would seem to me people all over the world? Their clocks are all going to look the same.
My mother's doctor had ordered a home evaluation due to her dementia. The business card basically reads, "Geriatric Care Management".
It was very tastefully done, and you could tell the woman that came went out of her way to make sure mother was comfortable. I did truly appreciate the women that did the dementia evaluation.
We should have the in home Dementia assessment by the end of next week, and both my brother and I got the impression it will validate our fears.
She did mention that mother is very high functioning, and yet in some very basic areas she is struggling.
The dementia assessor asked for permission to look into her refrigerator and cabinets within the kitchen. I could tell my mother agreed thinking she truly had nothing to hide.
She has enough food for a family of 5 for 2 months, and then some. I noticed 2 partial 1/2 gallons of milk, and both had expired last month.
After the dementia assessment was over I asked my brother to check the deep freezer downstairs, and it was in the same shape.
Tomorrow I will go back, and we will dump stuff together.
One of the earliest things we learned when dealing with my grandparents and their Alzheimer disease was to get the legal paperwork done as soon as possible.
I remember one grandparent in particular who was a handful when it came to the cooperation part of that aspect.
I have to say now that we are dealing with the dementia with my mother she has been very cooperative. Can I say so far anyway?
Dementia and its progression can often be unpredictable, and we couldn't fall for my mother's excuse "Later!"
Pre-planning can avoid costly legal pitfalls when not prepared. You will save the caregiver and the family trauma and grief later.
Talk to the person soon after a diagnosis of dementia while she is still able to think clearly and make decisions about how legal, financial and medical arrangements will be handled in the future. To me this also has an aspect of self respect, because they are competent enough to help with their wishes. (Most of the time at the Beginning anyway)
You don't want to wait to long, and I realize some people claim they have time like my mother likes to say. I remember reminding my mother of a car accident I had, and brought to her attention I couldn't 'plan' for it beforehand. She could be in a car wreck, or her dementia progresses, thyroid issues or a host of other things could happen prior to our planning ahead.
I went out to lunch with a girlfriend of mine this week. I was updating her as to what was happening with my mother, and her journey with Dementia. She mentioned going out shopping, and since it seemed my mother had issues with shopping last year. We decided maybe we will invite her along to help her this year.
I told my friend about our medicine delivery service that we had setup for her, and it seemed to be working well. I mentioned that my brother and I were pushing for some home care for her, and had an interview in which my mother refused the service. We have plans! I will write about that experience later I promise!
I did get a call this week from her doctor stating that her thyroid levels again are NOT what they need to be. I'm sure they felt it was her NOT taking the medicine, but since I know she is? I asked them to look into maybe the medication at this point isn't doing what it needs to do. I'm planning on calling the Pharmacy on Monday just to be sure they also are NOT getting FULL containers back. I have seen her take the medicine, but with dementia? You need to double check everything.
I was speaking to my mother about Christmas this year. I told her to make a list of her wants or needs. She - as she has for years now - told me she didn't have any. She has said that even prior to her diagnoses of dementia. This is a norm for her. I think when I go over this week I will bring sales flyers, and she what she comments on! That has always been my trick!
I was doing some quick reading about communication with a dementia patient.
I remember when my grandmother had Alzheimer, and I would go and visit her at the special home she lived in. This one day I walked in, and right away I introduced myself.
"Hello Endy! It's Hannah your granddaughter. I thought I would stop by for a visit!"
She was thrilled, and I know she knew me for a moment. I made sure I introduced myself, because I didn't want her to think she was speaking to some stranger. I also didn't want to scare her. I know you have to keep in mind their memory condition, and if a strange person came up for a hug I would be alarmed myself. I tried to keep that mind each time I went to visit.
I also learned with time you needed to continue to introduce yourself. I would always included 'granddaughter' for the extra family connection, and not just name.
I found a blog today written by a dementia patient. Its nice to read things from the other side, and some of her insights I can understand. I can almost feel my mother is in the same place.
Reading body language is a skill I am losing. Earlier in this illness, I could feel a disconnect between what people said and did. When their words and body language didn’t match, I would always believe and respond to the latter. For several months now I have asked those closest to me, “Are you angry?” because for reasons I cannot explain, I read many expressions as “anger.” The irony of all of this is that asking repeatedly if someone is angry leads to them being angry, which reinforces my concerns. I also am fighting feelings of paranoia and anger at strangers. It is very tempting to walk away from all of this to a quiet calm place that doesn’t actually exist.
I remember when we were dealing with my grandparents that had Alzheimer, and how our parents promised us that when their time came? They would not fight tooth and nail the same way. WELL see! LOL!
I know at least two of my grandparents were both very individualistic, and loved their independence. They were both successful business owners, and very intelligent. Its hard to watch the person you love start to lose the aspects that they cherished about themselves. It has to be very frustrating to realize how you must have help now. Their stubborn side of course did fight, but to be honest? I can't blame them at all. I won't say it wasn't frustrating from the other end okay? I can empathize I suppose would be a better way of putting it. I tried to place myself in their shoes, but I have to wonder if I do a very good job with my mother at times. Its much MUCH closer to home now.
My mother was diagnosed with Dementia in 2010. I wanted to write about my experiences as our family deals with this awful disease. We have had three relatives prior to mother with Alzheimer disease, and have to admit I'm not looking forward to doing this again. This time so much closer to home.
