How to Show Love and Appreciation for Someone With Alzheimer's--Carol's Thoughts

Joe, you get so much traffic on your blog and I thought I would give my impressions on how we caregivers/family members can emotionally support people with Alzheimer's and dementia.

1. Don't do everything for me.
2. Listen carefully and figure out the feelings behind what I am saying.
3. Don't nag me. Create a checklist for me that helps me remember. The rest of the world has to use check lists also.
4. Enjoy my personality—I am not the disease of Alzheimer's.
5. Plan outings with me and don’t be embarrassed by whatever I do or say in public.
6. Give me visual clues for memory including a calendar.
7. Sing and joke with me.
8. Bring me into your world.
9. Say one thought at a time.

So Joe, since you are my Alzheimer's sounding board, what would you add to this list to make you feel loved and appreciated?

Carol

Read More

Some Humor for This Month!

I thought that with all the humor of the elections that we, even us with this damn disease could use a laugh. The following is from a friend of mine in Britian, I hope you find the humor as I did.

Bus Ride

>
>
>
>
> A little something for you to get your mind off your troubles for a minute!
>
> ACTUAL AUSTRALIAN COURT DOCKET 12659 ---CASE OF THE PREGNANT LADY
>
>
>
>
> A lady about 8 months pregnant got on a bus. She noticed the man opposite her was smiling at her. She immediately moved to another seat. This time the smile turned into a grin, so she moved again. The man seemed more amused. When on the fourth move, the man burst out laughing, she complained to the driver and he had the man arrested.
>
> The case came up in court. The judge asked the man (about 20 years old) what he had to say for himself.
>
> The man replied, 'Well your Honor, it was like this, when the lady got on the bus, I couldn't help but notice her condition. She sat down under a sign that said, 'The Double Mint Twins are coming' and I grinned. Then she moved and sat under a sign that said,' Logan 's Liniment will reduce the swelling,' and I had to smile. Then she placed herself under a deodorant sign that said, 'William's Big Stick Did the Trick,' and I could hardly contain myself. But, Your Honor, when she moved the fourth time and sat under a sign that said, 'Goodyear Rubber could have prevented this accident'... I just lost it.'
>
>
>

Got to love thos Brits.

God Bless You and This Country of Ours!
Joe

Read More

Crossing The Line

Some of you may have read in other entries of mine of that line that those thaat live is this World of Mine cross. Itt is that point where you cease to be who and what you are and become another entity, if you do not physicallly pass on. Yes they say this is gradual and can take many years, true but sure, it can happen in a day. Here today gone tomorrow. I have over the years since joining this ever growing community of those with dementia have seen it take place just that way. One instance my wife told me of a fellow at one of the sites she works at who has been reading my blog and hopefully gainnned some insight and comfort that he was faultless. HIs mother was fine the one day and the very next (24 hours later), knew crap, nota and required suddenly 24 hour care. So many I have communicated with that suffer have had this take place with them, because I speak (this form) with their loved ones and caregiverss and they tell me of this suddeness. What say you perverers of great wisdom and knowledge, what is that "Duh". MY own life is growing shadowier, forgetting we said grace at dinner, turning on this beast, conversations in the middle of them, physically becoming a poster child for damage of the year or how to screw up your body in one simple lesson. My time is coming when ?????? but it is on its' way. I have told my family the day will come as long as I have any ability to think as who I am, that I will kiss them all and say goodbye and be gone. I believe I have the right to passon with some of me in tact and with some dignity. I refuse to have my family see me lying with my face in my food, as I have seen from working in Assisted living homes when doing computers. Looking into the trap souls of those folks through their eyes made my decision along time ago shoulod I ever be blessed with this disease. There is no cure and most likely will not be one, until they whoever they are talk to US and really learn. For their knowledge of the brain fits in the head of a pin. Bye for now until next time be good to yourselves.

God Bless You and This Country!
Joe

Read More

Humor Comes In Many Forms

The following is an email sent to me by a friend, who undersstandds my sense of humor and since I suffer from both thing in this, I find it funny. Enjoy or don't your chouice




In Pharmacology, all drugs have two names, a trade name and generic name. For example, the trade name of Tylenol also has a generic name of Acetaminophen. Aleve is also called Naproxen. Amoxil is also called Amoxicillin and Advil is also called Ibuprofen.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra. After careful consideration by a team of
government experts, it recently announced that it has settled on the generic name of Mycoxafloppin. Also considered were Mycoxafailin, Mydixadrupin, Mydixarizin, Dixafix, and of course, Ibepokin.
Pfizer Corp announced today that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer. It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one. Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink, and it gives new meaning to the names of "cocktails", "highballs" and just a good old-fashioned "stiff drink". Pepsi will market the new concoction by the name of:
MOUNT & DO.
Thought for the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

Welcome to my World.
God Bless
Joe

Read More

A Couple Of Days To Remember

Well the last coupleki days have ben interestingl have been working with some very peststy people from HBO in the process of making a documentary on folks like us with dementia. I imagine that they willl call ita show on Alszheimers, I hope the y call a documentery on dementia, since there are two many forms and they are different and people think AD is transmittable.It hwas been a strain to say the least, buth they are actually very nice folks, but we cannot let themmm no that. It is hard to tell folks what it is like, little easier to write it, because you cannot seem me or me se you. I do not know what will happen with it if anything but it has been an experiencer, they could have at least left their one crew member here. We hared some real tense moments and some very enjoyable ones. They honored our table by having a turkey dinnner with us, which makes us feel good inside. But they did not eat any of the fat raid we wnt on. Theat means goodies.. WEllso mouch for now may be back soon.

God Bless You and the Country of Ours
Joe

Read More