5 Awesome Smartphone Apps That Every Caregiver Needs

as always we do not promote or recommend any products, you are the ultimate decision maker in you purchases. we try to bring things to aide and possibly be of use to you.

Sure, your smart phone might be a great way to fling disgruntled birds at thieving swine, but it can also be just as useful in helping you care for an elderly parent or a special needs child. Right now, more than three in ten households report that at least one person has served as an unpaid caregiver. Taking this into account, developers have begun to release a wide variety of apps that can make providing care much easier. From scheduling medications to tracking lost loved ones, there’s almost no limit to what these programs can do. So if you have a dependent at home, you should definitely consider downloading these 5 apps.

1)    Med Helper - $3.99. Med Helper provides caregivers with the most comprehensive medication scheduling suite on the market. Available for the Android and iPhone, the app tracks medication, treatment and appointment schedules for your loved one. In addition to alerting you when it’s time to give a patient their pills, Med Helper Pro also tracks your prescription inventory and lets you know when it’s time to get a refill. It even creates a log of past doses that you can export and show to your healthcare professionals. If providing medication is part of your daily routine, this is one app that you need to get.

2)    ICE - $3.99. ICE, by development firm Appventive, is a high-tech “In Case of Emergency” app. It functions just like the diabetic bracelets that people use to inform medical workers about their condition, but the app can convey very detailed information. With just one click, EMT staff or other medical professionals will know the person's conditions, emergency contact numbers and insurance information. You can include phone numbers for doctors, information about allergic reactions and special instructions. Though the app is currently exclusive to the Android operating system, look for it to expand to the iPhone soon.

3)    Pain Care – Free. When you're sitting in the doctor's office, it can be difficult to remember every single thing you wanted to say about how you've been since your last visit. Pain Care, the winner of the “Project HealthDesign,” says it for you. The app, which is available for free on Android, Blackberry and iPhone, is a kind of pain management journal. A pain slider allows patients to rate their level of pain as well as its duration, location, triggers and more. In-depth information like this gives your doctor a clear picture of your condition over time.

4)    GPS Tracking Pro – Free. Caring for a family member who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia can be difficult, especially when they start losing track of their surroundings. A simple walk alone can quickly turn into an emergency if your parent or grandparent forgets how to get back home. The GPS Tracking Pro app will allow your family member to retain their independence by keeping tabs on their location 24 hours a day. Just load the free app onto their Android or iPhone, and you'll be able to track their location from your phone or computer.

5)    Brainwave Tuner - $2.99. Brainwave Tuner can be a useful app for those who suffer from fits, migraines, insomnia and other stressful conditions. Binaural acoustic therapy aims to help people achieve a more relaxed state of mind by coaxing brainwaves to entrain with a gently pulsing audio source. Brainwave Tuner projects special ambient sounds through headphones to help relieve pain and induce sleep. The app is currently available for iPhone and Android phones.

Being a caregiver isn't easy, but these apps can make looking after a loved one with special needs much less trying than it used to be. Apps like these turn your smartphone into an emergency device, a medication scheduler or an acoustic therapy device at the touch of a button, and as technology continues to advance, these apps will only become more helpful. So check out your operating system’s app store today and download a few that you think might be useful in providing care for your family or loved ones. For such a small price, they can be a big help. 

hope you enjoy this and find some useful inforation. You can tell i did not write this, you can read it.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!

joe

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Faces and Names don't always match.

The other day i do not remember when it was my younest daughter and i were siting on the couch talking and I looked at her and could not remember her name. Which is Kathryn. I tried to say it but i just was not able to. Finally it came out and she just looked at me and said you forgot my name, tried to cover it up, but she had me dead to rites. We did laugh about it, but it bothers me. Living with us she understands more about what is happening then the other kids and she just  I think the word is placates me, and says don't worry dad it is ok.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

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Ghost Writer For My Blog!

Tips for Helping Someone With Alzheimer’s Disease Handle Daily Life

Caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease can be a frustrating experience. The person who takes on the role of their nurse, companion and protector must remain patient and flexible when planning and tackling the different practical aspects of the disease. At the same time, they must deal with their own heartbreak and strong emotions.

There are many ways of dealing with everyday routines in such a way that life can run as smoothly as possible for all concerned. Here are just a few suggestions that could help ensure safety and maintain dignity in five ‘typical’ situations.

Communication

The disease erodes communication skills, therefore the person’s words and behaviour may seem, at first, to make little or no sense - they may have trouble understanding what you want to say to them too. This can be extremely frustrating and distressing; however, there are ways to ease the situation. Speak clearly, maintaining eye contact and using simple language and sentence structure. Ask ‘yes or ‘no’ questions and keep your tone respectful and calm.

Never interrupt them when they are speaking, and avoid too many distractions – turn off the radio and try not to hold complicated conversations when you are out on a busy street. Use visual cues. For instance, you could point to the toilet if you want to ask the person if they need to use the bathroom. Try not take it personally. After all, the gentleman who used to be able to confidently arrange all his finances and insurance, including classic car insurance
 for his beautiful vintage mustang, himself every single year, or the lady who ran a busy household single-handedly must now battle this degenerative disease to make even the simplest of basic needs or preferences understood.

Mealtimes

In the earlier stages, the person will be better able to cope with preparing and eating food independently. However, as they grow more dependent on you, it will be up to you to make sure they maintain a healthy, regular diet. Good nutrition is crucial, to avoid physical weakness and infections. Make sure the person is comfortable when eating. Check that dentures fit well and that prescribed drugs are not interfering with certain foods or inhibiting the appetite.

You may need to help the person with the physical act of using a knife and fork – and remind them of table manners if appropriate. Reduce mealtime distractions to a minimum– turn off the phone and TV and clear the table of any unnecessary items, such as magazines or flowers. If you are not able to be with the person when they eat, make sure they know how to prepare the food or heat it up safely.

Medical visits

As with any disease of this seriousness, regular medical visits cannot be avoided. They can be a useful chance to connect with the person’s doctor and medical team and to ask any questions you may have. However, you can only get the most out of these appointments if you prepare the person who has Alzheimer’s disease for them as best as you can.

Try to fix the appointment at a time of day when you know that the person will be at their best and, if possible, when the medical waiting room will be quietest. Bring snacks, a drink, any required medication and an activity to keep the person happy while waiting. Make a list of all the points you want to raise with the doctor in advance – keeping your queries as specific as possible. When in the room, take notes of everything that is said and, if the person wants to answer the doctor themselves, sit yourself behind them so you can quietly nod or shake your head in support of their replies.

The Holidays

Preparing for the holidays can be a bitter-sweet occasion: you remember how the person used to celebrate or participate in holidays of yore. Yet you can still glean happy times from spending holidays with a loved one with Alzheimer’s if you do a little forward planning. Consider what the person used to enjoy about the season and try to include them in the same activities as much as possible. If they used to bake the cake, get them to measure or stir in the ingredients. Let them help you wrap gifts – concentrate on the process rather than the end result and rejoice in their efforts and involvement.

Tone down the decorations, as too much unfamiliar ‘razzle-dazzle’ can cause distress. Avoid lighting candles and other potential safety hazards and do not display replica fruit or berries, as this might prove confusing. Keep music and celebrations low key with plenty of chances for naps and breaks away from the party. Schedule visitors for the person’s best time of day and judge how long they should stay by how the person is coping. Try to have a few visitors on separate days instead of everyone at once if possible.

Sleep

Sleep disturbances can take their toll on both you and the person you are caring for. Often, Alzheimer’s disease can reverse a person’s former sleep patterns, causing drowsiness in the day and periods of wakefulness at night. This can progress until deep nightly sleep is replaced with less restorative round-the-clock naps.

Consider cutting down the person’s caffeine and alcohol intake, especially in the evenings. If they insist on a drink, serve them a soft drink or non-alcoholic wine or beer in their favourite glass. Sleeping pills are generally discouraged for people with Alzheimer’s disease, as they can cause confusion, which can then lead to falls. Instead, plan the day so that the person starts off at their most active, then winds down physically towards bedtime. Establish a bedtime routine and leave a night light on in their room for comfort.

Disclaimer: The avobe was not written by me but for this blog. I have full written permission from the writer to claim credit and post at my will. We will be working on other posts in the future.  When you see me end it with joe (ir) you will know that the post is a collaboration. I think I should name my ghost writterbut person requests to stay in background.

Hope you enjoy and find use in this as we continue this journey.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe (ir) 

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Alzheimer's Disease Research Review

'via Blog this'
Summary Look at some advances.

God Bless,
Joe

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Welcome to Our World, Bobby Vee.

Bobby Vee was a pop singer in the 1960s, diagnosed with Alzheimer's a year ago, he is now 69. See not an old farts disease. I welcmoe him to this World of Ours so that he knows, should he ever read this blog that he is not alone he now has a family of millions and growing by the minute.  So welcome friend.
I also learned last evening, I think it was, that my Son-in-laws father has been diagnosed with Stage 1 Alzheimer's six months ago. They just found out. The man is I think 10 years my junior.
Looks like what we have said all along from the beginning of this blog, Alzheimer's is not jus an old persons disease. Which the Alz.org finally in recent weeks has said, some folks are just slower than others.
My day has just been a day, mostly sleeping this morning, finally getting on this beast and ready to go off somewhere else.
If you do not want to comment, you can just rate a post, check interesting, thank you and what ever the other one is. At least that will let me know that the posts are read. Thanks for being there for me.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

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I wonder why I bother to share my Journey!

As many of you know i get rather testy at times and just fell like saying to hell with it, you do not need to know this or how I feel.  Then i get an email like the one tha follows, this is why I keep trying to give us a voice.  Parts are edited since it came to my private email so no name of way to tell who it is from. But i did write back to the person, took me a short time then longer. I asked for a pic and name and dates for my memory page, but like soooooo many of you i receive nothin back. I post the pics so people will know that these folks lived, they gave, they touch others lives and that should be celebrated. well to the email i am getting on my soap opera box. by the way this has been on my todo list for sometime, i am quick.I was asked if i filled out the facebook form, YOU BET YOUR SWEET A__, I did.

____________________________________________________________________

Hello, My name is xxxxxx, and I'm a nursing student studying in xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxx (Canada).  I watched The Alzheimer's Project documentary, and was very touched by your story.  I know you have probably heard this from so many other people who have read your story online, or watched this same documentary, but I would like to thank you so much for contributing your own experiences and stories to helping understand and find a cure for Alzheimer's.  I was asked to write an essay for one of my courses at school on anything I wanted related to disease and disease concepts.  I chose Alzheimer's because my grandfather passed away from A.D. 10 years ago.  I never had the chance to really get to know him, since his diagnosis occurred when I was only 2 years old.  By the time I was old enough to have memories of my own, he had already progressed to the very late stages of the disease.  He only spoke Italian, which I did not, thus I had very limited communication with him.  My memories with this man consist of visiting him at the nursing home, where he stared at me with blank eyes. I fed him and walked him around, and told him stories.  When he passed away, I felt like a part of me had been ripped out of my chest, and it was difficult to accept that I had not known him better, and could do nothing about that. I appreciate hearing from someone who can recount his own experiences with this disease. I do not have personal experience with this disease, and was only an observer to something that took away someone I loved.  However, I believe that it takes great strength to explain what it feels like to go through something that takes away from the person you have grown to become.  I do not know what has happened to you or your family, or if you crosses "the line" since the documentary was filmed. I would only like to thank you, quite simply, for giving me a story that my grandfather never was able to. So thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!

joe

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Alzheimer's is relentless!

Well it has been awhile since last i was here. Things in my world are getting very disarrayed. I find i cannot even be sure of what time it is each day or exacty what i am doing. Alzheimer's is working hard and i am still being stubborn but it is winning this battle, in the end i win. Mly head hurts alot these days and i do not know why asprins do not help it just feels like someone or thingh is n my head squeexing everything together.  Well maybe that is good, keeps my brain cesll together. I am finding it more difficult to post or even to figure out why i am at the compute most days. I sit and stare at it alot but it does not say anuthing to me, damned thing. I am totallly lost on the days now and even almost completely unaware of when someone is or is not in the house, i think they have just gone and they just got home or never left. Very frustrating and i do not even want to think about it which has be a bit miffed over things. i am rambling time to go be good to yoursleves.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

PS, I guess things did not go well for Alan at Mt. Denali and he is off to number five now. I was told weather was realy dangeous on the mountain.

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Your Help & Advice is NEEDED.

I have a decession to make and i am asking you to help me with this. Now i know many of you do not leave comments or only once in awhile, i have found that person anonymous on my site, you know the one that tells the media something or politicians heard it from. But however you chooose to answer please do.

Some of you may remember the short clip in my tiny part of The Alzheimer's Project, where me and my phycologist were talking, he was the good looking young guy with the nice hair.We met the other day, yes i still see him, the poor guy needs help with his car payments. He is very aware of my blog, the documentary, my book and the number of people you have helped me reach. If you use the resources on the side and go from one to the other and use there resources you will eventually reach over 1200 sites for caregivers, information on various forms of dementia, different blogs of those suffering, charities and the rest, all because of suggestions you have passed on to me.

Here is the skinny as they say, whoever they are, Dr. Cain has suggested tapping my sessions now that thingss are going to hell in a hand basket and posting them on my blog. I can post them there or to my You Tube account. You all know i hold nothing back and some of ours sessions are alot livelier and wordy then my posts. He has no problem with it, i have no problem with it, Lynn is undecided at this thime.  We are thinking it will give a better face to the disease not just words, but you get to see my Bright Shinning Face and drool I know it is tough being me. But you couls start to see the true reality of this bastardly disease.

YOUR COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS PLEASE!

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!

joe

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Alzheimer's The Relentless Predator!!!!

I have not talked much about me lately, been trying to give you other info.  But this blog is about my journey into neverland. Yes it is a voygae to places I do not know and people that look familar but yet are strangers.

I have been pretty lucky so far, but that is runnning out, the physical affects, my emotions and mental status are starting to change rapidly for me. Lynn has to wakee me up because I fall asleep while eating. I just stop in the middle of things, I sleep at the drop of a leaf and i forget what the hell i am talking about. My hearing is gettting worse, it never has been perfect, but the words I hear from people are becooming completly diferrent from what they are saying. Mornings use to be fine for me, not anymore, I get up still around 8am and out of bed, feed the she devil bird, my attack fish, take my meds hopefully, that all takes maybe an hour. And there I am sound asleep on the couch by 9:30 or so and completely unaware really of things until after noon.  Not that i become a mental genius suddenly but the fog clears for awhil not long anymore. I guess the 8 year path is right i am now in about year 6 or so and things are going away from me or I am going away. Not sure anymore. But you folks have been a blessing in my Life.  The Alzheimer's and Frontal Temporal Dementia are doing there job and getting much better at it. To all that bought my book Thank You, your money that I received has mostly been donated to The Alzheimer's Research Foundation.

so much for today, you all take care of yourselves.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!

joe

PS> Last I Knew Alan Rogers was about to ascend Mt. Denali in Alaska, i think it is, and upon doing so that will be the 4th summit in his 7 Summit Climb for Alzheimer's. God be withyou Allen.

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New Tests Ahead

Saw a new nerologist yesterday, she confirmed the tremor diagnosis, last one referred us to her. Also have a some type of nerve tests schedulled, she thinks there maybe nervve damage in my hands and feet. By the way the one that asked me if the last neuro was good looking, OH YES. This one is ok. Also being tested for sleep apnea, which we know I have but need new equipment means new measurements and the rest of the crap. The AD and FTD are not enough, now reach into the bag and see what else you find.

I am trying windows writer for this post not sure how it will work.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!

joe

PS. In case I forget to post it Happy July 4th.

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I think this month will end, I hope!

Crap ass month so far, as some of you may have read my niece died a week or so ago and last week sometimme i lost my two prize KOI and then i am told I have orthostatic tremors, never say what the hellll else will happen.

Many of you know I was honrod to share the silver screen with six other lovely people in the HBO special, The Alzheimer's Project, Memory the Loss Tapes.  I considered us, although i never said anything as The Magnificant Seven.  Well Ms. Fannie Davis has passed on,I was advised today, i still need to get her pic and dates and anothers up on my Memorial Page.  I am glad to tell you that as of this afternoon Ms. Yolanda Sanmartino (the womaninthe mirror) is still kicking and doing well at Cherrywood Nursing Home. Just the two of us left, seems though we are all staying in the 8 or so year time line.

My book has made it to Europe, hopefully it will help someone over there.It humbles a pain in the ass like me that my blog, my story and my book have gotten so much attention world wide.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

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Alzheimer's Folk Do Not Want To Talk About It!!!!

This is actuaaly about denial this post. I read on caregiver sites, other blogs and comments on mine, "how do I get mom or dad to admit they have Alzheimer's, they are in denial".

Well my point of view, you just don't. What is the big deal if they say Yes dam it I have Alzheimer's. Does that validate YOU in some way. Frick they know something is wrong, wake up. Your job as their caregiver is TO BE THEIR FOR THEM, not to make them agree to having Alzheimer's. We know we have a problem and it will get worse.

Yes I am yelling at you. Imagine yourself being handed a DEATH SENTENCE, that is what Alzheimer's is. Would You go around skipping down the street saying oh goody I have Alzheimer's; or do you think you just might keep your mouth shut and go about your business the best you could? That is what I choose to do and many folks that I know that have the disease have choosen to do. But I tell you on this blog what is happening to me so you get some insight into our world of frustration, terror and brain fog. I do not know how everyone feels, but i do not consider myself any more important than anyone else with this disease, we walk together.

Forget whether your patient, loved one, etc. accepts or talks about having Alzheimer's. They have it, is not that enough said? Help them do not hoover and smother them, be there and not in their face. As you can tell this denial shit getss to me, because I wonder who really is in denial, the person with the disease or the person saying that one is in denial.

Enough of my ranting.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

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In Case You Have Not Noticed!!!!

I am giving my book away, for a limited time, FREE, you just have to pay shipping and handling. Also part of the s&h will be going to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Fnd.   I never wrote the book to get rich only to raise awareness for my side of the fence.  If giving the book away helps achieve that great, and along the way you will be helping the ADRF and it's work, plus raising awareness.


God Bless & Keep You and This Country of Ours!!!!!!
joe

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Where is this day going?

I am sitting here trying to figure outt wher this day has gone so far and what did I do. I know I at least got up because I am tpying this. Things are getting more and more confusing and I cannot be sure of anything that I may do. I guess this is one of those what the hell posts, because I am not even sure why i am doing this. Plain fact my brain and i seem to be going more and more in diffferent directions. Maybe time has come for Lynn to post for me. I just tell her best I dna ow i am feeling and let her put it into words. At least the speeeling will be much better.
I am starting to feeel more and more detached from everyone and everything. Good old AD & FTD are hard at workand doing what they do best. Well later i am completely at a loss right now.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!!!!
joe

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Yesterday i had blood drawn for tests for my physical next week. Then I spent the rest of the morning with my phsycologist . It was interesting, i have seen mim for nearly 7 years or so with breaks. We were talingi about the so called new advances in Alzheimer's and the new guide lines for diag. and treating. Funny part about it is as we talked he remembered I had said most of this years agao. And it has been posted on this blog in various forms over the years. I dound that all to be interesting that these so called experts only needed to talk to me or someone like me with the disease to get these startling new ideas and would have cost nothing. But what the fuck do we know, we are sick and mindless. But it does add credability to sites like mine, that we know what they cannot figure out.
I had another doctor write me recently, and the gist of what he said as I could understand it and questioning him on what he said is that he basically in simple terms agrees about the profession, and pharma companies, they all have their heads up their collettive asses and only promote drugs for money sake, because no matter how you want to cut it, the drugs DO NOT WORK! It is still about 8 years from diag. to the end drugs or no drugs. Our paper here had an article today about a former mayor, whose wife was diag. 7 years ago and just died. I know we hear about the 15 to 20 year sufferers, but they only exist because someone was smart enough to notice it in its infancy stages. The ten or so years of true EOA which most pros call DDSS, my term for Distraticed, Depressed, Stress, Syndrome.
I have my moments, what is difficult is getting what is in my brain cell, down to my fingers and then getting them to type what it is that is their. I have to do it quickly or if I think to long ( 5-6  seconds) it is gone and never gets said.
I know from some mail i got i insulted the Alz.org, but i want you to know that was intentional. Yes they help caregivers, they have done shit for me and I have contacted them many times. Even my local San Diego Chapter, who I gave copies of my book to for their lending library. And they wanted me to help with things and with the State, YES YES YES i said. Their ultimate answer and reuests have been complete silence, and I have heard this from others, including some Drs. I know their are good people working for them and my attack if you will is not on them, but what seems to be an organizzational lax of understanding the sufferer. Oh yes they know it is not pretty, but it does not seem that they have the first idea of the real terror in our minds and the loneliness and the difficulty we have telling anyone, because we know you do not know or understand this hell, you are not in it.
Time to shut up, i am getting to angry and feel like telling most everyone out there to fuck off, but we are family and I need you and I think you need me also while I can spout off and make some sense.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

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Dear Carol

Thank you for the post and kind words.  Well you assked me and you know me and my mouth so it goes babe:
10: Do not hover over me.
11: No sudden changes.
12: Do not ask how I am doing constantly.
13: Watch your being needy.
14: Do not patronize me.
15: GIVE ME MY SPACE AND QUIET TIME.

Now that you hrut my brain cell, I hope you are happy. Herb needs to dump ice water on you.

By the way folks there is a new email box, put you email in there and you will be notified each time a post is made, little easier. However comby anytime you are welcome.

God Bless & Keep You & This Country of Ours!
joe

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Old Mems and New Ones

I have found that old memories aer stil there but they have no time stamp you might say, I can tell you about them, but part of the probelm is that two or three may get mixed together, facts are pretty good, but knowing exactly  which memory they belong to, well you have to guess. New memories, I have only about 2 days worth, they do not stay for long at all. In fact have trouble with telling you about this morning even.

The wife colored her hair today, did it this morning so I am told, I did not notice.  Later we were up in our office, that sounds so officey doesn"t it, just a extra bedroom with the computer.  But that makes us Yuppies we have an office. I was looking at this woman in front of me and knew I thought I knew her but something was not right. I had her turn around and finally my mind put back some old color in her hair and I knew it was Lynn. Said you colored your hair, YES, when this morning, oooh i said.

God Bless & Keep You & This Great Country of Ours!
joe

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