Hmmm So Much time, so many reasons, but let's not go down that road again. Did'ya miss us, we're still here, sorta. . . .

Well, 4 years later, and we're still dealing.  Good and Bad days.  Yet another breakthrough today:  https://www.yahoo.com/health/were-we-getting-alzheimers-wrong-new-study-could-114577657447.html    People always tell me, get Mom in the study but realistically, we were lucky enough to celebrate her 85th birthday and she's still ambulatory.  She's talking, sometimes the conversations make more sense than others but she's not going to understand or cooperate.  That ship, I think has sailed.  I'm not saying she couldn't have treatments if they are available but the fear of the unknown ramps up and there's very little help she would give in the way that most studies are structured.  Now if they wanted to make the study work with someone with Alzheimer's, they should meet them in their own environment.  Now there's a thought. 

What is Alzheimer's? That is the question.

Great video provided on Alzheimer's Reading Room

Speaking Alzheimerian or The Language of Alzheimer's

Thursday, September 22, 2011

     It's been a while granted, major computer problems, not  completely solved at this time.  Suffices to say, that these problems render it almost unimaginably difficult to type . . . hence the problem.  But having said that, if you have any interest in Alzheimer's, as a patient, caregiver, physician or family member you just gotta read the Alzheimer's Reading Room, it's a jewel, a comfort and a wealth of information.  Hence, I've included a link to today's topic.  It's true, it's real, I live it and it helps me to get through the day or a visit with my mom.  I've added two quotes to the article that seem to say it all. . . . .

     http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/09/alzheimers-world-and-art-of-lying.html

"When you get to Alzheimer's World you have to learn how to speak Alzheimerian. A new and different language that always starts with a very simple basic premise -- always do what is best for the person living with dementia."

"Well, the language in Alzeheimer's World is also different and sooner or later you need to learn how to speak Alzheimerian (Alz-heim-er-ian)."

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Combination Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease (Aricept and Namenda)

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Combination Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease (Aricept and Namenda)

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Combination Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease (Aricept and Namenda)

Alzheimer's Reading Room: Combination Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease (Aricept and Namenda)

Dental Care Hard to Come By>> > > Why?

   Now I have a great dentist, I trust him, he's competent, pain free and honest.  I can't take my mom there because he's one of those radical maverick dentists who refuses to have his treatments dictated to by an insurance company.  I like this about him but, it's not my money.  Mom's in a HMO.  What does tis mean, well, it means that the dentist who's across the street from her apartment will only take PPO patients not HMO.  It means that I've got a long list of potential dentists and no way of knowing if any of them should be trusted with my mom.  She's a fine patient, although she won't recall why she's there or needs to be and will forget that the visit occurred, I want to make sure she has good consistent care and because she can't remember, how can she tell me whether she's treated well.  I called several dentists, all near her, some like the HMO hater, won't see her, others don't answer their phones, preferring patients to leave messages which they return days later, still others are located in areas I find myself hesitating to traverse without protection.  Hence the dilemma.   My dentist will see her almost immediately, answers the phone immediately and has an emergency number if you need it.  However, he'd like to be the one to determine what she needs, on the schedule that works for her and he'd like to get paid a not unreasonable amount to do the work.  Of course, we are now scheduled for an appointment, the soonest was August 18, while I worry that she is not receiving what she needs, when she needs it or whether her insurance is forcing us to a devil's bargain.

Communication in Alzy World

Communication in Uncle Alzy's World

I love Alzheimer's Reading Blog, tons of information presented by a caregiver from his perspective in the Real World.  Read how to communicate in mom's world.  You accept what is and embrace the positive.  We have to change since she cannot.