How Extraordinary Americans Do Extraordinary Things
By alzheimersideas Published Aug 27, 2007Click to contact me
According to the United States government Labor Day, celebrates the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of America. Dementia caregivers certainly meet these criteria.
Because over 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, there are approximately 10 million caregivers attending to them. This is a hard job that they did not sign up for but was thrust upon them. Honor them this Labor Day for all the difficult work they do.
The first reason to honor a caregiver is for the financial burden they incur when caring for a person with dementia. First the family has consulted an Elder law attorney to get all the finances in order. Most likely the caregiver had to cut back on the hours of paid employment. Despite using all the resources out there, all expenses for the care of a dementia person will not be covered. That means go without, or pay for necessary items out of pocket.
The second reason to pay tribute to ones caring for someone with dementia is their resourcefulness. Caregivers are good at coming up with unique strategies for managing and paying for the supervision of their loved one. They may get help from attending a support group in person or online. However, they are the ones ultimately responsible for a workable plan of care.
Third is recognizing that many perform physically demanding aspects of a dementia persons' care. Many do the bathing, feeding and toileting of their family member with dementia. These tasks are difficult because many with dementia are confused and combative.
Next, these caregivers should be honored for all the time they devote to all aspects of a dementia persons' life. As just mentioned, most caregivers are responsible for the physical aspects of care. But they also must engage their loved ones in meaningful activities throughout the day and sometimes well into the night. Fortunately many take advantage of adult day care to ease the burden. Unfortunately some dementia folks refuse to participate in or have behaviors that preclude them from attending these worthwhile programs.
The fifth reason for honoring those caring for a dementia person is all the time they devote to this job. The caregiver is most likely responsible for everything from cleaning to cooking to shopping to yard work. The list seems endless. These tasks are even more difficult because while the caregiver is doing them, he must also keep the dementia person safe.
According to a report published by the national Alzheimer's Association, ten million caregivers provided 83 billion dollars worth of care in 2005.So this Labor Day while you are relaxing or celebrating the end of summer, think about those 10 million dementia caregivers and all the under appreciated hard work they do, everyday, seven days a week, sometimes 24 hours a day. If you know someone with this challenging task, call them, thank them and offer a helping hand.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Do this, and prevent dementia
Susan Berg,author of,Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities... for the Memory Challenged, Loved Ones, and Professionals,explores this simple way to prevent dementia
Over 5 million people in the US now have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Countless others are affected by this. Don’t you wish you could do something to prevent yourself from developing dementia? Wouldn’t you like to prevent others from getting dementia? You can.
Here is one thing you can do right now to stop the spread of this disease. Eat a healthy diet and tell others to do the same!What does this mean?A brain-healthy diet includes lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains, fish, good fats such as olive oil rather than saturated and trans fats, and lean meats -- although meat consumption should be kept to a minimum,
One such diet is the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating, plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of good red wine, among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.Why does this diet work?This eating pattern has been associated with a lower level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation — a change in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) that makes it more likely to build up deposits in your arteries. No build up of fatty deposits in the brain’s arteries means no dementiaStudies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, which are consumed in the Mediterranean diet, lower triglycerides and may provide an anti-inflammatory effect helping to stabilize the blood vessel lining. No inflammation of the brain’s blood vessel lining means no dementia.
Red wine has an aspirin-like effect, reducing the blood's ability to clot, and also contains antioxidants. The fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants. The Mediterranean diet typically includes some red wine and many fruits and vegetables. Red wine is consumed only in moderation. This means no more than one 5-ounce glass of wine daily for women (or men over age 65), and no more than two 5-ounce glasses of wine daily for men under age 65. Any more than this increases the risk of health problems, including increased risk of certain types of cancer. More antioxidants for the brain and reduced clots in the brain mean no dementia.In other words, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Limit your intake of red meat. Eat fish instead(especially salmon) but not fried or laden with butter or heavy sauces. Consume healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and canola oil (but use these in moderation because of their high calorie content). Reduce or eliminate saturated fat and trans fats (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) from your diet. Read food labels to see what you're really buying. Follow this diet plan and significantly reduce your chance of developing dementia. Persuade others to follow this diet as well.
Make sure to consult with your doctor before starting any diet.
Over 5 million people in the US now have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Countless others are affected by this. Don’t you wish you could do something to prevent yourself from developing dementia? Wouldn’t you like to prevent others from getting dementia? You can.
Here is one thing you can do right now to stop the spread of this disease. Eat a healthy diet and tell others to do the same!What does this mean?A brain-healthy diet includes lots of fruits, veggies and whole grains, fish, good fats such as olive oil rather than saturated and trans fats, and lean meats -- although meat consumption should be kept to a minimum,
One such diet is the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet incorporates the basics of healthy eating, plus a splash of flavorful olive oil and perhaps a glass of good red wine, among other components characterizing the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.Why does this diet work?This eating pattern has been associated with a lower level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation — a change in LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) that makes it more likely to build up deposits in your arteries. No build up of fatty deposits in the brain’s arteries means no dementiaStudies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, which are consumed in the Mediterranean diet, lower triglycerides and may provide an anti-inflammatory effect helping to stabilize the blood vessel lining. No inflammation of the brain’s blood vessel lining means no dementia.
Red wine has an aspirin-like effect, reducing the blood's ability to clot, and also contains antioxidants. The fruits and vegetables also contain antioxidants. The Mediterranean diet typically includes some red wine and many fruits and vegetables. Red wine is consumed only in moderation. This means no more than one 5-ounce glass of wine daily for women (or men over age 65), and no more than two 5-ounce glasses of wine daily for men under age 65. Any more than this increases the risk of health problems, including increased risk of certain types of cancer. More antioxidants for the brain and reduced clots in the brain mean no dementia.In other words, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Limit your intake of red meat. Eat fish instead(especially salmon) but not fried or laden with butter or heavy sauces. Consume healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts and canola oil (but use these in moderation because of their high calorie content). Reduce or eliminate saturated fat and trans fats (also known as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) from your diet. Read food labels to see what you're really buying. Follow this diet plan and significantly reduce your chance of developing dementia. Persuade others to follow this diet as well.
Make sure to consult with your doctor before starting any diet.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Stop this, prevent dementia
Over 5.1 million people in the United States have dementia. Many of them did this in the past. This probably increased their chance of getting dementia five fold.Also this likely puts into effect a vicious cycle of artery damage, clotting, and increased risk of stroke causing mental decline, writes researcher A. Ott, MD, a medical microbiologist with Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands.
What is this you ask. It is smoking. Smoking not only increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack or developing lung cancer or emphysema, but it also increases your risk of developing dementia.
Higher rates of mental decline are found in both men and in women whether they have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer's disease or not. Education level does not matter either.
The number of years a person smoked dramatically increases their rate of mental decline.
Therefore we have another reason to quir smoking. There is substantial evidence that chronic tobacco use is harmful to the brain and speeds up onset of Alzheimer's disease, Ott says.
Every cigarette actually does do a little bit of damage.
Decrease your risk of developing dementia and stop smoking now
For information on how to quit, visit WEB MD
What is this you ask. It is smoking. Smoking not only increases your risk of having a stroke or heart attack or developing lung cancer or emphysema, but it also increases your risk of developing dementia.
Higher rates of mental decline are found in both men and in women whether they have a family history of dementia or Alzheimer's disease or not. Education level does not matter either.
The number of years a person smoked dramatically increases their rate of mental decline.
Therefore we have another reason to quir smoking. There is substantial evidence that chronic tobacco use is harmful to the brain and speeds up onset of Alzheimer's disease, Ott says.
Every cigarette actually does do a little bit of damage.
Decrease your risk of developing dementia and stop smoking now
For information on how to quit, visit WEB MD
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Welcome to dementia views you can use
Thank you for stopping by. In the weeks to come, I plan to share practical information about dementia prevention, delayed onset and strategies for maintaining the highest level of function for those who already have the disease. I welcome questions. I invite you to visit my website
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
http://www.alzheimersideas.com
Friday, August 10, 2007
How to educate yourself about dementia
Finding accurate information about dementia can be overwhelming. There are so many places to look.
Latest research shows that there may be no such thing as ‘normal age-related memory loss’. All forms of memory loss now appear to be due to a dementia. Thus it is important to educate yourself about dementia because it will affect someone you know
Of course, there are over 5 million Americans who currently have dementia. For those folks there are treatment options, but there are also simple interventions that can be used to maintain the remaining cognitive skills of those afflicted.
What if someone you know already has dementia, what are the treatment options for him/her? What else besides drugs can be used effectively?
One thing both Dr Janice Funk and Dr Paul Raia of the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Association recommend is to keep the mind, of a dementia person, active. An excellent way to do this is to use a tool developed by Susan Berg. This tool is a book specially designed for the person with dementia, their loved ones and all involved professionals. The name of the book is Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals
To order this book visit http://www.alzheimersideas.com
Latest research shows that there may be no such thing as ‘normal age-related memory loss’. All forms of memory loss now appear to be due to a dementia. Thus it is important to educate yourself about dementia because it will affect someone you know
Of course, there are over 5 million Americans who currently have dementia. For those folks there are treatment options, but there are also simple interventions that can be used to maintain the remaining cognitive skills of those afflicted.
What if someone you know already has dementia, what are the treatment options for him/her? What else besides drugs can be used effectively?
One thing both Dr Janice Funk and Dr Paul Raia of the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Association recommend is to keep the mind, of a dementia person, active. An excellent way to do this is to use a tool developed by Susan Berg. This tool is a book specially designed for the person with dementia, their loved ones and all involved professionals. The name of the book is Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals
To order this book visit http://www.alzheimersideas.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
