Middlefield Post
It's Your 'WellBeing'
Jan. 21, 2015
Partnering Versus Caregiving By Nancy Hrivnak
Jennifer Brush, local consultant, speech pathlogish and author of "I Care".
By Christina Grand Porter
“I Care” by Geauga County author, consultant and speech pathologist Jennifer Brush would have made it easier for me to lovingly care for aging family members. I wish I’d read it sooner. Even though Alzheimer’s was never a primary diagnosis in my family members, the insights in this book would have helped me care for them better. Brush has worked as a direct-care coach and earned her master’s of arts degree in speech and language pathology and a certificate of clinical competence for speech and language pathology. She understands the needs of care partners: individuals, families and organizations engaged in dementia care. One premise of “I Care” is that anyone helping a person with dementia works in partnership with the person who has dementia. It follows that both parties benefit in this caring relationship. Brush personally and warmly translated her findings from nearly 25 years of research and experience into well-crafted, teachable recommendations. She speaks internationally at workshops and conferences and also shares her therapeutic techniques in print. In her mostrecent book, “I Care,” Brush and co-author Kerry Mills help dementia-engaged families understand unalterable physical changes in the brain, find needed help and communicate effectively with someone with memory loss. “Families can help the person succeed, function independently and live a full life,” Brush said. Following are examples of simple tips in “I Care” to get you started to make the most of each day with someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Create a memory center in your home. Rather than putting excess demands on an impaired memory, help a person with dementia by compensating for cognitive changes. Find a centrally located spot in your home. Take down wall decor, eliminate clutter and create an area that is easily noticed. Items to place there include a large, easy-to-read clock with a white face and black numbers; a calendar where completed days are progressively crossed off and a telephone with large buttons. Picture phones have room for a picture of the person next to the memory
dial button. This is best for people with significant memory challenges. A memory center should also include a notebook and pens; emergency information like ambulance, fire and police station numbers posted in large print; and health information about the person with dementia for emergency personnel. The health information form should contain name of physician; diagnoses; list of medications; list of allergies; copy of insurance card; and names and phone numbers of friends or relatives to contact. Make it part of your daily routine to go to the memory center several times a day with your loved one who has cognitive impairment. Show the person the schedule, notes, phone and clock and ask them to read them. Help them to develop a new habit of checking the memory center whenever he or she would like to know the events for the day. This will help reduce anxiety and reassure your loved one. With practice, it will be the “go to” place for important information such as the time, date, list of things to do, daily schedule, visitors for the day, etc. Brush will discuss “Everyday Tips for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care” in late April at the Middlefield Library, 440632-1961. Other tips she will elaborate on include giving up the need to be right to create harmony; showing affection, even when frustrated or annoyed, to remind both parties that there is still mutual love and including the person with dementia in conversation. For instance, if a son comes to visit and asks how Dad is doing, encourage him to direct the question to his father. If a waiter asks you what your husband would like to order, look at and ask your husband if he is in the mood for his favorite meal. “It is a wonderful thing to know that people love us and want to care for us, but most people still prefer to care for themselves and enjoy their independence,” Brush said. “People with Alzheimer’s disease have many strengths and abilities. When we focus on what people still have, rather than what they have lost, we have a much richer life.” To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias visit www.brushdevelopment.com/icare.php.
Sharing the Road Safely
Ohio Department of transportation statistics show that more than 65 percent of all Ohio traffic deaths occur in rural areas and 50 percent of those deaths are on country roads. Ohio reports, on average, more than 120 buggy accidents a year. With winter here, icy and wet roads compound safety issues, so this is a good time to stop and think about sharing the road safely. A normal speed for horse-drawn buggies is between five and eight miles per hour. Horse-drawn vehicles may be even slower when pulling large farm equipment or crossing intersections because horses will eventually become tired. The driver of the horse-drawn vehicle may have restricted vision when pulling large loads of hay or other equipment and may not be able to see cars behind them, so car drivers need to be extra cautious when passing horse-drawn farm equipment. Remember that even the fastest horse is slow compared to a car. The horses are well trained but can still get spooked by a sudden and unusually loud noise, being splashed, or other unexpected factors. Think safety first; be patient and allow more time to get to your destination when you know there might be buggies on the road, which in this area of the county, means all the time. Many drivers don’t realize how quickly they will be on a buggy’s bumper that is ahead of them on the road. Knowing safe “closure time” is a factor that could save lives. “Closure time” is the time a driver has to recognize and respond when nearing other vehicles. Imagine traveling at 55 mph and coming upon a car traveling at 45 mph that is 500 feet (about 1/10 of mile) ahead. After six seconds, you will have
412 feet to react before colliding with that car. However, if traveling at 55 mph and coming upon a horse-drawn vehicle traveling at 5 mph that is 500 feet ahead, you will have 44 feet, just 6 seconds, to react before colliding. The wisest choice is to immediately, upon seeing the slow moving vehicle emblem, slow down and prepare to pass with caution. (This information was found at www.dot.state. oh.us/districts/D11/Pages/AmishSafety. aspx.) Always leave some space between your vehicle and a buggy stopped at a stop sign or light because buggies may back up a few feet after coming to a complete stop. A good rule of thumb is to stop your vehicle far enough back so that you can see where the rear wheels of the buggy touch the road. This should give you 10 to 12 feet of clearance between you and the buggy. This rule does not apply to drivers of vans or mini-vans; they have to remember to always stay back and allow a generous amount of room. Last July in Huntsburg, a 13-yearold boy was taken to the hospital after his Amish cart was rear-ended by a Jeep. Both vehicles were headed in the same direction on Chardon-Windsor Road when the driver of the Jeep rear-ended the teen in
his homemade pony-drawn Amish cart. Highway Patrol officers say both vehicles went off the right side of the road; the boy was ejected and the pony had to be put down. The driver was obviously distracted; doing something else while driving and not watching the road. We are all multitaskers today, but when it comes to life and death, the texts, phone calls and other things can wait. When you are driving, just drive. Think back to your old drivers’ education classes when you were told to keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road and do it, even though you’re now an experienced driver who is completely comfortable behind the wheel. The website, Mission to Amish People, w w w. m a p m i n i s t r y. o rg / n e w s - a n d testimonies/amish-buggy-accidents-, tracks Amish buggy accidents throughout the country and has some chilling photos of mangled buggies to remind everyone of how severe car and buggy collisions can be. Another thing to consider is slowing down and giving walking Amish a wide berth as you pass so as not to splash them on these cold, wet days. Be kind. Be patient. Share the road.