Living with Alzheimer's

Living with

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Alzheimer’s

How Alzheimer’s changed family’s roles Page 2F

Studies show new hope for those at risk for Alzheimer’s Page 3F

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A special supplement to The Daily Nonpareil

Decisions of a caregive Page 5F

2F Sunday, October 31, 2010

Understanding Alzheimer’s

The Daily Nonpareil

Alzheimer’s changed family’s roles Editor’s note: Ruth Ann Grimsley mother, Alice Jean (Koobs) Grimsley, battled Alzheimer’s Disease for more than six years.

Grimsley was asked by The Daily Nonpareil to tell her story about the struggle children have becoming caretakers to parents.

From the hope and struggles to the always changing roles, Grimsley said, she was grateful to be the one taking care of her mother.

“I was so blessed to have the time I did with her, diseased or not,” Grimsley said. “It was my honor and privilege to be able to care for her.”

RUTH ANN GRIMSLEY For The Daily Nonpareil

When my niece, Ginny, was about 3 years old, she was busy in the living room playing with her favorite doll, Wendy Lou. My mother and older sister were sitting at the dining room table with a pot of fresh coffee.

Ginny came into the room with the most perplexed look on her face and asked, “Mom, when you’re the grandma and I’m the mom, who’s gonna be the kid?”

I think about that story a lot these days.

Life is all about naturally changing roles in the family dynamic as my niece so cleverly discovered at the age of 3. A family unit is a lifelong series of changing roles as a normal part of growing up.

Little did I know the role changes that lay ahead in our family after my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s on May 31, 2005. We were mother and daughter for 44 years, until that day. Those roles have changed several times since then.

Everyone’s Alzheimer’s story is different. Mine started in 2004 on a Sunday in late April.

Mom was the pianist at church and had been for many years.

She went to the piano to begin the first song, looked at the keyboard and had no idea what to do. She got up and walked out of the church. She was upset and frustrated and wasn’t making much sense. I took her to the emergency room for tests, thinking she could be having a stroke. The CT scans and other tests came back with no stroke evidence.

While we were waiting for

Submitted photo

Alice J. Grimsley at her 80th birthday party holding her youngest great-grandson, William. the tests, I called her pharmacist to get her list of medications. We found she had not been taking her meds for several months, so we attributed the event to not taking her medications. We kept our distance, while keeping a close eye on her.

I moved in full-time and managed her meds since 2004.

We were hopeful that once she was back on her medications, she would be OK. She got better, but there were other signs and events that led us to a PET scan a year later. That was a formality for me. I lived with her on a day-to-day basis and knew enough to know the devastating news the test would confirm.

In most books on the subject, you will find a list of symptoms used to help family members and close friends tell if it might be time to get a professional diagnosis. The lists range from three to 10 items. Dr. Charles Adkins in the book “The

Alzheimer’s Answer Book” groups them into three major categories. They are as follows: ■ Behavioral and Emotional Changes – Docile people can become aggressive and physically aggressive. Calm, easy-going personalities disappear and angry, mean spirited agitators take their place. Mom was a very independent person and a very private person. She started hiding things from me and lying about things. Mostly because she was confused and didn’t always know how to answer simple questions. That would set her off on a tirade, not her personality at all.

■ Loss of the ability to perform routine daily tasks – Alzheimer’s affected people lose, to varying degrees, the ability to do even the most routine tasks as the illness progresses. They may start by having trouble preparing meals, not being able to balance a checkbook or even just checking the

answering machine for messages. Mom was known for her ironing. She would start to iron after a break and the iron would be cool (auto shutoff). She would assume the iron was broke and go buy a new one. We had 12 or more irons at one time, all working fine.

■ Changes in the ability to think and reason – Alzheimer’s impairs a person’s ability to figure things out, to complete tasks they once could do without effort. They have difficulty getting the right words out. Instead of asking when the funeral is, Mom will ask when the casket is going to be. They confuse familial relationship connections. They assume different roles. If it is the mother with Alzheimer’s, as in my case, she would start to treat her children like siblings or parents since the role of caregiver requires them to act in that capacity. For example, my brother Mark and I were my mom’s primary caregivers. She often referred to us as “the folks.” She would ask staff when her parents would be coming.

She would say she wanted to go to her parent’s home while referring to my house. Verbally, she called me “Maxine” most of the time. Maxine was her younger sister and I believe the one she felt closest with of her seven siblings. She called my

brother Leonard, who is my father and the man Mom was the closest to.

Mom was already in the advanced stages when she was diagnosed, so the first role change was immediate. We became adversaries; I was the enemy. A person with Alzheimer’s spends a great deal of energy trying to hide the fact that something is wrong. When I would question whether or not she was taking her meds, she became angry and defensive.

For the first time I can remember, my mother started to lie about things. Before this disease started robbing pieces of her, she couldn’t lie. It was not in her nature.

The relationship changed to caregiver/patient. She could still use the bathroom and dress herself, so she was independent.

She could still stay alone a night or two at a time; she was still driving her car around town. She accepted that I was in charge of meds and making sure she took them, but she still thought she was in charge of her life. I did 100 percent of the shopping and most of the cooking. The last thing she could do in the kitchen was make coffee until she put the grounds where the water was supposed to go ROLES/See Page 6F

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The Daily Nonpareil

Understanding Alzheimer’s

Sunday, October 31, 2010 3F

A determined group: The history of our chapter The Alzheimer’s Association/Midlands Chapter had an interesting beginning 30 years ago when eight caregivers held the first “kitchen table” support group meeting in Omaha. In 1980, there were no services, nowhere to turn for information locally and no support. So, they turned to each other, and in 1982 the group was incorporated into a nonprofit corporation.

Thanks to that small group of caregivers determined to learn more about the disease to better care for their loved ones, the Midlands Chapter now provides services for 15 counties in southwest Iowa and eastern.

Nebraska. In order to provide funding for those services, last month the Midlands Chapter held four Memory Walks in our chapter territory: Harlan, Council Bluffs, Omaha and Fremont, Neb. Led by trained local volunteers, we now have 38 support groups, including special groups like the Young Onset

(people 65 and younger), Early Stage and the all-men’s group.

Like that early support group, there are many caregivers in great need of information, and we took more than 1,000 calls last year alone on our 24/7 information and referral line (800-272-3900). After a diagnosis of a dementia, we are there to help them navigate through the difficult journey ahead.

Another way we assist caregivers is through our national program MedicAlert Safe

Return Program. Wandering is a huge stressor for caregivers.

More than 65 percent of those with dementia will wander and become lost. The program has a 24-hour emergency response line which activates a community support network to help get them home safely.

The Council Bluffs office was established eight years ago to provide outreach projects in rural communities in the five counties we serve in southwest Iowa. We provide caregiver training opportunities for fam-

ily and professional caregivers.

One of my favorite parts of our work is the education and information program. It has become my mission to help educate as many people as possible on the disease, and we speak at lunch and learn presentations for employees, speak to organizations and provide many types of caregiver education presentations.

Our Foundations of Dementia Care is a national program designed to educate professional caregivers in long term care facilities. It takes special skills to care for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and this training is designed specifically for those caregivers.

The chapter also supports medical research, and is currently supporting several clinical trials locally. Our national organization is one of the largest private funding agencies of research in the country.

We also hold professional conferences and workshops to keep

the community up to date on latest treatment and research.

Part of our mission is to promote good brain health, and the “How to Maintain Your Brain” column in our monthly e-newsletter, Perspectives, provides good information on lifestyle changes which may help keep a healthy body and brain into old age. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter by sending your e-mail address to rosalie.shepherd@midlandsalz.o rg, or by calling (712) 322-8840.

There is a freight train coming, and it is in our back yard – 77 million baby boomers are moving into their senior years, and 10 million will have Alzheimer’s disease. The numbers are staggering. It is very important that everyone arm themselves with education and information about the disease.

For more information on the chapter services, please visit our website at www.alz.org/midlands. You’re not alone.

– Rosalie Shepherd

Studies show new hope for those at risk for Alzheimer’s Scientists are still racing to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Although there currently is no cure for Alzheimer’s, evidence points to strategies individuals can take to help slow the onset of the disease or help prevent memory loss.

Although the symptoms and onset of Alzheimer’s disease are most notable during a person’s senior years, scientists say that the neurological changes of Alzheimer’s actually may start much earlier on – as early as when a person is in his or her 20s. A frantic lifestyle, poor dietary choices and inactivity can contribute to Alzheimer’s over one’s lifetime. Recognizing behaviors or other habits that may contribute to Alzheimer’s is the first step to making changes to prevent the condition.

Here are some facts to consider.

■ Obesity can increase risk for Alzheimer’s.

■ Smoking after the age of 65 makes a person almost 80 percent more likely to develop

prevent diabetes.

■ Avoid activities that can lead to head injuries.

■ Eat a balanced diet, and one that limits processed foods.

■ Enjoy brain-friendly foods, such as those high in Omega fatty acids.

■ Make attempts to reduce stress.

■ Avoid a sedentary lifestyle and behaviors that lead to obesity.

■ Prevent high cholesterol and hypertension.

■ Get plenty of sleep and restorative rest.

MCC

Activities such as reading, puzzles and exercise can help promote brain health.

Alzheimer’s.

■ Diabetics are twice as likely to get the disease.

■ Genetics are only responsible for about one-quarter of Alzheimer’s cases.

Although there aren’t any

magic pills or potions, there are easy things anyone can do to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

■ Stop smoking and greatly reduce alcohol intake.

■ Manage diet to control or

■ Keep the mind active with puzzles, reading and other thought-inducing activities.

The Mayo Clinic reports that exercise is very important to keeping Alzheimer’s at bay.

In fact, it may be the most important component of preventing the disease. Scientists have documented that physical activity effectively reduces the probability of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias over the duration of time. This makes exercise an essential part of anyone’s lifestyle.

– Metro Creative Connection

Please remember to contact Southwest 8 for any and all senior-related questions or issues.

800-432-9209 or 712-328-2540

4F Sunday, October 31, 2010

Understanding Alzheimer’s

The Daily Nonpareil

Feels like home at Bickford TIM ROHWER Staff Writer timothy.rohwer@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5752

Many families in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area depend on Bickford Cottage to provide the right kind of care for their loved ones dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“We provide a higher level of care than other assisted living facilities,” said LeAnn Fechner, administrator. “It’s a home-like atmosphere. It looks like a cottage.”

Bickford Cottage has 42 facilities across the Midwest, including two in Omaha. There are 37 units at the cottage at 7337 Hickory St. and 40 at the 11308 Blondo St. location.

Bickford Assisted Living offers a wide range of services

Submitted photo

Bickford Cottage provides a home-like atmosphere for its clients dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. and amenities from personalized apartments to restaurant quality meals with the intent to create an environment that

eliminates the mundane and gives expression to personal choice. Nevertheless, should unanticipated needs arise,

Bickford can offer a high level of care, comparable to a skilled community, if needed.

Some Bickford apartments are smaller in size than other facilities, according to Fechner.

“We intentionally made them smaller,” said Fechner. “A lot more room can overwhelm them, so the smaller the size the more secure they feel. They have privacy. It’s their home.

Depending on their diagnosis, a smaller apartment is advantageous.”

Bickford does, however, offer standard and large onebedroom models.

Medical needs for the residents are ably provided by a registered nurse on call 24 hours a day, but who works in the facilities up to 50 hours a week, Fechner said. There are no restrictive visiting hours, so

Three to be honored at ALZHEIMER’S BRIEFS Midlands Chapter’s University to hire annual meeting Nov. 10 14 to study aging After designating a National Alzheimer’s Disease Week in 1982, President Ronald Reagan helped to launch a national campaign against Alzheimer’s disease in 1983, calling members of the Alzheimer’s Association to the White House for the signing of a proclamation declaring November to be National Alzheimer’s Disease Month.

To recognize the 27th National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, the Midlands Chapter will call attention to Alzheimer’s disease at the annual meeting, hosted this year on Nov. 10 at the Tip Top Ballroom in Omaha.

The Midlands Chapter will honor several individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease: ■ Betty Foster, PhD, will receive the Friend of the Chapter award. Foster is a past Board member, donor, committee member and supporter who has served the Midlands Chapter since its inception in 1982.

■ H. Edsel Buchanan, PhD,

will be recognized for his years service to the Midlands Chapter as a volunteer, especially for serving as support group leader for the Men’s Support Group.

■ The Daily Nonpareil will be recognized as an Outstanding Media Sponsor. The Daily Nonpareil has supported the Midlands Chapter and people with dementia through an annual November supplement devoted entirely to Alzheimer’s disease as well as the Faces of Alzheimer’s, run each year before the Memory Walks.

In a press release, the chapter said, “We are deeply indebted to our honorees who have made Alzheimer’s their cause and their passion.”

The keynote speaker for the event is Mike Kemp, assistant athletic director for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks, and a caregiver.

Tickets to attend the annual meeting, are $25 each or $200 for a table of eight. Call Micah Evans at (402) 502-4301 or visit http://midlandsannualmeeting.k intera.org.

IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa says it plan to hire 14 new professors who will research the elderly.

The school said Oct. 20 the new professors are part of its cluster hire initiative, where the university hires groups of scholars from key research areas.

University officials say the new professors will approach the aging from various fields and examine ways to prevent or delay mental decline in older people.

University officials say investigating aging is important and cite statistics from the Iowa Department on Aging that project number of Iowans 65 or older will rise from 450,000 in 2008 to more than 663,000 by 2030.

Officials say the group of professor can research areas like Alzheimer’s and dementia, brain imaging and genetics.

study, researchers fed blueberry extractions to lab mice. The extractions were the equivalent of a human eating one cup of blueberries per day. The mice were then run through a series of motor tests. The mice who were given the blueberry extractions performed better than the control group on motor functions and memory. They also showed an increase of exploratory behavior.

The antioxidant components of blueberries that give them their vivid color help reduce oxidative stress, as observed after looking at the brains of the treated mice. Oxidative stress is damage to cell membranes and DNA from free radicals. Antioxidants are known to find and eradicate free radicals. Oxida-

In a USDA Human Nutrition Research Center laboratory

tive stress is thought to be a main culprit in many of the dysfunctions and diseases common to aging.

The research on mice bodes well for people, primarily because the senior U.S. population continues to grow. By 2050 it is estimated that more than 30 percent of the population will be over 65.

Because of their neurological, motor-function link, blueberries may be essential to reducing the severity of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Whether enjoying blueberries atop cereals, on muffins or simply straight out of the refrigerator, incorporating servings into a diet could be beneficial.

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family members can stay overnight with the loved ones if so desired, she said.

“We operate like one big family.”

There is a diverse age range among the residents, Fechner said, so she and other officials work hard to provide activities suitable for each.

“It’s about offering a wide variety.”

This kind of personal care with attention to independence began when the family of Mary Arlene Bickford learned of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Her daughter, Judie, moved her closer to home and set up an apartment for her, but she realized more was needed. Julie and her husband then decided to create their own home for her mother.

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The Daily Nonpareil

Understanding Alzheimer’s

Sunday, October 31, 2010 5F

Decisions of a caregiver What to do for a loved one with end-stage Alzheimer’s?

Facing the reality of end-stage Alzheimer’s is difficult, challenging and requires multiple decisions for you as a caregiver. What to do … continue to keep your loved one at home, place them in a care facility, in a hospice house …what can you do?

You, as a caregiver, have come to terms with the fact that your loved one’s journey and battle with initial memory loss to full blown dementia is nearing the end, the final stages of life. You now have another choice in the continuum of care when you can no longer care for your loved one alone in your home 24 hours a day…. the choice of in-home hospice care or hospice house care to assist you in meeting your loved one’s needs as well as your own needs.

We are blessed in Pottawattamie County and the surrounding counties in southwest Iowa to have the Hospice with Heart Hospice House, 357 Indian Hill Drive in Glenwood, (www.hopsicewithhteart.org), (712) 527-4660 or (712) 3256802.

I have personally traveled the journey of a caregiver while helping my mother care for my father who had Parkinson’s with Lewy Bodie Dementia. It is a difficult journey, which has many bends, twists and curves in the road of caring, and often times it takes a toll on the caregiver physically and emotionally. The daily care of your loved one in end-stage dementia care is like riding on a roller coaster with steep hills and plunging drops, bends in the track with a new problem, a new challenge, a new choice to make each day as you never know what the day will bring!

As a caregiver of your loved one with dementia, coming to terms with the challenges, choices of care and decisions often make you become flexible with your own schedules, with your own daily activities and needs. All too often you as a caregiver, give up your own quality of life and personal cares to care for your loved one.

As the demands of increased care and the recognition and acceptance that your loved one is in the final end-stages of Alzheimer’s increases, you find yourself having increased difficulty sleeping… fatigue and stress becomes your constant companion as you struggle each day with the journey of caregiving for your loved one. You have cared for your loved one, sometimes for several years, and have done an excellent job in providing and meeting the needs of your loved on a daily basis, 24 hours a day!

You have gone through the initial

Submitted photo

Caregivers have difficult choices to make when a loved one nears the end of the battle with dementia. bouts of memory loss, to increased memory loss, to the inability of your loved one to perform the normal activities of daily living for themselves such as dressing, eating and toileting. Your loved one often has increased confusion, anger, frustration or withdrawal, loss of ability to follow directions, and they can no longer remember who you are or who other family members are. They can’t remember if they ate or what they had to eat, they are not cognizant of the time of day nor their surroundings. Your loved one can’t recall how to turn the TV on or work cross word puzzles, sew, work with wood, or play the piano or any past activity they used to enjoy due to severe memory loss…. They are totally dependent on you or someone else, caregivers sensitive to meeting the needs of advocating for them, for their care and quality of life.

Sometimes as Alzheimer’s progresses, your loved one may not be able to communicate the fact that he or she has pain.

You, as caregiver, will have to note the clues in behavior that your loved ones signal to you, such as increased agitation, restlessness, trouble sleeping, fever, swelling, pale skin and/or difficulty in swallowing. Again you will be faced with another challenge in decision making, weighing all the choices.

Finally, as a caregiver you come to the realization that the advanced stage of dementia illness, the increased physical safety needs and the 24-hour demands of care require additional interventions. It is time to make yet another choice of care decision.

You as a caregiver now acknowledge your own needs, recognizing your limitations in being able to provide total care and remain healthy and in good emotional state. This is where compassionate health care professionals can assist you in navigating systems, exploring benefits and options. It is important to remember that even though cognitive and memory functions are gone, the person with endstage Alzheimer’s still has the capacity to feel frightened or at peace, loved or lonely, and sad or secure, therefore comfort care and meaningful connections are the most helpful interventions of care.

An important option available to you as a caregiver is in-home hospice care or Hospice with Heart’s Hospice House where your loved one will receive individualized care meeting their personal needs, their comfort needs, their emotional needs, their spiritual needs, all the meaningful connections your loved one needs in order to have the maximum quality care and life possible.

End-stage Alzheimer’s requires a team of people to care for your loved one; it is too difficult a journey to travel alone.

Hospice with Heart In-home Hospice and the Hospice with Heart Hospice House affords you a team of caregivers including your loved one’s personal physician, you as caregiver, hospice medical director, nurses, hospice aides, social worker, spiritual counselor and volunteers. The Hospice House has a warm homelike atmosphere, private rooms for your loved one, all the comforts of home and a compassionate and caring staff.

You as caregiver will no longer have to worry about where and how you will access equipment, medications and soft goods such as Depends and bed pads in order to care for your loved one. The hospice team will help you and secure the needed equipment, medications and supplies so that you can concentrate on being a spouse, sibling, child, family member or friend to your loved one with Alzheimer’s.

You will be free to simply love, share special moments and time without the constant vigil of care. You as caregiver will feel better physically and emotionally and be better able to fully appreciate the time you have remaining with your loved one.

Equally as important as care for your loved one, you as caregiver will also receive support to assist you in meeting your needs. Hospice healthcare professionals can help you as a caregiver to prepare for your loved one’s final journey, help you to make arrangements, and help you and your family work through your feelings of anticipated grief. The hospice team will support and guide you as you continue to care for, comfort and just be there for your loved one with Alzheimer’s on their final journey.

Our loved ones with Alzheimer’s all deserve comfort and dignity as they journey through the complex, confusing, often disorderly progression of this terminal illness. You as caregiver also need and deserve comfort, understanding and support to meet your needs, as being a caregiver for your loved one with Alzheimer’s is a very demanding, time consuming, difficult and often physically and emotionally draining job. There is a wonderful sense of peace that you as caregiver gave of yourself for your loved one…yes it is difficult and at the same time rewarding.

You have been blessed as a caregiver and more importantly your loved ones have been blessed by YOU!

– Submitted by Lillian Jeppesen, RN, Community Liaison, Hospice with Heart, 300 West Broadway, Suite 114, Council Bluffs, Iowa, (712) 325-6802. Lillian has also been a caregiver for family members with Alzheimer’s disease.

6F Sunday, October 31, 2010

Understanding Alzheimer’s

The Daily Nonpareil

Mother, daughter Warning signs of Alzheimer’s change roles now One of most ROLES/From Page 2F and the machine no longer worked. While she would never admit it, I think she was relieved to have someone take over.

The dynamic gradually shifted again. This time the role change went to that of parent/child. We were back where we started almost 50 years ago with one big change.

I became the parent and my 83-year-old mother the child. It was like going backward in time.

You start as a baby totally dependent on your parents learning to walk, potty training, learning to talk, new words, etc. Then you learn to dress yourself and start school and you start to get some independence. Eventually, you are completely on your own if everything goes according to plan. When Alzheimer’s invades your world, the process reverses. The independence starts to go as they are no longer responsible and can’t remember how to do things.

Before you know it, they can no longer put clothes on in the right order. Mom might put two or three shirts on or put on the pajamas outside the robe.

I remember one time she had tried to put her panty hose on outside her slacks. I explained to her she would have to take the slacks off first. She was sitting in her chair in the living room and after I left the room, she looked at my brother and said, “She thinks it can’t be done this way, but I know it can.”

I noticed later she didn’t have hose on. I found them in the trash next to the chair she was sitting in. Most people end up back in diapers (or briefs as we call them to preserve some dignity), as they can no longer go to the bathroom without help. They forget or confuse words, so even a simple conversation is difficult.

There would most likely have been at least one more change in roles, the one I feared and dreaded the most. I would have been a stranger to my mother. At some point,

“Just like a young child’s world resolves around its parents, my mom looked to me to fill that role for her.” they tell me she wouldn’t know me anymore. I suspect “devastating” would not quite cover it when the time came. My earnest prayer was that God would take her home to Him before we made that final role change.

God answered my prayer on May 28, 2010, at 5:25 am. She died peacefully after a weeklong illness, just hours after her last daughter made it to her bedside. I believe with all my heart her mind was restored a large portion of that final week. She couldn’t talk verbally, but her eyes and facial expressions spoke volumes. She was filled with infection, pneumonia, etc. But there were times her eyes were so clear and blue, I knew I was getting through. That was a wonderful blessing, to have one more time to tell her how much she meant to all of us, and know she understood.

The bright spot, if there is one, is that with the role change comes incredible satisfaction and joy. I wish more than anything in the world this had not happened to my mother, but I love that I am the one she depended on. I am the one she waited all day to come and see her. I am the one that made her feel safe and secure. I am the one she counted on every day.

Just like a young child’s world resolves around its parents, my mom looked to me to fill that role for her. God never blessed me with children of my own, but I guess the Alzheimer’s role changes gave me the parenting opportunity after all. I am blessed to change roles with my mom at a time when she needed it the most.

As people age, many understand there are certain things that are changing and need to be accepted. Someone who was once a night owl might now realize they work better on a full night’s rest. Those who tended to spend long days at the office might realize they now need to head home at quitting time to better preserve their energy.

While both of those realizations manifest themselves physically, another more troubling problem occurs mentally.

Part of the fear associated with Alzheimer’s disease is the uncertainty surrounding it.

While seniors might be willing to admit they can’t burn the midnight oil like they once did, few can accept or are willing to admit they might be suffering some mental side effects of aging as well. Therefore, it’s often up to friends and family to look for the warning signs of Alzheimer’s. If you see or suspect any of the following signs in a friend or relative, consult a physician immediately.

■ Disruptive changes in memory. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that one of most common, particularly in its early stages, indicators of Alzheimer’s is forgetting recently learned information. Other memory disruptions that could indicate Alzheimer’s are forgetting important dates or events, routinely using memory aides such as notes or asking for information more than once.

■ Difficulty planning or solving problems. Some people begin to struggle with planning, both developing a plan for a given task or following another’s plan.

This can include difficulty with daily responsibilities such as following recipes or monthly tasks like making sure the bills get paid. Tasks that once took a few moments might now take a lot longer as well.

■ Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Familiar tasks often seem foreign to people with Alzheimer’s. This can include driving a car, understanding a favorite game or cleaning the house.

■ Losing track of time or place. Seniors who begin to lose track of time, forget what season it is or where they are might be suffering from Alzheimer’s. Many times, people with Alzheimer’s only understand things that are happening immediately.

common, particularly in its early stages, indicators of Alzheimer’s is forgetting recently learned information

■ Problems with vision and spatial relationships. While many people are quick to assume vision loss is a standard sign of aging, such loss could also be indicative of a larger problem such as Alzheimer’s, which can make it difficult for seniors to read, judge distance or distinguish between colors. Someone with Alzheimer’s might walk past a mirror and think someone else in the room, unaware the person in the mirror is their own reflection.

■ Difficulty with conversation. Sometimes, people with

Alzheimer’s have trouble maintaining or joining a conversation. Some people might struggle with vocabulary, such as calling things by the wrong name, while others might stop in the middle of a conversation and not be able to continue. Most typical is when a person cannot find the right word to express a given idea.

■ Misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps. Nearly everyone misplaces an item from time to time. However, this is more common among those with Alzheimer’s, who might put their car keys in the refrigerator or routinely lose items such as the remote control or their eyeglasses. When such items are misplaced, a person who could have Alzheimer’s will find it nearly impossible to retrace their steps.

■ Poor judgment. People with Alzheimer’s can suffer from poor judgment as well. This includes making poor financial decisions or paying less attention to grooming and appearance.

– Metro Creative Connection

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The Daily Nonpareil

Understanding Alzheimer’s

Sunday, October 31, 2010 7F

Here to help Volunteers an integral part of hospice house TIM JOHNSON Staff Writer tjohnson@nonpareilonline.com (712) 325-5750

Volunteers play an important role in delivering care to hospice house patients, officials at Hospice with Heart say.

The nonprofit organization opened southwest Iowa’s only hospice house June 20, 2009, at 357 Indian Hills Drive on the Glenwood Resource Center campus in Glenwood. The eight-bed facility, renovated from a building used by the resource center, provides a place where hospice care can be given to those for whom inhome care is not a viable option.

End-stage Alzheimer’s patients are cared for by a team that includes their personal physician, family caregiver, the hospice medical director, nurses, hospice aides, social worker, spiritual counselor and volunteers, said Lillian Jeppesen, community relations coordinator for Hospice with Heart.

Volunteers are an essential part of the caregiving, said Tracie Getzschman, volunteer and fundraising coordinator.

Under federal guidelines, “5 percent of our direct patient care hours have to be with volunteers,” she said.

Hospice with Heart’s average was 9.2 percent during the last quarter and is usually about 10 percent, she said.

“We have about 27 volunteers,” she said.

Volunteers must complete two six-hour training sessions before they can begin working with patients, Getzschman

Submitted photo

Hospice with Heart opened a hospice house June 20, 2009, on the Glenwood Resource Center campus. There are about 27 volunteers at the hospice house, according to Tracie Getzschman, volunteer and fundraising coordinator. said.

“They need to learn about hospice – what we entail and encompass,” she said. “They need to know the patients we deal with and that we provide more of a palliative care and not a cure.

“Mental health is a big thing with hospice,” she said.

“A lot of our patients and/or family members go through the grieving process. That’s something we deal with daily.”

“One of the things we teach, too, is the confidentiality volunteers need to maintain when they’re working with patients,” Jeppesen said.

Volunteers converse with patients and their families,

read to patients, play games with them, run errands for them and do other odd jobs, Jeppesen said.

Said Getzschman, “Companionship is probably our biggest service that we provide.”

There is always room for more volunteers, she said.

“I would love to be able to add 10 to 15 more within the next six to eight months,” she said. “Hospice is one of those scary things, until people know about it.”

Volunteer training is offered about once every quarter and will be offered again in November, Getzschman said.

When your loved one has Alzheimer’s, let Bethany provide the special care they need.

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8F Sunday, October 31, 2010

Understanding Alzheimer’s

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