Call to Action

CALL TO ACTION

I received this information today in the Alzheimer’s Association’s ENewsletter.  Please join all caregivers to make a difference in the lives of those who are battling this difficult disease.

Advocate Impact: Forum 2009 

Last month, over 600 advocates from around the country marched on Capitol Hill to demand that our lawmakers make Alzheimer’s a national priority.

During meetings with advocates, members of Congress made the following commitments:

       188 indicated support to end the two-year waiting period for Medicare;

       181 indicated support for a $250 million increase in Alzheimer research funding; and

       83 indicated support the creation of an Alzheimer’s Solutions Project Office.

       65 members indicated support for all 3 issues!

You can catch a glimpse of the action at: http://www.alz.org/forum

We have great momentum and now is the time to “seal the deal”. Read on…

What Can I Do Now?

Ask your members to co-sponsor the End the Medicare Two-year Wait Bill!
People under age 65 with dementia who lose their jobs are likely to lose job-related health insurance. Many become uninsured and uninsurable. Just when they need coverage the most, federal law requires them to wait two years to become eligible for Medicare. Because of this wait, families face soaring out-of-pocket costs for health care or completely forego care. 

Email your members of Congress now. Ask them to co-sponsor the Ending the Medicare Disability Waiting Period Act of 2009 (S.700 / H.R.1708).

Go to: http://alz.kintera.org/endthewait 

For more information on how you can make a difference in the lives of those with Alzheimer’s contact us at 317-218-5113 or www.behomelivelife.com.

What Makes a Day Meaningful?

A meaningful day is a day filled with activities that create a sense of belonging and well-being, are easy to do, and fulfill a purpose. No one likes to be given useless tasks. Remember that your family member held important roles in his/her day, both personal or professional. Try to incorporate some of his/her past roles in everyday situations. Here are some strategies to create a meaningful day for you and your family member.

1. Enjoy reminiscing with your family member. Short-term memory may be damaged, but long-term memory often remains. When reminiscing it is helpful to talk about subjects (such as winter snowstorms or making holiday dinners) rather than a specific memory or event or name from the past.
2. Recognize the special abilities that remain and enjoy them together.
3. Most people, with or without Alzheimer’s disease, generally enjoy a good meal, animals, babies, or favorite music.
4. People with Alzheimer’s disease still enjoy (and need) hugs and other forms of affection. Sit close and look at pictures together. Enjoy a hand massage.
5. Look for activities that will be interesting to the person. In seeking activities the individual would enjoy, it helps to think about past work experiences and past and present interests.
6. Do activities that are failure-free. A SIMPLE craft project with a pre-set outcome or appearance may be too difficult, whereas arranging silk flowers in a vase is a failure-free task. Sanding wood blocks is usually failure-free. Setting the table is as well.
7. Reduce distractions so the person can focus on the task, eliminating things such as background noise from the television.
8. Keep exercise and physical activity part of everyday as it helps keep sleep and nighttime habits normal.
9. Familiar activities such as setting the table and folding laundry should be part of the daily routine that the person with Alzheimer’s disease helps do. The tasks are meaningful, familiar activities which help him/her retain skills as long as possible.
10. If music, exercise, or spiritual activities were part of your family member’s routine each week, those type of activities should occur frequently during the week as well.

Daily Routine

Consider how you organize your own day when planning the day for the person with dementia. There are times when you want variety and other times when you welcome routine. The challenge for caregivers is to find activities that provide meaning and purpose, as well as pleasure.

Begin by thinking about last week:

Which activities worked best and which didn’t? Why?
Were there times when there was too much going on or too little to do?

Use what you’ve learned to set up a daily plan. A planned day allows you to spend less time and energy trying to figure out what to do from moment to moment. Allow yourself and the person with dementia some flexibility for spontaneous activities.

Oftentimes, structured and meaningful activities reduce agitation and improve mood. The type of activity and how well it’s completed are not as important as the joy and sense of accomplishment the person gets from doing it. So, remember, it’s not about the end product, it’s about having fun, doing something your parent remembers doing, and giving him/her the feeling of being needed again.

The success of an activity can vary from day to day. In general, if the person seems bored, distracted or irritable, it may be time to introduce another activity or to take time out for a rest.

An example of a daily routine:

Morning

·         Wash, brush teeth, get dressed

·         Prepare and eat breakfast

·         Have coffee and make conversation

·         Discuss the newspaper, try a hobby, reminisce about old photos

·         Take a break, have some quiet time

·         Do some chores together

·         Take a walk, play an active game

Afternoon

·         Prepare and eat lunch, read mail, wash dishes

·         Listen to music, watch TV, do some puzzles together

·         Take a short break or nap

·         Do some gardening, take a walk, sand some wood, play a few holes of golf, or visit a friend

Evening

·         Prepare and eat dinner, clean up kitchen. Be social during this time

·         Reminisce over coffee and dessert

·         Play cards, watch an old movie, visit with family

·         Take a bath, get ready for bed, read a book, or watch an old TV show (I Love Lucy, Bob Newhart, etc.)

For more information call (317) 218-5111 or www.behomelivelife.com

“How can I get Mom to eat?”

“I’m struggling to get Mom to eat. What should I do?”

Eating regular nutritious meals can become a challenge for individuals with dementia. They may become overwhelmed, forget to eat or think they have already eaten. If your loved one is having difficulty eating, here are some quick tips and strategies:

·         Be flexible to the person’s food preferences – Remember that the person with dementia has long-standing personal preferences. Try to keep these likes and dislikes in mind when you’re preparing food.

·         Serve meals in quiet surroundings – Away from the television and other distractions.

·         Keep the table setting simple – Ensure dinnerware is free from design and of a neutral color that provides contrast with the tablecloth or placemat.

·         Keep in mind that the person with dementia may not be hungry, or remember when or if he or she ate – Smells before mealtime such as bacon cooking, coffee percolating, or bread baking will help stimulate appetite. If the individual continues to ask about eating breakfast, you might consider serving it again for lunchtime.

·         Provide an appropriate activity – If the person needs to wait while you are completing and serving the meal.

·         Encourage independence – Serve finger foods, or serve the meal in the form of a sandwich. Use spoons with large handles instead of forks. Use cups or mugs with lids to prevent spilling, and fill glasses half full; use bendable straws.

·         Let the person set the pace – Have a cup of coffee and keep conversation going to engage your loved one as much as possible.

·         If you need to give hands-on assistance – Explain what you are doing and provide visual cues by demonstrating. Adjust your assistance level to the person’s independence and participation level.

For more information call 317-218-5111 or www.behomelivelife.com