Severe Brain Injury.com blog

The fact that there is a greater incidence today of Alzheimer’s disease than in previous centuries has not gone unnoticed by some observers who seek to account for its increased presence among the aging, one that occurs at great personal cost & with grave consequences for families & loved ones.

The primary cost of Alzheimer’s disease lies in the loss of ‘presentness’ it brings to the one so afflicted � an increasing absence of the known & familiar self from awareness, reflection, & memory, & an increased departure of the interactive self from relationships that have been significant in the past. Indeed, the loss of presentness that comes with Alzheimer’s disease is so great, & the sadness it brings to those who feel they are losing a dear parent, friend, or partner so pervasive, that it is vital to attempt to find a spiritual meaning & purpose for the sequence of deterioration that seems to strip one down to the bare bones of humanity, with occasionally even that being in question due to the deterioration of physical as well as mental & emotional functioning.

All that is known about Alzheimer’s today has given us some hope for modifying the disastrous effect of its course & for making the passage gentler, with less distress to those who remain in loving relationship with the one who is ill. Yet, these modifications are far from offering an understanding of what spiritual good might come from such an illness � what gain to the soul might equal the significant loss of the familiar self which the disorder creates.

The truth of the matter is that the spiritual world in which Alzheimer’s plays a significant role is a very different world than what appears on the outside. It is a world in which the play of imagination takes precedence over the function of rationality, & in which the mind becomes the playground of random thoughts, inner events, & memories. These inner movements arise from various places - some from bits & pieces of the past; some from wishes that have never been expressed; & some from a place that can only be called the dream-self � the self that the unconscious mind projects upon the physical plane in order to bring something that has been hidden into the light of day. Because of the fragmentation of the images, thoughts, & emotions, as well as the uncertainty concerning their validity, the outside observer can generally never really tell what’s real & true & what’s fantasy about what’s being communicated by some one with Alzheimer’s disease. What the outsider witnesses is a completely unique world, a world of one, & others, often to their great sorrow, feel that they are locked out of it.

Here, in the center of this very private world is a great garden of spiritual flowers � not flowers of reason or of clear thinking, but flowers of impulse & imagination, flowers of emotion that were never given exposure during childhood, during dreams, or during other lifetimes. These now wait to be experienced & expressed. Because the rational element of communication is largely absent, the imaginings & voices of the unexpressed self are revealed mysteriously, without any seeming meaning or coherence. And yet in the midst of the absence of coherence, a great tree is being given shape. Beneath its branches are the flowers, leaves, & seeds of the collective past of the person who is witnessing them. They are the particles & parts of the unrealized self, the rejected self, the wished for self, the hoped for self, that are being gathered up in an apron in order to be looked at & evaluated imaginatively by the one who sits beneath this tree catching the leaves that float by � the wisps of thought that float through the inner landscape.

The fragmentation that occurs does so because in the time in which these mental & imaginative fragments were created, the need arose to keep them hidden in order to create barriers of reason & logic around the functioning of the effective personality. And so they remained part of a floating & unstable world of inner possibility. And not just a world of possibility, but a world of fragmented possibility. For among the central features of Alzheimer’s are the strangeness of its thought patterns & the sudden changeability of their focus. Both features are present in many with Alzheimer’s, & both serve the purpose of dismantling the rational element of functioning in order that the emotional & imaginative elements be given freer reign.

Despite the great loss of outer functioning that Alzheimer’s brings, one may say that within the secret inner world a transformation is taking place. Where mental functioning may have been a priority before, now the functioning of a child begins to appear. Where judgment & critical analysis may have been valued heavily, now innocence begins to be given space & room in which to breathe. And where unrelatedness to the spiritual world may have been present, now the absence of self-definition creates a greater sense of oneness with life & a kind of innocent spirituality which accepts all that is.

And what of those for whom Alzheimer’s brings anger, irritability, & extreme outbursts of rage? These, too, are fragments or aspects of self that have been previously dormant. In their manifestation, they offer the opportunity of being experienced by the inner witness. As upsetting as these outbursts often are, they nevertheless produce a kind of self-confrontation with aspects of consciousness that have previously been restricted from awareness.

For those who seek to understand the greater spiritual good that comes from a situation whose external features appear to involve great loss, limitation, or hardship, it may be said that accompanying the loss of mental functioning which Alzheimer’s brings is a reorganization of the basic personality structure so that a new birth can take place � one that will have positive consequences for the soul in their future development & evolution. This new birth does not come without a price. And yet it comes because of the soul’s deep wish for healing & wholeness & for a bringing together of the fragments of self into a new configuration.

For those who must stand & watch the progressive deterioration of the personality of a loved one, there is a need to be gentle with oneself, for many feelings are possible & are evoked by this situation. Yet it is vital to note that in the midst of sorrow & of progressive loss, there can also be a view of the emerging new self that is being born. If the eyes of the heart can be focused not only on the pain of loss or on the difficulties of care, but also on the unfoldment of the new, it may be that the inner Tree of Life can be seen under which the loved one sits, gathering the leaves & petals of their own imaginative process in order to meld them together into a new fabric of wholeness at some future date.

For a spiritual perspective on mental & emotional disabilities of various kinds, see the Light Omega Reader, especially “A Spiritual View of Mental Illness” & “The Wisdom Within Depression: A Spiritual View.”

Dr. Yaakov Stern is the Division Leader of the Cognitive Neuroscience Division of the Sergievsky Center at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, New York. He is one of the leading proponents of the Cognitive Reserve theory.

Alvaro Fernandez (AF): Dear Dr. Stern, it is a pleasure to have you here. Let me first ask you this: the implications of your research are pretty astounding, presenting major implications across sectors & age groups. Right. What has been the most unexpected reaction so far?

Yaakov Stern (YS): well…I was pretty surprised when, years ago, a reporter from Seventeen magazine requested an interview. I was really curious to learn why she felt that her readers would be interested in studies about dementia. What she told me showed a deep understanding & insight: she wanted to motivate children to stay in school. She understood that early social interventions could be very powerful for building reserve & preventing dementia.

AF: That’s great…so let’s now fast forward, say, 60 years from our high-school years, & suppose that persons A & B both technically have Alzheimer’s (plaques & tangles appear in the brain), but only A is showing the disease symptoms. Right. What may explain this discrepancy?

YS: Individuals who lead mentally stimulating lives, through education, occupation & leisure activities, have reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Studies suggest that they have 35-40% less risk of manifesting the disease. The pathology will still occur, but they are now able to cope with it better… Some will not ever be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s because they do not present any symptoms. In studies that follow healthy elders over time & then get autopsies, up to twenty percent of people who did not present any significant problem in the daily lives have full blown Alzheimer’s pathology in their brains.

AF: What exactly may be going on in the brain that gives that level of protection?

YS: There are two ideas that are complementary. One idea postulates that some individual persons have a greater number of neurons & synapses, & that somehow those extra structures provide a level of protection. The other theory emphasizes the building of new capabilities, how people can perform tasks better through practice, & how these skills become so well learned that they are not too easy to unlearn.

AF: OK, so our goal is to build that Reserve of neurons, synapses, & skills. How can we do that?

YS: In summary, we could say engaging in activities. In our research almost all activities are seen to contribute to reserve. Some have challenging levels of cognitive complexity, & some have interpersonal or physical demands. In animal studies, exposure to an enriched environment or increased physical activity result in increased neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons). You can get that stimulation through education and/ or your occupation. There is clear research showing how those two elements reduce the risk. Now, what’s very exciting is that, no matter one’s age, education & occupation, our level of participation in leisure activities has a significant & cumulative effect. A key message here is that different activities have independent, synergistic, contributions, which means the more things you do & the earlier you start, the better… But you are never stuck: better late than never.

AF: Can you give us some examples of those leisure activities that seem to have the most positive effects?

YS: For our 2001 study we evaluated the effect of 13 activities, combining intellectual, physical, & social elements. Some of the activities with the most effect were reading, visiting friends or relatives, going to movies or restaurants, & walking for pleasure or going on an excursion. As you can see, a variety. We saw that the group with high level of leisure activities presented 38% less risk (controlling for other factors) of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms. And that, for each additional type of activity, the risk got reduced by 8%. Physical exercise, by itself, also has a very beneficial impact. OK. So, we need both mental & physical exercise. The not-so-good news is that, as of today, there no clear recipe for success. More research is needed before we prepare a systematic set of interventions that can help maximize our protection.

AF: What do you think of the relatively recent appearance of so many computer-based cognitive training programs?

YS: At least from the point of view of Alzheimer’s, we do not know if learning a new language is more beneficial than learning a new musical instrument or using a computer-based program. It is too early to tell the long-term effects. Right now, the most we can say is that those who lead mentally stimulating lives, through education, occupation & leisure activities seem to have the least risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

Copyright (c) 2007 SharpBrains

Alvaro Fernandez is the CEO & Co-Founder of SharpBrains, which gives the very latest science-based information for Brain Health & Brain Exercises, & has been recognized by Scientific American Mind, CBS, Forbes, & more. Alvaro holds MA in Education & MBA from Stanford University, & teaches The Science of Brain Health at UC-Berkeley Lifelong Learning Institute.

Deciding to be a caregiver for a loved one battling Alzheimer’s disease can be one of the most challenging tasks you can undertake. But with strength, commitment & love, you can make a tremendous difference in the life of your loved one as they go through the stages of this complex disease.

Bonnie McGovern took on the role of caring for her sister Barbara when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As a child, she watched her mother care for her father who had been stricken with polio. As an adult, she emulated her mother’s love & compassion when she took on the role of caregiver to her sister. Now, as an author, Bonnie is able to share many of the lessons she has learned with others.

If you’re thinking about being a caregiver for a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s there’re a number of things you can do to make the journey better for your loved one & for yourself:

Life does not end with the diagnosis: Do not treat your loved on as if their life is over. Be sure to find ways to enjoy the time you have & help them to make their days joyful despite their illness.

Adjust your behavior as circumstances arise: Many illnesses, specifically Alzheimer’s have many stages. Be prepared for changes & deterioration in the health of your loved one. While it can be very difficult, accept that it is part of the process & make your best effort to adjust & adapt.

Be positive: A positive attitude goes a long way. Not only will your positivism have a beneficial affect on your loved one but it will make the journey better for you as well.

Put yourself in their shoes: Alzheimer’s is a debilitating disease. People who were once very independent suddenly can not handle some of life’s most simple day-to-day tasks. As a caregiver, take this into consideration. By considering what it would be like to have the disease & no longer be easily able to lead your life as you are accustomed to can help you be more patient. It will also make the day-to-day roadblocks that you face less frustrating.

Be a friend: Many patients are in denial. Sometimes one of the best things you can do for a loved one is to be a friend & assist them without making their disabilities so apparent.

Do your homework: If you face a roadblock, research ways to overcome the hurdles. Right. Whether it is by attending support groups, scouring the internet, or reading books & magazines, look for ways to make your journey & the journey of your loved one easier & less stressful.

Maintain a safe environment: As the disease progresses, even every day activities such as boiling water can be dangerous. Look for ways to make certain that the home is a safe environment to stop accidents. Also make the environment simple so that your loved one does not become easily confused in the environment.

Make them happy: At times you will simply have to do what makes your loved one happy - even if it does not make sense. Being a caregiver is often a lesson in tolerance.

Remain calm: Often bouts of paranoia, especially in public, can be quite taxing. Do you follow? The erratic behavior of your loved one can be frantic & frightening. Do you follow? Try to remain calm & in control of the situation.

Take walks: Taking long walks with Alzheimer’s patients has been very help-fulin decreasing the chance that they will wander away.

Exert your power: Be sure to have a power of attorney & a medical power of attorney so that you can make decisions affecting the health of your loved one & manage their affairs when they become unable to do so.

Take time for yourself: If you are taking care of your loved one in your home, enlist help so that you can have time for yourself. It is important that you preserve yourself & your health so that you can be there for your loved one when it really matters most.

Let go of your guilt: If there comes a time when you can no longer be the primary caregiver for your loved one, do not beat yourself up or become overwrought with guilt. It is okay to admit that you need help, or that you are simply not capable of providing 24 hour care for your loved one.

Choosing to be a caregiver for a loved with Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest tributes to their lives you can make. By utilizing these tips & tools, you can make a tremendous difference & ease the stresses & challenges you face on this hard journey.

Dr. Proactive (Randy Gilbert) discussed with Bonnie McGovern(bonniemcgovern.com) tips from her book “Taking Care of Barbara: A Journey Through Life & Alzheimer’s & 29 Insights for Caregivers”.Listen free at: http://www.insidesuccessradio.com/GuestPage1.php/Bonnie-McGovern

A neurodegenerative disease that is mostly found in people over the age of 60 & affects approximately twenty four million people worldwide is called Alzheimer’s disease. It is a disease that leaves many of its sufferers with little to no cognitive abilities in the most severe of cases. It is heartbreaking for all those whose loved ones have Alzheimer’s & it is frustrating for all those that suffer with it… Alzheimer’s can steal away the one you love so it is vital to know what you can about the disease, the stages & any possible treatments available & just as important, resources for you in interacting with the person that has Alzheimer’s.

Usually, the first noticeable sign or symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is going to be the short-term memory loss coupled with visual-spatial confusion. While in the beginning, the symptoms may seem like simple forgetfulness & difficulty getting oneself down an aisle, these two symptoms alone progress into forgetting yesterday & getting lost in your own neighborhood.

It will be a family member that notices these subtle changes first, so it is vital that we all know the symptoms at early onset. This will help with diagnosis & treatment of the disease. You may also notice that the person in early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may seem a little more uninhibited, or they could become disorientated, there may also be sudden behavioral changes like a violent outburst, or passivity that was not present before. These are all symptoms that need to be reported to the doctor at the first notice of them.

As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, there is a deterioration of musculature & mobility. This often leads to bedridden patients who can no longer care for themselves if an external cause such as pneumonia does not take them first. The progression of Alzheimer’s disease is a very hard & painful process to watch, especially when it is happening to some one you love. We need to know the stages of the disease so we know what to expect & when so that we are now able to cope with it as well.

Once a person has been diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease, the average life expectancy is then another seven to ten years. Right. We say “on average” because none of us have a crystal ball & I am pretty sure we were not born with expiration dates. Some people with Alzheimer’s have very long lives, & some do not. It depends on the when the disease is diagnosed & the stage & speed of progression of the disease.

There are three stages, each with their own set of symptoms:

1. Mild – this is an earliest stage of the disease. It is signified by a patient’s tendency to be less energetic. This is also the stage where the symptoms are missed by the family most often. Here a patient can receive a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment if the symptoms are not “severe” enough to warrant the diagnoses of dementia.

2. Moderate – the patient may still be easily able to take care of themselves independently as far as simple tasks are concerned such as brushing their teeth or using the bathroom, but they may need help with tasks such as cooking a meal or driving a car.

3. Severe – the progression of the disease here is drastic, it leaves a patient unable to care for themselves or be easily able to control bodily functions, & they often do not recognize those that they love. They are alone & have often given up by this point.

As far as treatment goes, it depends on when the disease is caught. There is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease yet. There are treatments that can slow the progression such as ginkgo biloba, NMDA antagonists & statin simvastatin are just a few that are being used to help slow the process.

For care givers dealing with Alzheimer’s patients, whether you are related to them or not, understand that this requires a lot of patience & understanding on your part. It is very hard to watch a grown adult deteriorate to the point of where they are a shell of some one that was at one point a vibrant human being. For loved ones that are being the care giver, the best advice is to find a support group & join it… It can notbe underestimated how important it is that you have some one to talk to. You have to remain strong, & you can not give up. It is not easy, but you can get through this.

For more insights & additional information about Alzheimers Disease Symptoms & Care please visit our web site at http://www.alzheimers-explained.com

Down syndrome is one of the leading causes behind Alzheimer’s disease & dementia. In actual fact, some illnesses start at early stages in life & gradually work its way up to Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a series of illnesses that gradually leads to dementia. However to understand Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Down syndrome, etc, you must understand dendrites.

Alzheimer’s disease slowly affects the brain. The condition affects tithe patient, which causes him or her to become mentally delicate. The senile condition leads to confusion & memory loss. As the disease progresses, the problems continue to plague the brain. The patient gradually looses atomic strands of neurofibrillary. The condition develops into a degeneration state, which causes deterioration of cell bodies, dendrites, & axon, which surround the nerve cells. Now if you dare to venture we can travel down dendrite lane to see why this element causes Alzheimer’s disease to develop into dementia.

First, understand that to date there is no explanation to reach the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Yet, I dare to venture & explore its cause. Dendrites are neurons within the anatomy, which these nerve cells make up the fundamental structure of the Central Nervous System. Now, if you would read the history of medical complications, you would see that most diseases target the Central Nervous System. (CNS)

Within the central nervous system, dendrites consist of axon (The extension of nerve cells, which transmit impulses to external cell bodies) & cell bodies. There is more. The elements join by enclosing around neurological “conducts of impulses” & spread transversely & from corner to corner crossways of the space amid nerve endings. (Synapse) The junction amid the two nerve cells is shaped similar to clubs, & at the tips of the cells are nerve fibers. There is more. The fibers nearly stroke the other cells in an effort to convey signals to the muscles & glands, finally reaching the organs. Now, if these nerves are interrupted the neurotransmitters, which include serotonin, endorphins, acetylcholine, dopamine, norepineprhine, & lastly gamma-aminobutyric acids will cause a disruption of nerve impulses & its process to transmit signals. Right. We see a series of deterioration starting to unfold.

NOTE: Serotonin is neurotransmitter chemicals, which derive from amino acids, such as tryptophan. The nerve chemicals are widely spread out to tissues & acts as a chemical that carries communication between nerves. (Neurotransmitters) The messages are carried amid a selection of nerve cells & amid nerve cells, which signal the muscles. There is more. The action causes impulses to constrict blood vessels at damaged sites, which if serotonin is interrupted it will cause states of emotional response.

We see that when serotonin is interrupted it affects the emotions, which slows intellectual actions.

Dendrites channel through to the central nervous system. In this area the brain & spinal cord meets with CNS. The brain makes up cerebral divisions that separate into “two” halves & contain eight lobes, i.e. four lobes on both halves each. At the front lobes is where the personality develops, as well as motor speech & intellectual functions. Now, Alzheimer’s disease diminishes the intellectual functions, which means the disease is striking the frontal lobe perhaps initially. Ultimately, the disease has affected the nerve cells, muscles, & CNS, which slowly moves to deteriorate the frontal lobe by blocking its development.

Many experts are led to believe that outside illnesses cause symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease to develop. Perhaps the notion is logically. Yet, if you consider that dendrites make up the parietal lobe, which is where sensations start & carry over to integrate with sensory, & finally forms a relationship with spatial which is space, we see that perhaps this space is blocked. Now, if Alzheimer’s disease targets the parietal lobe, which extends to space that heightens sensory consciousness & targets the sense organs, we see that awareness is diminished.

Don Merrill is a freelance article publisher. For additional articles on the subject of Alzheimer’s disease please visit: http://www.ukandoit.us/Alzheimer/index.html

Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder of the mind. The disorder often causes progressive memory loss, as well as robbing those who suffer the disease of their intellectual purpose. Alzheimer’s disease runs along the course & aside dementias. Dementias are a cognitive deterioration, as well as intellectual decaying of the mind. The disorder progressively works to deteriorate the intellectual purpose, robbing the soul of memory. Dementias often occurs while the brain is functioning, i.e. controlling progress, or movement, etc, which the senses are detained.

Alzheimer’s often targets the older generation. In actual fact, the older generation often experiences at one time various disorders of the mind, including Alzheimer’s. There is more. Technically, Alzheimer’s disease is a medical disorder, since it causes dementias. There is more. The degenerative illness affects the brain, usually late in one’s life.

According to medical experts,’ such as those who specialize in geriatrician, claim that socialism & its roles are one of the leading factors that characterize diseases in which the older generation develops. According to medical experts,’ older people who do not socialize or live alone is subject to Alzheimer’s disease, dementias, & various other brain disorders. In addition, medical experts’ claim that elders with a higher education can detect disorders of the mind sooner than those with lower education do. The experts’ are venturing to say that if symptoms are noted sooner, intervention strategies can reduce the amount of those suffering Alzheimer’s disease, or related disorders.

The economics also factors into health. Health care is the leading cause that many people do not seek complete medical attention. According to medical experts’ the older generation has less insurance coverage than any other group of societians’. Lack of healthcare leaves the older souls fighting their own illnesses without the medical care they deserve. In fact the economic conditions has lead to increases in Parkinson’s disease, Osteoporosis, Hypothyroidism, Strokes, Urine incontinence, herpes zoster shingles, bedsores, diabetes, prostatic hyperplasia, & so on.

The problem behind healthcare limits has caused enormous conditions in the system, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The disease if noted earlier is curable, yet because many people lack medical care, thus the disease develops into a life-long condition that has no cure.

The problem continues, since the older generation develops many diseases at a single time. The conditions cause’s interruptions as the chain reaction of diseases affect the other. For instance, those with Alzheimer’s develop dementias, which work against the first disease & causes rapid deterioration.

As well as socializing, economics, etc, the older generation will also delay medical conditions once symptoms develop. For instance, an older person may develop a cold, & put it off, failing to realize that the immune system has weaken as they have grown, which the cold could develop into pneumonia.

In addition, behind all diseases, depression follows. Depression will work against the disease, which increases the symptoms. Depression often affects the mental & emotional well-being, thus causing dejection, falls, sadness, & hopelessness to rob the soul of medical treatment. Depression will also recess the person, causing provisional loss of self-rule, which can lead to undeviating loss.

Geriatrists often look for answers to reduce such problems as discussed. The doctors who specialize in healthcare for senior citizens has advised the older generation, as well as loved ones to join in multi-disciplinary healthcare. Instead of the elders planning their own care, the strategy moves experts in healthcare, as well as social workers to plan healthcare strategies for the older souls. Of course, each member involved with the executed plan has an overseeing physician.

Perhaps to reduce diseases that target the older generation, the implemented plans is not enough however.

M. Thompson & Don Merrill: freelance article publishers. For additional articles on the subject of Alzheimer’s disease please visit: http://www.ukandoit.us/Alzheimer/index.html

When a loved one is diagnosed with probable Alzheimer’s disease, families often find themselves wondering what they should do to help care for him or her. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, patients are usually capable of remaining in their current living situation, especially if they have a spouse or other caregiver living with them or visiting frequently. However - the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease progressively affect patients more as time goes on, so patients tend to require increasing care & supervision over time. Families are confronted with making decisions regarding the patient’s living arrangement as well as how her or his long term care will be carried out. OK. Some Alzheimer’s patients move in with one of their adult children who can provide constant care, while others receive long term care in an Alzheimer’s care home.

Inevitably, as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, decisions regarding the care of your loved one will have to be made. Whether a patient is better off living in their own home, the home of a loving family member or a professional home environment depends on many factors: the extent of assistance the patient requires, special needs—such as dietary restrictions, which arrangement is more suitable to the patient & the family members in the household, is your loved one a wanderer & would they benefit from a secure environment, as well as factors completely unique to your situation.

Speaking with doctors & other professionals such as counselors can give you a better understanding of what’s involved with caring for an Alzheimer’s patient in your home & help you determine the best option for your family. If your loved one will be moving into your home, you & any other care givers in the household will likely need to assist him or her with activities such as bathing, getting dressed, using the restroom, providing meals & assisting with eating, to name a few. Many families prefer this option so that they can spend time with their loved one & know how he or she is doing at all times.

Living with family members is not a feasible option for all Alzheimer’s patients. Families can notalways assume the added responsibility because of scheduling, space, financial limitations, other responsibilities such as raising children, or an inability to provide the care that their loved one needs. Right. Whatever the reason, the most viable option for many Alzheimer’s patients is to move into an assisted care home. Specialized Alzheimer’s care facilities provide the ideal solution for many patients & their families. Alzheimer’s care homes cater to the completely unique needs of Alzheimer’s patients, & employ personnel who understand the disease & are now able to provide expert care to residents. Residents in such homes have the opportunity to interact with others, take part in activities such as gardening & enjoy entertainment provided by the home. Alzheimer’s care homes benefit residents greatly through the establishment of healthy routines & stimulating activities which promote their well being, & often provide additional valuable services such as counseling for family members.

In determining the best situation for a family member who has Alzheimer’s disease, the health & well being of the patient is the highest priority. Researching all options thoroughly, speaking with medical professionals & visiting an Alzheimer’s care home in your area can help you make the best decision regarding your loved one’s care.

About the Author: John Trevey is the C.E.O. of Uncommon Care, an assisted living Austin Texas home specializing in Alzheimer’s care. He is the manager of both The Barton House & the Breckinridge. For lots more information, please visit http://www.uncommoncare.com

No one likes to think that they will put their loved one in a nursing home one day. Unfortunately, most Alzheimer’s patients eventually will need to be placed in an Alzheimer’s care facility. Because Alzheimer’s disease robs a person of her or his ability to handle every day activities, often families will find they can notcare for their loved one at home. It is usually during the later stages of the disease when patients lose their ability to handle dress themselves, feed themselves & need help going to the bathroom that an Alzheimer’s care facility is considered by families.

Once your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you should begin planning their move into an Alzheimer’s care facility. There are many things to know when looking at an Alzheimer’s care facility. You should know how they care for Alzheimer’s patients & how much experience they have had in dealing with patients suffering from the disease. Do they separate Alzheimer’s patients from the rest of the population?

Some Alzheimer’s care facilities specialize in treating Alzheimer’s patients. Right. What are the advantages of this type of Alzheimer’s care facility over a more traditional nursing home or assisted living facility?

You should anticipate how you will pay for the Alzheimer’s care facility. Some long-term insurance polices will cover a stay in an Alzheimer’s care facility. Some private insurance companies may cover this expense as well. Many people have set aside funds should they need long-term care & that money is available for the family’s to pay for the Alzheimer’s care facility.

There are many types of Alzheimer’s care facilities. You & your loved one’s physician can discuss which Alzheimer’s care facility will best suit the needs of the Alzheimer’s patient.

Assisted living facilities provide housing, meals, health care & support for Alzheimer’s patients. There is more. This type of Alzheimer’s care facility is also called board & care, adult living & supported care. Many Alzheimer’s patients live in this type of Alzheimer’s care facility after moving out of their home. This type of Alzheimer’s care facility is often a suitable alternative to a nursing home for Alzheimer’s patients who can still perform some day to day activities. An assisted living facility is not regulated by the federal government.

Nursing homes are the most well-known type of Alzheimer’s care facility. Nursing home patients require constant care & supervision. Nutrition, recreation, medical care & spirituality are handled at this type of Alzheimer’s care facility. Nursing homes are regulated by the federal government & may also be subject to state licenses as well.

Some patients want an Alzheimer’s care facility that is targeted to their needs. An Alzheimer’s special care unit may be easily found in a nursing home or hospital setting where Alzheimer’s patients live within a unit. Treatment at these Alzheimer’s care facilities focuses on the needs of Alzheimer’s patients.

If you are unsure as to what kind of Alzheimer’s care facility your loved one needs, the Alzheimer’s Association has an on line guide. CareFinder helps families chose the best Alzheimer’s care facility. CareFinder teaches families how to seek local support. It also guides families as to how to pay for the Alzheimer’s care facility.

For more information on Alzheimers, attempt visiting http://www.helpwithalzheimers.com - a website that specializes in providing Alzheimers related tips, advice & resources to include information on Alzheimers care facility.

If you have researched the symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease & suspect that a loved one is showing those symptoms, do what you can to have him or her evaluated by a physician who specializes in dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease, affecting patients more severely as time goes on. There is a degree of forgetfulness & other related symptoms that are a normal part of aging, so your loved one may be healthy & aging naturally, or may be experiencing another condition or form of dementia that is not Alzheimer’s disease. Or, he or she may simply be having a reaction to a medication. Therefore, if you suspect that an elderly loved one is exhibiting changed behavior & lessened cognitive function, it is vital for you to be educated about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease so you may see that he or she obtains medical testing to determine the cause of the changes. Identifying possible symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease early & consulting a dementia specialist can lead to the patient obtaining appropriate medications or other treatments that may ease the symptoms of the disease.

Additionally, accompanying your loved one to the appointment & discussing her or his symptoms with the doctor can be very beneficial. The important points to observe & communicate to the doctor relate to the onset of the symptoms & the specific changes that have taken place. You may want to write down the symptoms in advance along with when you noticed them, so that your discussions with the physician will be accurate & you will not forget to mention key information to the doctor. If you have other family members who are close to the patient, noting their experiences with the patient can also help. Since there is not yet a definitive diagnosis procedure for the disease until after death, doctors use a combination of patient evaluation & tests to diagnose probable Alzheimer’s disease. A few important questions to ask yourself & possibly others who know the patient follow:

-What changes in behavior have I noticed, & when did I start noticing these changes?
-Have there been changes in the patient’s overall attitude? By example, has he or she become nervous, anxious, or depressed? Did a particular event align with these changes?
-Have there been marked changes in the person’s routine, & does the patient seem to be neglecting common responsibilities that he or she used to take care of, such as mail or bills?
-Is my loved one having difficulty communicating her or his thoughts effectively? Does he or she forget or confuse words when talking, or speak less clearly than before?
-Has the patient shown changes in decision making abilities?
-What medications is the patient taking (over the counter & prescription), & are they taken as directed?

Compiling accurate information about your loved one’s behavior to present to the doctor can help the doctor determine what types of tests to perform. Be sure to include any specific examples or instances you recall related to the questions above, & be as accurate as possible when estimating the time frame in which events & changes took place.

Finally, do not actually be alarmed & jump to conclusions about your loved one’s condition before your doctor performs a thorough evaluation, because there could be another explanation for the changes.

About the Author: John Trevey is the manager of The Breckinridge, a Lexington nursing home specializing in Alzheimer’s care. For lots more information, please visit http://www.thebreckinridge.com

Most people think the only Alzheimer’s symptom is forgetting. But Alzheimer’s symptoms go beyond Grandma forgetting where she put her glasses. Alzheimer’s disease robs men & women of their ability to think clearly by slowly destroying brain cells. An Alzheimer’s symptom often shows itself gradually, progressing from what seems to be simple memory loss to a total dependence of the patient on a family member or caregiver.

An Alzheimer’s symptom may often disguise itself as just an every day lapse in memory, or irritability at a daily situation. Family members may dismiss the Alzheimer’s symptom in their loved one as simply a sign of getting older. The Alzheimer’s Association has complied a list of symptoms that should serve as warning signs to families who think they have Alzheimer’s disease.

Memory loss is the most well-known Alzheimer’s symptom. If you tell Grandpa he is going to the grocery store & he forgets 20 minutes later, he may have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s patients have difficulty planning & doing every day activities. There is more. They often forget what you just told them but may remember a story form childhood.

Not completing every day activities is another Alzheimer’s symptom. The grandmother who used to cook large Sunday dinners will have a hard time making a sandwich for herself. Bills may pile up on a table, unpaid because the Alzheimer’s patient can not remember & has lost track of them.

Alzheimer’s patients may have a hard time telling their loved ones that about their difficulties–another Alzheimer’s symptom. They can not find the right words to say or their words are hard to understand.

Another Alzheimer’s symptom is losing a sense of time & place. There are well-publicized accounts of Alzheimer’s patients getting lost after wandering away from home. They also may not remember how to get home from a simple shopping trip.

Seeing Grandma with a fur coat on in July is another Alzheimer’s symptom. Dementia patients lack good judgment. This is why telemarketers prey on the elderly–their lack of judgment often leads them to give away large sums of money.

If your loved one has lost track of her or his money, it is another Alzheimer’s symptom. The grandfather who was once a financial wizard may forget how to balance his checkbook. Simple math problems are now complex.

In fact, you may find Grandpa’s checkbook in the microwave oven–another Alzheimer’s symptom. Alzheimer’s patients often forget where they have placed things because they put them in strange places. Right. While it can be comical to find Grandma’s support hose in the refrigerator, it a serious sign something is wrong.

A common Alzheimer’s symptom shows itself in personality changes. Mood swings are common in Alzheimer’s patients. Men & women who were once independent cling to relatives. There is more. They are anxious, scared & confused. The patients may sleep a lot & when they are awake have no desire to venture outside the homes.

An Alzheimer’s symptom or symptoms will vary from person to person. Those who believe her or his loved one has Alzheimer’s disease should talk with their doctor about the Alzheimer’s symptom.

For more information on Alzheimers, attempt visiting http://www.helpwithalzheimers.com - a website that specializes in providing Alzheimers related tips, advice & resources to include information on Alzheimers symptoms.