Another excellent tool to use for research on Alzheimer’s disease is the internet. There is a broad amount of information available about living with Alzheimer’s, caregiving, the stages of the disease, the latest research towards treatment and more. There are a number of websites that I visit when looking for information about Alzheimer’s disease. They include:
• National Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org
• Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center: www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
• Clinical Trials, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
• Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association: www.massalfa.org

This Alzheimer’s blog is another resource for learning about Alzheimer’s disease, including the latest information on research, treatment and care. One of the most difficult aspects of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease is that just as you have learned about a specific part of the disease, something changes and the illness progresses. Knowing about and utilizing available resources is an important part of planning through the course of the disease. Please check back here, www.alzcareblog.com, often for more information.

The following are some helpful suggestions for planning a successful vacation:

• Arrange a vacation that follows past routines. For example, if you have frequently visited a particular destination, try returning to that place again. Bring along an old photo album and reminisce about past trips.
• Be sure to involve the person with Alzheimer’s disease in vacation activities: walks on the beach, playing a simple card game, preparing dinner, collecting shells, visiting a museum or other activities that promote feelings of enjoyment and reflect individual interests.
• Consider the particular needs of the individual with AD, including current health and wellness issues related to the disease. Adjust your expectations with regard to length of trip, daily activities, accommodations and spending time with many different people. It is vitally important to provide identification for the individual with AD and alert hotel or travel staff about the risk for wandering.
• Follow the schedule of your regular day at home as much as possible. For example, eat meals at the same time, limit the number of daily activities and stimulation as needed.
• Be realistic in expectations. The four week trip you have always dreamed of may be too much for both of you. Prioritize what you would like to do together and focus on that.
• Consider traveling with friends or family members who can help with some of the caregiving so you are able to have some time on your own.

While a vacation can be manageable and enjoyable for both the caregiver and the person with Alzheimer’s disease, caregivers may also use the season to take some time for themselves. There are many different ways to travel on your own. You can involve other family members in caregiving for short time or explore respite care options. And remember, Senior Living Residences offers respite services at all of our Memory Support Neighborhoods.

Useful Links:
http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-travel.asp
http://alzheimers.about.com/od/familyandfriends/a/Vacations.htm

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Please join us as we screen the HBO films and host follow-up discussions on the following topics:

• The Memory Loss Tapes – An intimate look into the lives of seven individuals living with Alzheimer’s, each in an advancing state of dementia across the full spectrum of the progression of the disease.
  Wednesday, May 27 at 5:30pm at Concord Park, 68 Commonwealth Ave., Concord. Co-sponsored by Concord Park and Nashoba Park.
  Thursday, May 28 at 6:00pm at Methuen Village, 4 Gleason St, Methuen.
• Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? – A film for children narrated by and featuring Maria Shriver that introduces viewers to seven children learning to understand and cope with their grandparent’s illness.
  Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00pm at Concord Park, 68 Commonwealth Ave., Concord. Co-sponsored by Concord Park and Nashoba Park.
• Caregivers – Seen through the lens of five individuals caring for family members suffering from the disease, this film conveys the sacrifices and successes of people who experience their loved ones’ gradual descent into dementia.
  Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30pm at Neville Place, 650 Concord Ave., Cambridge.
  Wednesday, May 27 at 6:00pm at Standish Village, 1190 Adams St., Boston.
  Co-sponsored by The BayView and Standish Village.
• Momentum in Science – A state-of-the science report that takes viewers inside the laboratories and clinics of 24 leading scientists and physicians, revealing some of the most cutting-edge research advances made in curing the disease.
  Thursday, May 21 at 7:00pm at The Cambridge Homes, 360 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge.

We hope you will join us at one of the screenings. The series will premiere on May 10th on HBO.

Resources and Helpful Links:
http://www.hbo.com/events/alzheimers/
http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_16202.asp

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People with Alzheimer’s disease also sense the change in season and share “spring fever,” which is often accompanied by an eagerness to be outdoors. After a long winter, a springtime walk and more time outdoors can be a welcome change in routine for people with Alzheimer’s disease as well as their caregivers. However, caregivers and people with Alzheimer’s disease need to focus on safety and be aware of the potential for wandering. Wandering is a behavior associated with Alzheimer’s disease in which, due to memory loss and disorientation, individuals become lost after leaving the safety of their home. Many times, an individual will set out from home with a purpose or destination in mind. In the process, the individual may become confused and eventually lost, even in a familiar setting or neighborhood. Everyone with Alzheimer’s disease is at risk for wandering.

Wandering is a potentially life-threatening behavior. Becoming disoriented and lost causes great stress for an individual with Alzheimer’s disease. Often they are unable to ask for assistance, placing themselves at great risk. Caregivers need to monitor their loved ones and be alert for any signs of wandering.

According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, a person may be at risk for wandering if he or she:

• Returns from a regular walk later than expected
• Tries to fulfill former roles, such as picking children up at school each afternoon
• Seeks home and states “I want to go home”, even when at home
• Paces frequently or has other restless behavior
• Has difficulty locating rooms at home, such as the bathroom
• Looks for caregiver or another familiar person often
• Appears lost in a new or different environment

The National Alzheimer’s Association also provides a list of tips to for caregivers:

• Incorporate exercise into daily routine to combat anxiety and restlessness
• Take a daily walk together or find a friend for the person to walk with
• Target specific activities for times when wandering is most likely to occur
• Ensure basic needs are met: hunger, thirst, bathroom, and general comfort
• Keep the individual engaged to avoid wandering, involve the person in daily activities, such as household tasks, hobbies or social programs
• Secure and camouflage home exits: paint or hang a cloth over a door to match the color of surrounding walls
• Provide reassurance for feelings of loss, abandonment or disorientation
• Enroll the person in MedicAlert + Safe Return though the Alzheimer’s Association
• Tell your neighbors and emergency responders about the potential for wandering

Resources and helpful links:
Enroll the individual with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in the MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return®, the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-hour nationwide emergency response service.
http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_wandering_behaviors.asp
http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/challenging.htm

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The importance of positive communication cannot be overstated when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Communicating positively with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease involves learning about how the disease affects abilities and using specific techniques to overcome limitations caused by the disease. As family members and caregivers, communication is vital in maintaining relationships as well as providing assistance as it becomes necessary.

Alzheimer’s disease causes dramatic changes in an individual’s ability to communicate. At the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, often before an individual has received a diagnosis, changes in communication may be evident and include decreased ability to follow instructions or conversation, difficulty with word finding, and at times speaking less often.

As the disease progresses communication abilities are affected in a more pronounced way. People with the disease have clearly identifiable changes with language, both expressive and receptive. Individuals experience marked word finding problems, difficulty with organizing thoughts and sentences, increased confusion when listening to conversation, and decreased ability to understand written materials. Often times, individuals also exhibit reduced interest in conversation and communication, appearing uninterested and withdrawn.

Despite the many challenges in communicating with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease, there are specific ways to work towards improving communication to continue to share ideas, emotions and needs, and to provide a vital connection to the individual with the disease.

Caregivers can employ a number of specific tactics to improve communication. Some of the most important actions to take include showing the individual that you are interested in trying to understand what is being said, approaching the individual from the front and attempting to gain attention by stating your name and his or her name. It is important to maintain eye contact and watch your own body language and tone. As individuals with Alzheimer’s disease lose their abilities to understand words, they look for nonverbal communication cues; body language and verbal tone become very important.

Further communication techniques include limiting environmental distractions such as radio or television when conversing, speaking slowly and clearly in short simple sentences, repeating something if it isn’t understood the first time, waiting patiently for responses, and always using adult language and tone. Also, if you are both having a difficult time with a conversation or task, moving on to something else and trying again later can work. Mood, time of day, fatigue, and frustration can all contribute to communication abilities.

At Senior Living Residences, staff members receive specific training about communicating with someone who has Alzheimer’s disease. The Memory Support Neighborhoods are designed with specific programs to promote positive communication throughout the day for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

Together using positive communication techniques, the community of caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease can work to maintain the vital and important connection to the individual living with the disease.

Online Resources:
webmd.com
nia.nih.gov

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