Make a Memory Box

HOW TO MAKE A MEMORY BOX

INSTRUCTIONS

PURPOSE:

To provide a reminiscing activity for individuals with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia-related illnesses.

SUPPLIES:

*small cardboard box

*decorations (bow & stickers)

*strips of paper

DIRECTIONS:

*Place a small picture or sticker on each strip of paper and jot down a sentence about that sticker or picture.

 Example:  Place a sticker of a dog on one of the strips of paper and jot down a             sentence.  Such as: Remember our pet dog “Rover” and how cute he was?

*Continue same sequence, adding more memories to each strip of paper.

*Place other unique memories, such as a favorite piece of candy.

Other examples: 

*sticker of a“Hershey kiss candy”- Remember how much you love chocolate?

*sticker of a “fishing pole”-Remember the big fish you caught when we went fishing at Toledo Bend?

*sticker of a “baseball”-Remember when you played baseball for the Baton Rouge Sluggers?

*sticker of a “flag”-Remember when you were in the Navy?

*Finally, place all of the strips in the box and take the box out whenever you want to reminisce.

Fourth of July Memories

Celebrating July fourth this past week I was reminded of all the family reunions held in July over the years. My Aunt Rita hosted many of them when I was young; she had 10 children and a pool. What were another 50 or so people in her yard and house? My grandmother, Della, was in her glory with her family surrounding her … laughing … swimming … recalling the good old times. My grandmother was the first in the family affected with Alzheimer’s.



In more recent years the family all headed up to a cousin’s beach house on Lake Erie. It was there as an adult I listened to “the greatest generation” share their stories and learned things about my father’s family. My Aunt Terry showed us the secrets to my grandmother’s German Potato Salad that many of us thought was lost to us when my grandmother developed Alzheimer’s. Her daughter, my cousin, asks me for help as she copes with caring for her. As my Aunt Terry is in the advanced stages my cousin deals with Aunt terry’s confusion and inability to care for herself, identifying this as “a horrible disease.” My Aunt Mary shared stories of her years in the convent. She celebrated 65 years as a nun this past May. In her Alzheimer’s she’s delighted to see her brother Art, who is actually her nephew and my brother, who does look just like my dad who passed away 27 years ago. Art falls into the role of my dad and plays along for Mary’s sake, living in her moment, enjoying a laugh at the past. Gone is their other brother Elmer, lost to Alzheimer’s in 2005. He made it to a few of those reunions, travelling all the way from Oregon. This is just my dad’s side of the family that is or was affected; my grandmother, Uncle Elmer, Aunt Mary, and Aunt Terry. I am hoping the two youngest Rita and Bernie are spared.



My Aunt Betty, my mom’s sister, has been in a nursing home for several years now slipping into the advanced stages. As my mother’s Alzheimer’s robs her of her memory I have offered to make the 2 hour drive to visit Aunt Betty hoping she will go. I think my mother’s fear of seeing herself down the line stops her and she finds an excuse not to go.



So this Fourth of July we had a mini reunion here in Louisiana and my brother Art visited with my niece and nephew. We reminisced about reunions past while we strolled through the D-Day Museum. We talked about dad and my uncles and their service during the war and I was once again reminded that Alzheimer’s is indiscriminate in its wake as my brother shared the stories of my Uncle Joe’s last years, lost to Alzheimer’s. The last reunion on the lake I remember Uncle Joe, my Aunt jean’s husband, being in another world thinking we nieces were all young ladies at a USO party. He bantered and humored us and I kept it as a precious memory seeing a glimpse of the young man he once was. I was heartbroken to learn that his last years were difficult and his Alzheimer’s changed this wonderfully pleasant man into an unhappy ornery one.



So as we celebrated July 4th and Independence Day I was struck with thoughts of how many lose their independence to Alzheimer’s. As I saw the fireworks burst in the sky my thoughts were of each of my aunts, my uncles, my grandmother, my mom and how they were each once bursting with energy and shone so bright like those fireworks…and as the night sky went dark so too Alzheimer’s robs them of their light. The Fourth of July will never be the same.

We're Here For You

“Even if this illness took her memory away from her, it didn’t take the memory of her away from me.” -Annonymous
 
This quote touches my heart tremendously. It captures the loss the affected individual has experienced, but it reassures the caregivers and loved ones that the wonderful memories will never be lost. My grandmother suffers from dementia. I visit as much as possible and she always wants to know what’s going on in my life; of course, I have told her countless times. However, in her mind I am still 12 years old and her pride and joy. At times, I am overcome with sorrow to think that my hero has this terrible disease. But, like in the quote above, I am comforted by the fact the memories of her and I sharing moments together as I grew up will never leave me. 
 
I spoke with a caregiver recently who stated, “No one knows what an Alzheimer’s caregiver feels unless they have experienced personally.” This statement describes the frustration felt by many caregivers and other family members. Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area strives to decrease this frustration. We have the Caregiver Network Support Group Meetings as well as our monthly Lunch-N-Learn which gives caregivers a place to discuss the unique situations brought on only by this disease. Alzheimer’s affects many people and many families but it affects each differently. If you or someone you know needs a person to talk to, who can understand the frustration and can offer assistance, please contact us at Alzheimer’s Services. If you are struggling to cope we will do our best to provide hope!


Katherine Schillings, Program Coordinator

A First Week to Remember…

Alright, I have just completed my first work week at Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area.  The most appropriate word that describes my experiences is “wow!” It was a great first week filled with a LOT of information about the services the agency provides and as well as all the activities they are engaged in. I am very humbled by the warmth and reception given to me by this great team of people. The dedication and passion the agency has for those whose lives have been impacted by Alzheimer’s is commendable. I got a chance to talk to each of my co-workers about how they individually and collectively contribute to the success of the agency.  I am truly blessed to be a member of this winning team. But I must say that I had two unexpected highlights in my week which were attending the BRAN Meeting at Sunrise and caregiver support group at Magnolia Assisted Living in Gonzales, Louisiana.   

My third work day began at a Baton Rouge Aging Network (BRAN) Meeting. The BRAN Meeting’s activity this month was a personal virtual dementia tour.  Participants got a chance to walk in the shoes of someone who has Alzheimer’s. The activity allowed the participant to experience some of the more pervasive symptoms of the disease such as vision and hearing problems, difficulty in holding or grasping objects; and how these challenges impede completing daily activities. It was an enlightening experience.    

My fourth day at work ended with a caregiver support group meeting. The support group was held at Magnolia Assisted Living facility. It was facilitated by Suzie Richard. Ms. Richard was well received by her diverse group of participants which included Alzheimer’s patients, children of Alzheimer’s patients, caregivers, and a couple who had been married for over 67 years.  The group shared their own personal experiences with the disease. Some participants cried while others shared a laugh. One person described his experience with Alzheimer’s as, “Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying.” The group agreed with this gentleman’s comment.  The group was able to vent their frustrations, ask questions, share caregiver tips, laugh, and even cry in a non-judgmental atmosphere. The group may have begun as strangers but they left the group as new friends giving each other support through hugs, handshakes, and/or a gentle pat on the back.  

So to summarize my first week, let’s just say that the bar has been set very high (thanks Julie D!) and I will work diligently to carry out the mission and vision of Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area in my work! Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity!

Kristi F. Mellion

Program Coordinator/Respite Administrator

Launch of the Initiative to Improve Behavioral Health and Reduce the Use of Anti-psychotic Medications in Nursing Homes Residents

According to a press release from the national Department of Health and Human Services last March, the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) launched a new initiative aimed at improving behavioral health and safeguarding nursing home residents from unnecessary anti-psychotic drug use. As part of the initiative, CMS is developing a national action plan that will use a multidimensional approach including public reporting, raising public awareness, regulatory oversight, technical assistance/training and research. The action plan will be targeted at enhancing person centered care for nursing home residents, particularly those with dementia-related behaviors.  This aggressive goal aims at reducing anti-psychotic drug use by 15% in nursing homes by the end of the year.

Medications, when used appropriately, help promote the resident’s highest practicable mental, physical, and psychosocial well-being. Inappropriate use of medications can compromise a resident’s well-being and even cause death. Initially this goal will focus on medications that are used to control behaviors such as anti-psychotic drugs. Working on this goal will provide the nursing home staff with alternative non-pharmacological interventions for residents who otherwise would be treated with anti-psychotic medications. The result will be better health for residents.

When I was a part of the team that opened the first secured Alzheimer’s unit in Baton Rouge in a nursing home over 20 years ago, I personally witnessed the use of anti-psychotic drugs, the most popular being Haldol.     At the time, this medication seemed to be the only answer and a quick fix in combating aggressive behaviors among the residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia.  Observing the medication’s use among a wide variety of my residents was a tough pill for me to swallow, (no pun intended), because I saw the effects of Haldol on them---the sedation made them oblivious to their surroundings, unresponsive,  and oftentimes did more harm than good.   I remember thinking at the time, What kind of quality of life can these residents have if this medication has such an effect on them?  I detested the use of this drug (inasmuch as I understood why it was used) just as much as I did physical restraints (which are no longer used).  Moreover, I felt, as many do now, that the causes of elevated behaviors are mostly due to unmet needs and environmental triggers.  Once we figure out what those are, we understand the root of the behaviors and can deal with them accordingly, without anti-psychotic medications.

Dr. Alan Power, author of “Dementia Beyond Drugs”  revealed a study  in his book that of the 2.5 million Medicare recipients who spent time in nursing homes in 2000-2001,  27.6% of those residents were prescribed anti-psychotic drugs, while 17% exceeded recommended dosages. (Briesacher BA, etal (2005).   Further, at best, fewer than one in five residents show improvement when prescribed these medications. (Karlawish, J. (2006) NEJM 355 (15) 1604-1606.

The risk of anti-psychotic drugs is of concern, too.  In addition to sedation, residents can experience falls, weight gain, constipation, elevated blood sugar, and even an increase in mortality rate.

Dr. Power promotes and encourages a culture change, with the primary goal to create well-being among the residents.   “Each person has a unique path and individual needs,” Power proclaims. “Our goal is to grow meaningful relationships throughout the care environment.”

Hopefully, the goals of the new CMS initiative can be met and the use of anti-psychotic drugs in nursing homes will be curbed.  It’s a small step in transforming the care environment for nursing home residents.  It will take many larger steps to bring culture change, awareness, and education to provide staff with alternative non-pharmacological interventions.

I am proud that our organization will support this new CMS initiative, and I will personally be on the lead team with LEADER (Louisiana Enhancing Aging with Dignity through Empowerment and Respect) in meeting the goals on this most important project. 

By Dana Territo, Director of Services