Summer Safety Tips

Summer Safety Tips

The pleasures of summer include longer, warmer and sunnier days, celebrations with family and friends, and backyard BBQs. For the person caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, summer can also bring with it additional safety challenges. By taking a few minutes to review the following safety tips, families can enjoy a fulfilling and pleasant summertime together.

Sunshine and Warm Weather

• Exposure to the Sun – Limit your loved one’s exposure to the sun. Place comfortable lawn chairs in shaded areas. Encourage her to stay indoors between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. when the suns rays are the strongest. Encourage your loved one to wear a hat and sunglasses to protect her eyes.
• Sunscreen – Remind your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease to apply and reapply sunscreen when outside for long periods of time. Spray-on sunscreens are now available and may make application quicker and easier.
• Hydration – During the summer heat it is especially important to drink lots of fluids. Offer the person with Alzheimer’s disease a small glass of water to drink hourly, or keep a cool glass of water within arm’s reach as a reminder to him to drink. Provide non-alcoholic beer or lemonade for backyard BBQs.
• Appropriate Clothing – As the summer season is getting underway, think about reorganizing your loved one’s closet. Put away winter clothes and replace them with light clothing appropriate for the season.
• Emergency Prep – Enroll in or if necessary, update information with the Medic Alert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return®. Extreme summer temperatures can put your loved one at greater risk should she wander and become lost.

Summer Fun

• Noise and crowds of people can cause a person with Alzheimer’s disease to become agitated or wander in search of a quiet place. Fireworks displays, parades and picnics in the park on holidays may overwhelm your loved one. Consider watching fireworks from your home or in the quiet of the car and parades on television; picnic during less crowded hours and days.
• Backyard BBQ’s and fireworks can create a fire and safety hazard for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease who does not remember the proper use for such items. Never allow unsupervised access to open flames and hot surfaces.
• Attending a minor or major league ballgame may be something your loved one has always enjoyed. However, large crowds can be overwhelming for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. Identify someone in your group to be the designated “buddy” so you don’t lose track of who was supposed to stay with your loved one. Make sure someone always accompanies your loved one to the restroom and the concession stand and stays with them until they are ready to return to their seat. In large crowds the risk of being separated is great and can happen very quickly.
• Swimming may be a favorite pastime for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. While the physical exercise should be encouraged, do not allow an individual with Alzheimer’s disease to swim unsupervised, and do not leave children in the pool under the supervision of the person with Alzheimer’s disease even for a short period of time.
• Bicycling can be an enjoyable way to exercise in the summer, but traffic and other external stimuli can cause a person with Alzheimer’s disease to become distracted, resulting in an accident. If your loved one still enjoys bicycling, consider accompanying him on the ride or ask a trusted companion to accompany him. Encourage your loved one to wear a helmet and to ride on trails designated for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Gardening can be a pleasurable and relaxing activity but can also pose risks for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. Keep an eye on sharp gardening shears or tools and closely monitor their use. Use fertilizers that are not harmful if swallowed accidentally and ensure that the plants in the garden are not poisonous.
• Family reunions can be overwhelming to the person with Alzheimer’s disease and may rely greatly on her ability to recall names and faces. Consider limiting the amount of visitors and prepare both family members and the person with Alzheimer’s disease in advanced for the visit. Have a back up plan that will allow for a quiet place of rest if things become overwhelming or confusing.
• Many families plan vacations and trips during the summer time. Remember that new and unfamiliar places can be confusing for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. Consider simplifying travel plans or traveling to a familiar destination. Alert the Medic Alert + Safe Return registration line of your travel plans and provide them with contact information for your destination.

Summer Tips for Visiting Relatives with Dementia

When visiting relatives this summer, remember that Alzheimer’s disease can have a big impact on every member of the family including children. Each child will react differently to someone who has Alzheimer’s.

The young people in your life might have questions about what is happening. It’s important for you to take the time to answer these questions openly and honestly. It will also help to share with them the changes the disease might bring, now and in the future.

Your local Alzheimer’s Association can help you answer questions and provide information about how the family can work through the changes brought on by the disease. Here are some tips for helping children and teens understand Alzheimer’s disease:

• Keep lines of communication open
• Answer questions honestly
• Teach your child about the disease, the symptoms and the stages
• Let your child know these feelings are normal
• Create opportunities for your child to express his or her feelings
• Prepare your child for changes
• Let your child know reactions of the person with the disease are not his or her fault
• Inform your child’s teacher and school counselor

Activities children can share with the person who suffers from dementia:

• Bake cookies
• Put a puzzle together
• Play Hangman
• Color or draw pictures
• Make a scrapbook of family photographs
• Read a favorite book or story
• Eat a picnic lunch outside
• Watch your favorite TV show together Listen to or sing old songs

Of Being a Better Person

In the past few weeks, four of our former Charlie’s Place clients have passed away. Not a good way to begin a Blog, but a reflection that not only has me very grateful that I was given the privilege of knowing and serving these clients during their stay at Charlie’s Place, but also an acknowledgement and appreciation of the lives they had led...lives and full history possibly not known to those who cared for them.

George always called me “Miss Corpus Christi” referencing my hometown. He was a native Texan, too, and so most of our conversations always centered around the second largest State in the U.S. We’d talk about great sites and share memories of our respective growing up days. He gave me a sense of belonging, asking me about my home state, and I loved the reminiscing periods with him. He did talk about the Navy, but it slipped my mind until reading his obituary that he served in World War II. A life of service. A life well lived.

Georgia kept me on my toes. Intelligent, witty, and a great storyteller, she was a delight to engage in conversation. I remember how her eyes lit up when children from our Generations program visited Charlie’s Place. She loved children, and I could always tell she was a natural born educator. What I remember most about Georgia, however, was her deep spirituality. She always was an attentive participant in my Bible Study classes. One of the last events I directed in which she attended was a Christian Seder Meal on Holy Thursday, right before Easter. We closed the prayer service with singing the “Our Father.” As the music began to play, and everyone began to sing, Georgia lifted each hand beside her and clutched her neighbor. The clients all followed suit. Around the table, all the Charlie’s Place clients had bowed their heads and were holding hands and singing/praying the “Our Father.” The scene was a mental photograph that will never erase from my mind and one in which I will always cherish. It brings me to tears writing about it. You can’t imagine the overwhelmingly thrust of emotions I experienced with Georgia that day. I was so gifted to know her.

Another client named George also passed away. He was a character. I remember the day we completed the admission papers with his son and he noticed an electrical outlet high on the wall of our Program room. As he was leaving, he tapped it and turned to me and said, “That’s in the wrong place.” George was an Electrician so he knew the standards. I smiled and responded that we would take care of it. Quiet and reserved George made a memorable transition during his stay here at Charlie’s Place…one for our history books. He was the proverbial caterpillar that changed into a butterfly. Whatever the analogy, George experienced a metamorphosis at Charlie’s Place and by December of the year he had been admitted to Charlie’s Place, he was playing Santa for the children in our Generations program. And, though he could not really verbalize his excitement, I could read his eyes to see his expression of gratitude that playing Santa gave him a purpose and a sense of self-worth. I wonder sometimes if George and my dad crossed paths as both of them served in the Korean War conflict. I am sure there were many more stories to tell about George.

Last, but not least, we lost Bill. Bill had a short stay at Charlie’s Place and unfortunately, I did not get to know him as well as the other clients. However, I did experience Bill’s love of family and children and his love of music. Having been in the music ministry at Comite Baptist Church, Bill would ignite during sing-a-longs and Bible Study. What I remember most about Bill was his sensitivity, his placid nature, never wanting to impose on anyone, always offering assistance to others. He was one of those kind and gentle souls that one tries to emulate.

Four lives gone. These were individuals, contributing individuals to family and society, with generations of stories to appreciate and acknowledge. Yet, perhaps Alzheimer’s prevented anyone from looking beyond the disease, masking the immense history lessons of great benefit to us.

For me, the experience of knowing these four unique individuals, who happened to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, can be described best by a line in the movie, “As Good As It Gets.” Jack Nicholson’s character tells Helen Hunt’s character, “You make me want to be a better man.”

For the two Georges, Georgia and Bill, and for all the present clients at Charlie’s Place, I whisper that line to myself at the end of each day, for each experience, each encounter with them is a privilege. All of them, past and present, and others we serve, simply, make me want to be a better person.

-Dana Territo, Director of Services

Driving and Alzheimer’s

According to a Scandinavian study published in the Washington Post, about half of older drivers killed in traffic crashes have signs of Alzheimer’s disease. These statistics suggest that older drivers involved in accidents should be tested for cognitive performance such as thinking and judgment. Additionally, family members and doctors of individuals with Alzheimer’s should watch for symptoms of impaired judgment or coordination that can lead to vehicular accidents and/or fatalities.

Private cars account for over 90 percent of trips made by seniors,” said Dr. David Carr, a geriatrician and a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, when he spoke at the Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention Forum last October. “While it’s often imperative for the safety of the driver and others on the road, losing the ability to drive is one of the biggest blows to an elderly person’s independence.”

So, how do we take the keys away from Mom or Dad when they are suffering from Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia? As Dr. Carr inferred, the ability to drive is often the last bit of independence and symbol of competence that an individual has, so taking those keys away can be a daunting and formidable task.

There are generally three requirements to be an able driver: vision, cognition and motor ability. These characteristics often decline with age, and all contribute to the safety of driving.

If you’re loved one continues to drive, pay attention to some warning signs for unsafe behavior:

1) Does he/she have difficulty navigating to familiar places, changing lanes or making turns?

2) Does he/she confuse the brake and accelerator pedals?

3) Does he/she have difficulty reading traffic signals?

4) Does your loved one make slow decisions?

5) Do they drive at an inappropriate speed or hit curbs while driving?

6) Does he/she become angry or confused while driving?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, these are indications that it is time to have your loved one stop getting out on the road. Easier said than done.

It helps to see the physician and get a note from in writing to be a useful reminder for him/her to stop driving. It is also a good idea to keep car keys out of sight and if possible, remove the car out of the driveway so the individual is not reminded of it all day. Often, family members remove a battery cable or have a mechanic install a “kill switch” that must be engaged before the car will start. Some families get creative and tell their loved one that the insurance has expired and the car can’t be driven.

Or, the individual can undergo a Driving Assessment and from that authority, with results in hand, be willing to relinquish the keys. At the Baton Rouge Rehab Hospital, for instance, an Occupational Therapist can perform a clinical evaluation to determine the safety of driving. A cognitive assessment tool is given as well as a Road Evaluation and recommendations will be made based on these results.

Focused concentration and quick reaction time declines with age and accelerates with Alzheimer’s. At first, the decision may be difficult to take those keys away and your loved one may mourn the loss of independence. However, you would not want to endure the consequences of that loved one being involved in a traffic accident. Take the keys no matter how much it hurts the both of you. 

-Dana Territo, Director of Services

Preventing Falls

Falls are a common cause of injury in older adults.  Broken hips are just one of the risks of falling.  Plus, the fear of falling may cause a person to limit his or her mobility.  But you can do a lot to reduce the chances that you or someone you care for will fall.  Look below for tips that can help. 

Most serious falls occur at home.

• Look around the house for items that may cause someone to trip and fall.
• Make sure all rugs and mats are skid proof or secured with carpet tape.
• Remove electrical cords from pathways.
• Keep floors and stairways free from clutter.  Pick up papers, books, clothes and shoes.
• Roll up hoses and pick up tools in the yard.

Improve lighting in the home.

• Brighter lights can help a person see better and may prevent a fall.
• Have a lamp or night light near the bed.
• Even if the room is familiar, always turn on a light before walking into a dark area.  Consider using motion-, voice- or clap-activated switches.

Make the bathroom safer.

• Place a non-slip mat in the shower or tub.
• Install grab bars in the shower, tub and next to the toilet.
• If a person’s balance isn’t reliable, a shower bench with non-skid tips can be used in the shower or tub.
• A raised toilet seat is helpful for people who have trouble getting up and down from a regular toilet.

Wear safe shoes.  Use a cane or walker if needed.

• Choose shoes that are easy to walk in and give good support.
• Avoid shoes with slippery soles and those with high heels.
• Using a cane or walker can help you maintain your balance.

Poor vision can lead to a fall.

• A regular eye exam can determine if glasses are needed or if the current glasses are the right strength.
• An eye doctor can also check for cataracts or other conditions that may limit vision.

Regular exercise is important.

• Daily exercise helps maintain balance, flexibility and strength.
• Ask a health care provider about which kinds of exercise are best.

Review medications with a health care provider.

• Some medications or combination of medications can make a person drowsy or lightheaded.  This can increase the risk of falling.

Falls contribute to many serious injuries in older adults.  But falls are often due to hazards that are easy to fix.

Alzheimer's

Like snow silently falling 
overnight
As if someone came
And shut a precious light
A light that shone
For so many years
That recalled happiness
And tears

A light that held
The memory of you and me
And all that I love

I can't get out!
I have to stay here
Frustrated, angry
And full of fear

Please look at me
I'm really still here
I'm afraid you'll forget me
And not hold me dear

I wander, repeat
And sometimes stammer
I seemed to have lost
My original manner

Where is the light?
Where have I gone
While I'm still here?
Inside I have this dreadful fear

Be kind
It's only me dear

By Cynthia Hernly

Close to Home

I am writing today about my Aunt Terry. She was a vibrant, vivacious woman who always looked great from her early years to her smart short cut gray hair she sported in her 80’s. She was opinionated and shared her views on everything from politics to the weather and often colored things with her delightful wit. She was a wonderful wife to my uncle and raised my 4 cousins to be good people. The last time I saw her she was standing over the stove showing all the nieces how to simmer the bacon and the onions in the recipe for German Potato salad, a family favorite handed down generation to generation. I will treasure that time with her as I will never have another chance. We lost my Aunt Terry September 17th to Alzheimer’s.
 
In June my cousin Kathy contacted me when she learned I worked for Alzheimer’s Services. My Aunt had been living with her for the past year after developing Alzheimer’s and Kathy was lost. She was unaware of my knowledge and had no local support in her area of Florida. She didn’t have a clue to the challenges, the behaviors, the medications and their effects, the financial burden and the incredible amount of stress it would put on her. She was so grateful for the information I offered. She took my Aunt Terry to Buffalo, our original home town, for a family wedding and left her with her sister for a month and then another sister for a month when the family decided it would be best to place her in a nursing home. The first was not exactly a good match but they were happy with the second nursing home. My aunt was there for just over a little more than a month when Alzheimer’s claimed her. She was the third in the family that Alzheimer’s claimed, my grandmother in 1974 and my Uncle Elmer in 2004. She leaves my Aunt Mary and Aunt Rita who currently have Alzheimer’s and my Aunt Bernie who is showing early signs of it. They were or are all in their 80’s when the disease became evident.  

Research indicates that the disease begins affecting the brain 25 years before the symptoms become evident. At 54 I am at a critical point to be mindful of every precaution I can take to possibly prevent the plaques and tangles from forming in my brain. Having Alzheimer’s on both side of my family, both my mother and her sister are currently affected also, I don’t really worry about it but I certainly make choices that research indicates decrease my chances. A healthy diet, exercise, brain games, socialization, a variety of activities and interests, are all a part of my life. A healthy dose of prayer is my addition to the research. I am hopeful that the research develops interventions and in the meantime am inspired by the families we serve at Alzheimer’s Services knowing we help people on the Alzheimer’s journey every day.

Supporting Alzheimer’s Research through Brain Tissue Donation

If you are thinking of a unique way to support Alzheimer’s and dementia research, consider brain tissue donation.  Much of the research into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia relies on a thorough examination of donated brain tissue following the death of a person with the disease.   Examining the brain tissue allows scientists greater insight into the causes of the disease and the disease process.  It also allows scientists to observe the effects of current treatments for the disease.  It is important to note that brain tissue rapidly deteriorates immediately following death.  If you or your loved one is interested in brain tissue donation, have the discussion with your family members and your physician about autopsy arrangements.  Also note that researchers are also accepting brain tissue donations from persons not affected by any degenerative neurological diseases.  To find out more about brain tissue donation, go to www.alzforum.org.  There you will find a listing of brain tissue research institutes by state. 

Best Practice Center Model

Currently, Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area is working to produce a Best Practice Respite Center Model. There is great demand for Adult Day Respite Centers. Long Term Care Facilities will be prohibitive to many and will not be able to accommodate the numbers affected. Respite centers and adult care facilities will meet the needs. As replicating best practice respite centers is cost prohibitive for our organization, we see the need to develop a consultation package to assist in the development of quality care respite centers.  Our objective is to develop a Respite Center Manual and consultation program, and market this to interested health care providers from long-term care facilities, adult day care facilities, and faith–based organizations.  Our organization has already been approached with the need for advice in developing respite centers in New Orleans. This service would be implemented with specific fees for service including the purchase of a manual, off site consulting, and onsite consulting.  

Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this program.

The Other Olympians

For the past week, I've been watching as much of the Olympics as I can. I've been recording coverage during the day and catching up in the evenings, then watching primetime coverage. I'm one of those people who hates commercials. If I can record it and fast forward through the commercials, I will. However, as I've been watching the Olympics, I've been thoroughly enjoying the commercials. My favorites are the Visa commercials with narration by Morgan Freeman and the Nike commercials about greatness. How inspirational!

One promo that caught my eye, though, was for a new show coming up in the fall called Chicago Fire. As the scene unfolds on men working out as "athletes" the tagline, "Some heroes never go to the olympics," comes up on the screen, and we begin to see that these "athletes" are actually firefighters. It got me thinking about the many heroes that never go to the Olympics. The doctors, the soldiers, the mothers, and the ones I see everyday when they walk through the doors of Alzheimer's Services--the caregivers.

An Olympian is defined as majestic in manner, superior to mundane affairs, surpassing all others in scope and effect. Just as Olympians devote hours to training, caregivers devote hours to caring for their loved ones. Just as Olympians sacrifice, caregivers sacrifice their time, their social lives, and many times, their financial stability. Just as Olympians thrive under pressure, caregivers find strength and push through, even in the darkest moments. And just as Olympians rejoice in their victory and see the impact they have on entire countries, caregivers relish the joy of knowing they are making a difference in the lives of their loved ones and inspiring other caregivers along the way.

This week, I'll continue watching as much of the Olympics as I can. I'll cheer for USA to win more medals, and I'll continue to look for Kate Middleton and Prince William in the crowds. I may even try to figure out the rules of water polo. But most importantly, I'll remember the other Olympians--the caregivers--who will never stand on a podium with an Olympic medal around their neck with the national anthem playing in the background, but who are as every bit as heroic as those that will. And I will be inspired to find my inner Olympian.

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