Belinda,
Thank you for your kind words toward Alzheimer's Services and toward our volunteer blogger. We appreciate your help here at the office and look forward to working with you again. Alzheimer's Services is indeed a wonderful place for families to come for education and support while dealing with a loved one who has Alzheimer's or a related form of dementia.
Thank you,
Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area Staff
Friday, October 24, 2008
Alzheimer’s Services from Service Learning Student Perspective
This is my third time volunteering at Alzheimer’s Services and like my first visit here, I can not explain the feeling of calm I get when I walk through the doors. Today I am at the front desk answering incoming calls and so far I have only had two, Thank God! It’s not that I am scared to answer the phones it is I dread someone calling in because a family member has just been diagnosed with this disease.
The good thing is that there is Alzheimer’s Services to provide support for family members who are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Just having this warm and caring group of people here would make anyone feel at ease and let them know that they are not alone.
I also had the pleasure of typing blogs this morning submitted by a man who has Alzheimer’s and will be turning 90 next year!!!! As I was typing the entries I was in awe at how detailed his entries were in recalling each of his experiences. It was like I was there going through the experience with him. Memories and experiences such as these should be shared and enjoyed by others because unlike this man I have never watched turtles being born, but just by reading his blog I felt like I was there experiencing this miracle with him.
Even after my Service Learning experience is over I hope to still volunteer at Alzheimer’s Services. I know for sure I will read the blogs on a regular basis just to keep up with what’s going on, and to read future blogs by the blogger who wrote about the turtles.
Belinda
LSU Service Learning Student
The good thing is that there is Alzheimer’s Services to provide support for family members who are caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s. Just having this warm and caring group of people here would make anyone feel at ease and let them know that they are not alone.
I also had the pleasure of typing blogs this morning submitted by a man who has Alzheimer’s and will be turning 90 next year!!!! As I was typing the entries I was in awe at how detailed his entries were in recalling each of his experiences. It was like I was there going through the experience with him. Memories and experiences such as these should be shared and enjoyed by others because unlike this man I have never watched turtles being born, but just by reading his blog I felt like I was there experiencing this miracle with him.
Even after my Service Learning experience is over I hope to still volunteer at Alzheimer’s Services. I know for sure I will read the blogs on a regular basis just to keep up with what’s going on, and to read future blogs by the blogger who wrote about the turtles.
Belinda
LSU Service Learning Student
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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It's time again for another post from our volunteer blogger!
AN OCTOBER DAY
I’m sitting outside on our patio. No TV. No radio. Very quiet and serene and I’m in the shade. We had an aluminum roof put over the cement patio. The roof is about 20’ wide and about 40’ long and it provides a lot of cover. Because it is on the north side of the house we do not get a lot of direct sunlight on the patio. A cool breeze just came by. Felt great!!!!
I’m sitting at a round table on the patio. We hung a 4’ by 8’ lattice screen at the far end of the patio. The wind goes through the openings but it also gives the effect of being enclosed.
I can hear the songs of the many birds in the trees. I do not recognize the birds I hear, but I do enjoy their chirp, chirp, chat, chat. It’s sort of peaceful out here. Not many cars on the street. School busses leave Tara High at about 2:30 each school day and I can tell time by the school busses leaving the Tara parking lot.
A big live oak tree shades the patio. It made it through the storm, but lost many branches. We took all the broken branches and piled them at our curb. Our neighbors have done likewise. Our street looks like a log jam with very heavy logs on both sides of the street. Probably like your neighborhood also. Two large trees fell on our neighbor’s house a few streets over. Looking at the house from the street, it looks as if it has three sections to it and gives you an eerie feeling. Of course, no one lives there now.
What a great loss! And our loss was minor. Thank God!
Jean is bringing lunch to me! She is so sweet and thoughtful. I love her and rely on her for so much.
Well, I see lunch coming through the gate. It’s time to quit and chat with my sweetie for awhile.
Bye for now!
This blog was written by a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He’ll be 90 in ’09.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Alzheimer's Stamp
October 17, 2008 -
The Alzheimer's Awareness stamp is now available to purchase in US Postal Offices.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Stress of Caregiving
One of our staff members found this great article on the stress of caregiving on CNN.com. Check it out.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/09/lw.elder.care.stresses.marriage/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/10/09/lw.elder.care.stresses.marriage/index.html
Address to U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
A man with Early Onset Alzheimer's disease addresses the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. Check it out.
http://aging.senate.gov/events/hr194cj.pdf
http://aging.senate.gov/events/hr194cj.pdf
Monday, October 13, 2008
A Personal Experience
The following contribution was made by an LSU Service Learning Student.
My experience with Alzheimer’s is a personal one. I can remember as a young girl growing up, my grandfather’s aunt from New Orleans would come down for the weekend. She would be fine one minute and the next she’s dressed for church with just a hat on and nothing else. I couldn’t put a name to this behavior back then, but now I realize that this disease is prevalent in my family.
Today, my grandfather and one of his sisters are both struggling with this disease, one in more advanced stage than the other. After the death of my grandmother last year, my grandfather became really depressed, and as a result is in a nursing facility because living in a house where you shared so many memories with the person you love for 60+ years was too much for him.
Experience #1- Who knew that you had to be destitute in order to receive Federal assistance for nursing care? My family didn’t. Since his doctor recommended him to a facility it was covered under health insurance, but that came to an end. He has private health insurance and Medicare, but a nursing facility is not covered. Therefore, his savings had to be used to cover costs.
Experience#2 – Why is there a 6 month waiting list for in-home caregivers if you are not covered by Medicaid?
My mom and aunt both tried sitting with my grandfather for months, but found that it was too hard on them because he is a fairly big man who is in wheelchair. It was hard for them deciding to put him in a nursing facility, but there was no other choice since he was put on a waiting list to have someone come into the house and care for him during the day. If he would have had Medicaid it would not have been a problem, there is no waiting list.
It is amazing how if a family member wants to take care of a loved one at some point it may become too difficult for one person alone, and the option of having someone come into the home and assist is not available. Again, from my personal experience my grandfather has worked all his life to provide for his family, help in the community, and have a nest egg. Only to have his family feel that they are not able to provide for him when he needs it, he is not able to remain in the community for which he is highly looked upon, and his nest egg is gone because of nursing home expenses.
Being a service learning student at LSU and volunteering at Alzheimer’s Services has really been a positive experience. It is good to know that there are people that genuinely care about people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Services is the perfect place to start for someone who has a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s because they have made it simple by having resources regarding this disease readily available. My experience at Charlie’s Place was more than I would have ever expected. The staff and volunteers that were assisting the “Charlie’s” on yesterday did not treat them as though they have Alzheimer’s. Everyone was having such a good time singing, and making crafts that it felt like a “social event.” If I know of anyone who has a loved one that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s I will not hesitate to direct them to Alzheimer’s Services.
Belinda N. Doyle
LSU Service Learning Student
My experience with Alzheimer’s is a personal one. I can remember as a young girl growing up, my grandfather’s aunt from New Orleans would come down for the weekend. She would be fine one minute and the next she’s dressed for church with just a hat on and nothing else. I couldn’t put a name to this behavior back then, but now I realize that this disease is prevalent in my family.
Today, my grandfather and one of his sisters are both struggling with this disease, one in more advanced stage than the other. After the death of my grandmother last year, my grandfather became really depressed, and as a result is in a nursing facility because living in a house where you shared so many memories with the person you love for 60+ years was too much for him.
Experience #1- Who knew that you had to be destitute in order to receive Federal assistance for nursing care? My family didn’t. Since his doctor recommended him to a facility it was covered under health insurance, but that came to an end. He has private health insurance and Medicare, but a nursing facility is not covered. Therefore, his savings had to be used to cover costs.
Experience#2 – Why is there a 6 month waiting list for in-home caregivers if you are not covered by Medicaid?
My mom and aunt both tried sitting with my grandfather for months, but found that it was too hard on them because he is a fairly big man who is in wheelchair. It was hard for them deciding to put him in a nursing facility, but there was no other choice since he was put on a waiting list to have someone come into the house and care for him during the day. If he would have had Medicaid it would not have been a problem, there is no waiting list.
It is amazing how if a family member wants to take care of a loved one at some point it may become too difficult for one person alone, and the option of having someone come into the home and assist is not available. Again, from my personal experience my grandfather has worked all his life to provide for his family, help in the community, and have a nest egg. Only to have his family feel that they are not able to provide for him when he needs it, he is not able to remain in the community for which he is highly looked upon, and his nest egg is gone because of nursing home expenses.
Being a service learning student at LSU and volunteering at Alzheimer’s Services has really been a positive experience. It is good to know that there are people that genuinely care about people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s Services is the perfect place to start for someone who has a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s because they have made it simple by having resources regarding this disease readily available. My experience at Charlie’s Place was more than I would have ever expected. The staff and volunteers that were assisting the “Charlie’s” on yesterday did not treat them as though they have Alzheimer’s. Everyone was having such a good time singing, and making crafts that it felt like a “social event.” If I know of anyone who has a loved one that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s I will not hesitate to direct them to Alzheimer’s Services.
Belinda N. Doyle
LSU Service Learning Student
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