On Long Distance Care of a Loved One

There are 1100 miles between my front door and my mother’s home. The home I grew up in and she has known for nearly 60 years. She raised 8 children in that house and wants to live there until she dies. At age 86, she may get her wish. I hope she gets her wish and does not need institutional care as her Alzheimer’s disease is becoming more evident each time I speak to her. Being so far away and not being able to help in her daily needs is frustrating for me. I have four siblings living near her, one a developmentally challenged brother who actually does still live with her. Unfortunately his challenges make it difficult for him to assist in her care. He does his best. My siblings do what they can but not nearly everything that is necessary. Last Sunday my mom walked a mile to church and a mile home. For the first time she said that the walk was getting a little long. Somehow I can’t understand why she has to walk at all with so many relatives that drive nearby.

I call each morning to remind mom to take her medication. The daily pill box has long since stopped being a reminder; regardless that it is placed where she eats every meal. Buying a pill dispenser with an alarm is my next purchase. My brother tries to intercept the mail to discard the many daily pleas for donations that she receives. She will send each one a check for $5 or $10 but doesn’t pay her utility bill. She asks me to send her a list of the siblings, spouses and grandchildren’s names. She has spent the day with my oldest sister and her husband but can’t remember a thing they said to share with me. She still tries to do all the laundry which requires going down stairs to the basement and carrying a basket of laundry up. The only bathroom is located on the second floor so she climbs those stairs 6 or 7 times a day. I have managed to have grab bars and additional railings placed on all the stairwells for extra support. I have tried to coordinate a care program for her with all 8 siblings working together where we plan trips to visit to relieve some responsibility of those near her, pay bills with online banking, and finalize her legal issues and estate plans. The effort is exhausting as things move so slowly or someone drops the ball and doesn’t follow through … and my mom has 8 children with 6 spouses and 12 grandchildren. I can’t imagine what an only child or smaller families do to cope with the demands of caregiving. My generation didn’t have large families and the average is 2.3 children per family. For the first time in our nation’s history the birth rate did not exceed the death rate this year. Families are more mobile. For us in Louisiana, many families experienced relocations due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and no longer live near each other. As we see the expected rise in those affected by Alzheimer’s disease we will also see more long distance care situations and many frustrated caregivers. I’m grateful for the knowledge I have as an employee of Alzheimer’s Services and yet I have great challenges. I have great empathy for those we serve and hope we can help with those challenges.

Barbara Auten
Executive Director
Alzheimer's Services of the Capital Area

Support Groups

When my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my mind filled with questions and apprehension. At that time, two friends’ parents were also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

friends and I began monthly meetings at my home where we shared information and experiences while caring for our parents. At those meetings, we cried and we laughed together. Eventually, our group grew to include eight daughters of parents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We named our group “DPD” – Daughters of Parents with Dementia. DPD became a testimonial to the need for a support system when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Each new member found comfort in the knowledge that anything they were experiencing or feeling was not unique tothem and their loved ones.

Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area is here to provide you with the many levels of support to help you in your everyday struggles in coping with the overwhelming diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.

Marcia L. Kirk, Respite Center Coordinator Assistant

In Support of Adult Day Centers

The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) is the leading voice of the rapidly growing adult day services (ADS) industry and the national focal point for ADS providers. Members include adult day center providers, state associations of providers, corporations, educators, students, retired workers and others interested in working to build better lives for adults in adult day programs every day. NADSA is positively impacting the lives of participants, families, communities and our nation.

Having recently attended the NADSA conference and Board Meeting, it was interesting to learn trends in the day center industry. The keynote speaker, Lisa Gwyther, MSW, LCSW, noted that there has been a 35% increase in adult day centers in the United States since last year. She also noted that Family Care is changing. There are more sole caregivers. There is less secondary support. More adult child caregivers as well as male caregivers are surging to the forefront. Additionally, caregiving has an impact on employers as 12% of the American workforce are now primary caregivers.

And, the growing trend, according to Gwyther, is RESPITE care. Unfortunately, caregivers resist this arrangement. RESPITE is the most referred, the least available, and utilized less than any other community service. Caregivers struggle not only with the meaning of the term, but also with the knowledge of services, the stigma, the loss of control, and even with the disclosures of privacy issues.

Yet, like Charlie’s Place, adult day centers and RESPITE care can reduce isolation and bring a productive and purposeful day to a loved one, especially one struggling with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia disorder. The quality of life for individuals with this disease can be enhanced and enriched in these environments and these environments are as good for the care receiver as well as the caregiver. Caregivers have a chance to relax, run errands, and have time away from the responsibilities of caring for their loved ones. Significant improvement in caregiver and patient quality of life is evidenced because of Adult Day Centers.

Not surprisingly, Gwyther closed her presentation with a strong recommendation for Day Centers across the country to open dementia-specific centers and Respite Care to accommodate the growing need and the rising numbers of those who are affected by Alzheimer’s.

It was refreshing to know that Charlie’s Place is on the leading edge of RESPITE care and that our continuing efforts in programming and services lend to a quality of life for both our beloved clients and their caregivers. We salute each of you….our clients, our caregivers, and all our staff as we celebrate National Adult Day Services Week in September. We believe in NADSA’s motto as the commemorative poster states: “Adult Day Services – An older adult’s good friend. A disabled adult’s source of dignity. A valuable community resource.” Thanks for supporting us as we support all of you!

by Dana Territo, Director of Services

2010 Walk/Run to Remember PSA

We are very excited about this year's Walk/Run to Remember. The Walk/Run PSA was created with our Walk/Run Honorary Chair Rolfe McCollister Jr. and Political Consultant James Carville.

2010 Walk/Run to Remember
October 9, 2010
LSU "Old Front Nine

Registration 8:00 am
Race 9:00 am
Walk 9:10 am
Memory Market Exhibitors 8:00 am

Don't forget the register yourself or a team early at BRhope .com. See you there!

Activity Ideas for Someone with Alzheimer's

Listed below are activity ideas for someone with Alzheimer's

1. Rake leaves
2. Use the carpet sweeper
3. Read out loud
4. Feed fish and care for the tank
5. Look up names in the phone book
6. Read the daily paper out loud
7. Ask someone to visit
8. Listen to music
9. Plant seeds indoors or out
10. Look at family photographs
11. Clean & top up the bird bath
12. Weed the flower bed
13. Fold clothes
14. Have a friend visit with a calm pet
15. Cut pictures out of greeting cards
16. Polish silverware
17. Baking / mixing
18. Sort objects by shape or color
19. Sing old songs
20. Go for a drive/ride
21. Take a walk
22. Reminisce about 1st day of school
23. Ask simple trivia questions
24. Make a salad
25. Sweep the patio
26. Fold towels
27. Have afternoon tea
28. Paint a picture
29. Cut out paper shapes
30. Make a family tree poster
31. Put feed out for the birds
32. Water house plants
33. Reminisce about the first kiss
34. Dance
35. Sing favorite hymns
36. Make homemade ice cream
37. Make Christmas / Birthday cards
38. Write a letter to a family member
39. Make popcorn
40. Give a manicure
41. Dusting
42. Finish famous sayings
43. Feed the ducks
44. Mold with play dough
45. Put a puzzle together
46. Polish wood
47. Rub in hand lotion
48. Arrange fresh flowers
49. Remember famous people
50. Straighten out underwear drawer

Julie D. Brewer, MA
Program Coordinator/Respite Administrator

The Male Caregiver---In Appreciation of YOU!

Caregiving for persons with Alzheimer's disease can pose significant challenges to the health of the spousal caregiver, due to perceived stressfulness---and the need for leisure satisfaction or activity offers important implications for the maintenance of a good health status for spousal caregivers. However, caregiving literature most often focuses on the female caregiver, while it is currently estimated that men make up nearly 40 percent of family care providers. This leads to questioning about the generalizations of certain literature to the male caregiver.

On 15 surveyed men who are caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s, according to research studies conducted by Emory University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, results indicated that male spouse caregivers generally have poorer mental and physical health, in comparison with non-caregiving men. Particularly, caregiving men showed higher levels of depression, respiratory system symptoms and overall poorer levels of health habits.

With this said… and in honor of our recently passed Father’s Day weekend, I send a special acknowledgment to every male caregiver whose eyes may happen upon these words. Whether you find yourself as a son or a son-in-law, a brother or brother-in-law, a nephew, uncle, father-to-be or a seasoned dad or granddad, you are recognized, honored, and appreciated for all of the wonderful things that you do to keep your family strong, encouraged, and steadily moving forward through the changes and challenges that occur in dealing with this disease.

Many of these ideas can be enjoyable for anyone, but these 20 relaxation ideas are for YOU --- the man who serves as a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. We are thinking of you!

1. Purchase tickets to see your favorite sports team
2. Schedule frequent visits to the golf course
3. Learn to cook a new dish
4. Enjoy a movie marathon of your oldies, but goodies
5. Take a fishing trip
6. Make time for bowling
7. Go for a walk/hike on a scenic trail
8. Visit a brewery for tasting or
9. Visit a few wineries for wine tasting
10. Take a day to relax at the beach or your choice of a peaceful get-a-way
11. Participate in a support group
12. Exercise on the average of three times per week and maintain a healthy diet
13. Establish time for personal meditation or reflection
14. Practice effective time management
15. Stay involved in whatever hobbies you enjoy
16. Plan a backyard barbeque for those closest to you
17. Get a massage
18. Go for a drive
19. Listen to your favorite music or schedule to hear your favorite band
20. Vary your caregiving responsibilities amongst other family members, friends, or professionals (so that you can find time to do any of these great things and more…!)

Rashida Keith/ Program Coordinator

Moments with Red, White and Blue Memories

Willie Mae, flashing a white napkin in the air, led a line dance to “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Sonny rarely rested, his feet carrying him on the dance floor at every turn. Mable said “I like to have fun.” Margaret told the band they would have to stay longer. Dale twirled the ladies, and they dizzily abided. A gentle couple…he dressed smartly in a suit and bow tie, and her in her Sunday best, left gratefully, saying, “Oh, such wonderful memories! Thank you!”

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy once said that Life is not a matter of making milestones, but of moments. And such we did for a few hours on a recent Sunday afternoon at our “Red, White and Blue Memories” event sponsored by the Walmart Foundation for our Charlie’s Place clients and families. With the sounds of Ned Fasullo and his Big Band Orchestra, families danced, laughed and talked, shared memories and moments, and generally, put the future and their worries aside.

The dance floor was never bare as daughters and sons danced with moms, grandchildren with granddads, daughters with their fathers, and friends with more friends. As the Waltz, Rumba, and ChaCha dances were demonstrated by Ballroom Dancers Cecil and Neila Phillips, days of yesteryear and thoughts of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers certainly conjured in everyone’s heads. Songs like “In the Mood,” “Midnight Serenade,” and “Fly Me to the Moon,” kept toes tapping and feet swaying across a room filled mostly with what news anchorman, Tom Brokaw terms, The Greatest Generation, those who matured during the Great Depression and the Second World War and went on to build contemporary America.

They ARE the greatest generation…brought together for a common purpose with common values, like duty and honor, and service and love, the latter shown so transparently on the faces of all those present that day. And, might I emphasize duty and honor---how extraordinary these families and caregivers are who daily care for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, and how special are those loved ones experiencing this debilitating brain disorder!

On an exceptional Sunday afternoon, we all MADE many moments, as Rose Kennedy put it; however, personally, my moments were those when I witnessed the faces of joy of this union of this greatest generation. For they all enjoyed a time that stood still, traveling back to an era so familiar and relishing lives, bygone days and music, which all, for a few short hours, remained seemingly unchanged for them. Their moments, like mine, were capsulated in an hour-glass with no sand as the hands of time were oblivious to the face of Alzheimer’s disease.

I am grateful that I walked…rather…danced the journey with all of them.

Dana Territo


Programs Department: Shown from left to right: Ed Picard/Charlie's Place Respite Center Coordinator; Dana Territo/Director of Services; Rashida Keith/Programs Coordinator, and Julie Brewer/Programs Coordinator.