ACA Glow for a Cure nighttime golf tournament, July 29th Highlands Golf Course: Jr. Board fundraiser for The Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program in Alzheimer’s Research at UAB. Teams almost sold out! $30 for spectator tickets includes Taco Mama and live music. Glow for a Cure – Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama (alzca.org)
Win $1,000 gas card and support ACA’s Lindy Harrell Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program in Alzheimer’s Research at UAB. https://alzca.org/gas-gift-cards/
July Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
Canterbury-Beeson Forum on Aging, August 13, Canterbury United Methodist Church, Birmingham, https://www.canterburyumc.org/events-calendar/2022/8/13/canterbury-beeson-forum-on-aging
19th Annual Alzheimer’s Professional & Family Caregiver Conference, August 26, Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery,https://www.eventbrite.com/e/19th-annual-alzheimers-professional-family-caregiver-conference-tickets-381131543707
The third Global-US BrainTrust dialogue, August 31, 11 – noon CT, experts will share insights on the importance of early diagnosis, latest findings in ground breaking clinical trials, and the power of music as it pertains to brain health. Global-US Brain Trust Quarterly Dialogue: Trending Issues in Alzheimer’s Prevention (google.com)
In-person and zoom Support Groups:
- ACA’s group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, July 26, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- Pell City group, first Thursdays of the month at 6:30; and the third Tuesdays of the month at 6:30. Contact Bit Thomaston, ethomason50@gmail.com
- CJFS CARES, Mondays at 3 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- Founders Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Tuesday’s at 10 am, contact Betsy Smith, Smith35213@gmail.com
- West Alabama Area Agency on Aging, Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, contact Nikki Poe, nikki.poe@westal.org.
- The Oaks on Parkwood, 4th Tuesday’s, 10:00 am, Contact: Karen Glover, karenrglover@bellsouth.net.
- CJFS CARES, Tuesdays, 7:00 pm, contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org.
- United Way Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County, 3rd Tuesday of each month 11:30-12:30, contact Valarie Lawson, vlawson@uwaaa.org
- M4A, 2nd Thursday’s, noon – 1 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- M4A, 3rd Wednesday’s 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Contact Crystal Whitehead, cwhitehead@m4a.org
- Asbury United Methodist Church1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
Alzheimer’s News:
The University of Minnesota Public Health Center of Excellence on Dementia Caregiving recently hosted a webinar that included a panel of members of the Faith United Against Alzheimer’s Coalition addressing the importance of faith communities to people living with dementia and their caregivers. The panel begins at minute 41:14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFVs96lTL9o.
Check out the new book by Tuscaloosa neurologists, Dr. Daniel Potts: Bringing Art to Life: Reflections on Dementia and the Transforming Power of Art and Relationships tells the story of Cognitive Dynamics Foundation’s expressive arts/life story program, its inspiration from the life and art of Lester Potts, stories and poetry about its participants their philosophy of care. https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Art-Life-Transforming-relationships/dp/1666736961/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1658316369&sr=8-1
Listen to Meryl Comer’s new podcast which explores a phenomenon is called paradoxical lucidity in dementia. The BrainStorm host explains typically, people living with late-stage Alzheimer’s or another dementia decline to a point when they are no longer able to communicate. But for some, after years of relative silence, they can suddenly communicate coherently, even if only for a short time. Joan M. Griffin, PhD – The Phenomenon of Paradoxical Lucidity | UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (usagainstalzheimers.org)
As with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, each person with FTD, regardless of the disorder type, is individual and unique. Not every behavioral symptom will occur for each person. Also, symptoms do not necessarily present in a particular order or at a specific stage of the disease. New symptoms can appear (or disappear) as the disease progresses. Click here for a comprehensive list of common symptoms for each FTD disorder. This chart (pdf) focuses on the most challenging behavioral symptoms. Behavioral Symptoms of FTD | AFTD (theaftd.org)
For families facing FTD, the decision to transition into a residential care facility is often a challenging one, fraught with emotional stress and logistical concerns. But steps can be taken by facility staff to ease that transition. Employing a person-centered, individualized care plan, combined with creative problem-solving and careful collaboration, can achieve a care transition that honors the person diagnosed and maximizes their quality of life. Finding the Way: Successfully Transitioning to Residential Care | AFTD (theaftd.org)
Nicole Bell writes for Being Patient this week about how being a caregiver for her late husband while raising two children under the age of 10 years old caused her to redefine what it means to be vulnerable. Her lesson to all of us: Don’t wait to be vulnerable. Being upfront with yourself as you move through difficult periods makes healing that much easier.
Repurposing existing drugs cuts the cost of developing a new drug and allows for treatments to reach patients faster — especially for disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, where every minute counts. Using this approach, a team of scientists at the University of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Alzheimer’s Disease Center screened more than 595 FDA-approved drugs to see if any blocked the activity of ApoE4. They identified two drugs already on the market to treat psychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s — imipramine and olanzapine. Two FDA-Approved Drugs May Help Treat Alzheimer’s Symptoms – Being Patient
Positive Approach to Care offers tips on communication: 6 Tips for Caregivers to Improve Communication in Dementia Care – Positive Approach to Care (teepasnow.com)
Explore eight signs that suggest a person with Alzheimer’s disease should stop driving.
Please consider taking this statewide survey about the information needs of caregivers.
https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKjVbbeVEXFv7ue. You will receive a $15 gift card.
Support ACA by using AmazonSmile! Designate Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases. smile.amazon.com