Alzheimer’s Association presents Expert & Agency Forum, with ACA Director Miller Piggott, Hoover Library, October 25, 6 – 7:30 pm.
AFA Care Connection Webinar: An Ounce of Prevention: What Makes Sense for Me and my Loved One, October 27, noon – 1. Alzheimer’s Foundation of America | Care Connection Webinar: An Ounce of Prevention: What Makes Sense for Me and my Loved One (alzfdn.org)
ACA’s Walking to Remember, Saturday, November 5. “Peace, Love, Walk” is the theme for our annual Walk which is held in the ACA parking lot, 300 Office Park Drive, at 9 a.m. Fun for the whole family. Walkers raising a minimum of $50 receive a Walk t-shirt.
Yard signs are available for pick up, vholder@alzca.org.
Alzheimer’s Day of Prayer and Remembrance, Sunday, November 13.
ACA Community lecture, November 17, Progress in Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, presented by David S. Geldmacher, MD, Warren Family Endowed Chair and Professor, UAB Department of Neurology. Vestavia Library, 6 – 7:30 pm
ACA’s Annual Meeting and Candle Lighting Service, November 30. Local physician and author of the teaching memoir, Surfing the Waves of Alzheimer’s, Dr. Renee Harmon, will present on Compassionate Communication: Speaking Alzheimer’s; followed by the candle lighting. Vestavia Library, 9 – 10:30 am.
In-person and zoom Support Groups:
- ACA’s group with Miller & Vance, Tuesday, October 25, 11 – noon CT. Call (205) 871-7970 or mpiggott@alzca.org. Join us on zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86450491838
- 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@gmail.com.
- 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
- Pell City, Tuesday’s 2 – 3 and 6:30 – 7:30. Lakeside Hospice, Julie Slagle jslagle@lakesidehospice.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 Church 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 1:00, contact Maggie Dunaway at mdunaway@asburyonline.org.
Alzheimer’s News:
Grieving and caregiving both take enormous energy. Pauline Boss, PhD, created the concept of ambiguous loss to explain a loss that lacks closure, clarity, and predictability. Ambiguous loss refers to the complicated experience of watching someone slowly lose their emotional and cognitive abilities while they remain physically present. Grief accompanies ambiguous loss and contributes to a significant portion of caregiver stress. Caregivers who get support in naming, understanding, and tending to these feelings stand to benefit as they continue their journey. Although this article is specifically written for those coping with FTD, the 6 tips for building resilience are sacalable for all. Working with FTD Caregivers: Ambiguous Loss and FTD | AFTD (theaftd.org)
FTD is a “scary, huge diagnosis.” Read an interview with James, who is living with a primary progressive aphasia (PPA) diagnosis, and his wife and full-time care partner, Reesa. They discuss getting their diagnosis, the information and supports they received upon diagnosis, and what resources they wish they had gotten as they began their FTD journey. For Healthcare Professionals: What Families Need After an FTD Diagnosis | AFTD (theaftd.org)
Need an easy, drug-free way to help make caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s a little easier? Try adding a little Frank Sinatra or Julie Andrews to the mix. A study found that people with Alzheimer’s disease who listened to or sang along with songs from their youth along with caregivers became less agitated, anxious and depressed. Participating in a music program strengthened emotional bonds and connections between patients and family members. Sinatra, Satchmo and the Alzheimer’s Connection | Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (alzinfo.org)
DailyCaring offers 6 festive fall activities for seniors: 6 Festive Fall Activities for Seniors – DailyCaring
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has greenlit a Phase 2/3 trial to test an investigational treatment buntanetap in people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease. An earlier trial found buntanetap reduced the buildup of toxic protein clumps and improved cognition compared to a placebo in early Alzheimer’s cases. Phase 2/3 Trial Testing Buntanetap for Moderate Alzheimer’s OK’d | Alzheimer’s News Today (alzheimersnewstoday.com)
Positive Approach to Care’s blog offers tips on putting together a series of legal, financial, and medical documents to reduce your risk of stress or actions being taken that you or the person in your care would not want. Once a diagnosis is made consider: Health Care Planning, Financial Planning, Long-Term Care Planning, and End-of-Life Planning. 4 Vital Planning Considerations With A Diagnosis of Dementia – Positive Approach to Care (teepasnow.com)
Managing medications is easier if you have a complete list of them. The list should show the name of the medicine, the doctor who prescribed it, how much the person with Alzheimer’s takes, and how often. Visit Tracking Your Medications: Worksheet for a template. Keep the list in a safe place at home, and make a copy to keep in your purse or wallet or save a picture on your phone. Bring it with you when you visit the person’s doctor or pharmacist. Managing medicines for a person with Alzheimer’s disease (mailchi.mp)
How to Thrive as a Caregiver: 10 Things I Learned in Dementia Care – DailyCaring:
1. Be assertive – With doctors, with people who “mean well” but don’t know the whole story.
And ask for help, when you need it.
2. Be patient – With yourself above all, with your charge, and with others who share your concern for the sufferer.
3. Be forgiving – Of your own missteps: There is no one-size-fits-all map to follow in this calling.
4. Try not to eat (or drink) for comfort – You’ll just end up with one more thing to forgive yourself for!
5. Talk about it – To your spouse, to your siblings (they need the opportunity to share your reality, anyway), to a support group, to good friends.
6. Write about it – Keep a dump-it-all-here journal, compose an email or a letter to a supportive friend, join an online discussion page.
7. Turn to faith – Whenever your situation seems hopeless, overwhelming, or bigger than you are, lean on your faith or spirituality.
8. Walk off the stress – Or bike it off or swim it off. Physical activity is a side effect-free path to tranquility. And getting or staying fit bolsters not only your self-confidence but also your emotional and physical stamina. Serotonin and endorphins are our friends.
9. Don’t make assumptions – About anything: another person’s state of mind, or health, or view of your circumstances. Communication is key here. Ask the question. Clarify the message. Choose your advisors with care. Take good notes when new facts emerge.
10. Don’t take it personally – And by “it” I mean anything.
October Webinars from Alabama Lifespan Respite: https://alabamarespite.org/events2/
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