Love, Loss and Laughter: Seeing Alzheimers Differently, Photo Exhibit Redefines Alzheimers

The photographer and author, Cathy Greenblat, PhD, is a sociologist who arguably is the world's leading documentarian of this new approach to Alzheimer's care.

Having lost her mother and maternal grandparents to the disease, she has studied and pictured care in memory clinics, homes, day programs and residential centers around the world.

Continue reading in the Alzheimer's Reading Room

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2012/03/love-loss-and-laughter-seeing.html

Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World

Once you start to understand how things work in Alzheimer's World you get calm and comfortable. Once you get calm and comfortable you give off a better "vibe" to someone that has Alzheimer's.

By Bob DeMarco 
Alzheimer's Reading Room 

I would find a new way to communicate with my mother who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

I wrote that on my da Vinci pad in 2004. This was at the same time I was coming to another conclusion, something had to change and that something was me.

I did not perceived the changes in communication as being difficult. After all, I had been studying communication and decision making all the way back to college days, and ever since. I figured some practice and I would get the hang of it.

What I did not immediately perceive was how difficult it would be to change all the things I had learned over the course of my life. 


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Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World

Why is this happening? What can I do?

If you are not actively searching for solutions, you are part of the problem.

By Bob DeMarco 
Alzheimer's Reading Room 

Yesterday I read what I considered to be a rather nasty complaint from an Alzheimer's caregiver. The caregiver complained that her father ruined Christmas for everyone especially her because he was grouchy and yelling at the kids.

I conjured up an image of what it would be like for someone living with Alzheimer's to be exposed to a bunch of unruly kids running around and yelling and screaming.

I asked myself, what would my reaction be? Well if the kids were playing and having a good time, I might smile. On the other hand, if the kids were being loud and rude, I might be thinking something like, why don't their parents step in and ask them to behave?

I Forgot My Mother Has Alzheimer's

In Alzheimer's World, Dotty is the person I always knew. Sure, her brain is sick. But, once I started treating Dotty like the person I always knew, she rewarded me by becoming kinder, gentler, and more cooperative.

By Bob DeMarco 
Alzheimer's Reading Room 

Learning How to Communicate
with Someone Suffering From Dementia

If you want to get some good insight into how I rewired my brain and became a more effective Alzheimer's caregiver I suggest you take the time to read these two article:Alzheimer's and the Wiring of My Brain, and Rewiring My Brain and Stepping into Alzheimer's World. 

I'm not sure when I actually started to forget that Dotty lives with Alzheimer's. 

Read the entire story here.

Alzheimer's, Dementia, Types of Dementia, The Difference Between Alzheimer's and Dementia

Dementia is a symptom, and Alzheimer's disease is the cause of the symptom.

Alzheimer's Reading Room

What is Dementia?

Dementia is the gradual deterioration of mental functioning, such as concentration, memory, and judgment, which affects a person’s ability to perform normal daily activities.

Go here to read more about Dementia.

What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

In a nutshell, dementia is a symptom, and Alzheimer's disease is the cause of the symptom. When someone is told they have dementia, it means that they have significant memory problems as well as other cognitive difficulties, and that these problems are severe enough to get in the way of daily living.

Go here to read more about the Difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

What is Alzheimer's Disease the Visual MD

Who are you as a person? You are the sum collection of your life experience, stored as memory. Based on how you are forming memories and learning, you behave in a certain way. That is your personality. Alzheimer's disease robs every bit ... -- Rudy Tanzi In order to be effective as an Alzheimer's caregiver you need to have a foundation on which to build. Part of the foundation is an understanding how Alzheimer's effects the brain and the ability to remember. Read More, What is Alzheimer's Disease the Visual MD

Alice in Alzheimer's Land

You wake up one day and realize you have fallen into a deep, dark hole.

It only gets worse, no matter how hard you try, you can't get out.

You try and try and try, but before long you become convinced that you will never get out.

Will anyone help me?

Read Alice in Alzheimer's Land