What Would You Like to Know?

As I get back to writing here about Alzheimer's and caregiving, I'm wondering what my readers would like to know. How can I help you as you deal with Alzheimer's in a loved one? I can't make the situation go away, but perhaps I can help you understand and to encourage you as you go through each day.

Perhaps I can be someone you can share your frustrations with and help you realize you can survive.

Getting Back to Writing about Alzheimer's

Just noticed I have some followers to my blog, so I'd better get posting again! I've been busy with other blogs, one on Parenting at Blisstree, which does contain some Alzheimer's posts.

However, I'll share some more words of encouragement here at Notes from an Alzheimer's Caregiver.

Although I no longer actively care for a family member (both Mother and Auntie have passed away), I do have memories of the trials and joys and hope I can encourage others by sharing.

I also give talks on Alzheimer's and caregiving and provide information about scrapbooking and journaling activities with those experiencing memory loss.

(Image from sxc.hu)

Obama's Proposed Health Care - Euthanasia for the Elderly & Infirm?

In all the excitement over health care for all, as proposed by Barack Obama and his team of White House administrators and Congressional colleagues, will people look carefully at what it contains? Or will they blindly accept what seems like a good deal without scrutinizing the details, like refusal of treatment for the elderly and those deemed uncurable (by administrators, not doctors and medical staff)?

Check out the article at Alzheimer's Notes, Obama's New Health Care - Will It Result in Elder Neglect & Euthanasia?

Pictures Prompt Memories for Alzheimer's Patients

I've discussed, over at my Alzheimer's Notes blog, Capture Memories of Alzheimer's Patient's Earlier Days & Travels, by referring to photos. I recalled, as I was looking at a family photo of us at the Nubble Light in Cape Neddick, Maine, childhood vacation memories and marveled at my father and mother's patience when traveling with four children in a small car.

Check out the post and see what ideas and memories photos will spark for you and your Alzheimer's patient.

Winter Reading on a Snowy Day in Alzheimer's World

We're digging out from a blizzard that left 12-16 inches of snow, depending on whether it drifted or not. Along with show shoveling tasks, reading is on the agenda today because the grandchildren are home on winter break.

We are a family of readers in our multi-generational home (grandfather, granny, mom, dad and the two children). Books abound around the house, the library is a fun place to visit, bookstores (new and used) hold a fascination, and online bookstores are enjoyable to access. We also come from ancestors who were readers and writers, too.

Reading in an Alzheimer's World

My mother enjoyed reading, too. She could sit midst clutter in her kitchen and read. When any of us remarked that there were dishes to be washed, a floor to sweep, windows to clean, etc., Mother replied, "The chores will always be there. But I might not always be able to read."

How true this turned out to be! When Mother developed Alzheimer's, she followed words with her finger in a magazine and repeated them aloud. Eventually, she could no longer do that, so a staff member or I read to her. Then she looked at magazine pictures, after she couldn't understand words. These often brought memories they brought to mind.

Reading brought Mother pleasure and learning for many years. I even have a read book she used in school in the early 1900s. It was one of the last activities she gave up during her Alzheimer's years.

What are you and your Alzheimer's patient reading this winter?

Obama's Stimulus Bill's Affect on Health Care Free Choice Discussed at Alzheimer's Notes

Concern for the effect of the health care proposals in the Stimulus Bill on Alzheimer's patients is discussed at Alzheimer's Notes under, Stimulus Health Care Provisions Could Eliminate the Elderly, the Infirm and Terminally Ill.

This information somehow was buried in the multiple pages of the bill and didn't come to light with wider publicity until a couple days ago. Only now are the ramifications of this provision being realized.

Related Posts:
“Big Brother” health care provisions
Fast Tracking Govt. Control of Health Care
Eliminate the Elderly
Motto of the Stimulus Bill

My Fav b5 Posts of the Week

Favorite Posts

Periodically b5 bloggers post their favorite posts of the week. I write three blogs at b5media, Alzheimer's Notes, Quilting and Patchwork, and One Book Two Book. (The latter I co-blog with Marcie Pickelsimer.)

Sometimes it's difficult to choose your very favorite for the week. However, here are the three for this week:

http://www.quiltingandpatchwork.com/...ilt-mysteries/ http://www.onebooktwobook.com/mary-e...storm-of-2008/http://www.alzheimersnotes.com/not-h...-nursing-home/

Tea Parties for Alzheimer's Patients

If you are considering tea parties for the Alzheimer's patients or other caregivers in your life...and they can be such fun activities for all of you...you might like to check out these posts at my Alzheimer's Notes blog.

Tea Time at Alzheimer's Notes - Caregivers Sharing
Tea Time at Alzheimer's Notes - Tea Time With Mother

Happy Thanksgiving from Mary Emma

Happy Thanksgiving

We've been busy this morning getting the turkey ready. Yes, we're having the traditional turkey. My hubby selected it so has been monitoring the preparations. After I made the stuffing ("like Mother used to make!"), I left the rest to him. The engineer in him cooks to precision.

My daughter has been preparing her special recipes to add to our menu. She made her daughter's request of "glop" for breakfast...a combination of bread cubes, eggs, sausage, cheese, and milk. Some of us like that, while others have something else. (We live in a multi-generational home with six family members, a dog, guinea pig, and rabbit.)

Perhaps you'd like to see my Thankful Poem, a project on my Alzheimer's Notes blog.

How about writing your own Thankful Poem this weekend? Or any time of year?

Enjoy the Small Triumphs of Caregiving

Caregiving Triumphs

As you go through the day to day tasks and frustrations of caregiving for an Alzheimer's patient, you may not think you're experiencing triumphs. However, train yourself to look for these, write them down, and share them.

At my Alzheimer's Notes blog, some of my readers have shared theirs in the post, Enjoying the Small Triumphs of Caring for Alzheimer's Patients.

What have been some of your triumphs?

Finger Foods for Alzheimer's Patients

Finger Foods

After a certain point, it becomes difficult for Alzheimer's patients to manipulate eating utensils (cutlery). So finger foods become ideal for them. I've had numerous questions about preparing this food and what caregivers can serve for variety.

We have a very good guest post over at Alzheimer's Notes with foods and recipes from a specialist in this area. Venture over for Alzheimer's Finger Foods Suggestions.

Novenber is National Alzheimer's Awareness Month

Alzheimer's Awareness

This month - November - we raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and give recognition to all those involved - patients, caregivers, supporters, researchers and everyone who cares.

I shall be writing about this topic here and at Alzheimer's Notes, where I also blog.

What would you like to read about and learn about regarding Alzheimer's?

Can Alzheimer's Caregivers Become Obsessive?

Caregiving and Obsessiveness

After reading Carol Bradley Bursack's post, Obsessive Caregiving Can Be Harmful to Caregiver and Care Receivers, I realized that some caregivers could find caregiving overwhelming because they became too intense with their task.

So I wrote a post, When Caregiving Becomes an Obsession, at Alzheimer's Notes to call attention to this fact and referred to Carol's post.

You may want check this out and let me know what you think.

Voting By Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients...Should It Be Allowed?

Voting or Not to Vote?

This question arises as election time approaches and is especially of concern during Presidential Elections.

I've written about this at my Alzheimer's Notes blog at b5media and received some interesting comments. You may want to check my posts out and see what you think of this situation.

Should Dementia/Alzheimer's Patients Vote?

More on Voting and Alzheimer's Patients

What do you think?