Hello everyone . I finally have my internet back. It has been a busy few months. Got a job, quit it , got a new job , broke up with my boyfriend, and now we are dating again. We went to fast the first time so taking it slow this time. Dating is fun. And I do love him.
After years of caring for mom I tried to go back to driving a transit bus but that did not work out. So now I work for a company that cares for people with special needs. I have two wonderful ladies I work with. One has a full time job in which she as been at for over 10 yrs. and one stays home . I just have to take the one lady places, help her keep here home clean and watch TV and old movies with her. She loves old TV shows. The other one I have to sit with while her mom is at work. She needs someone with here 24 /7. This job fits. Pay is not great but I enjoy it .
The weather has been so warm this winter I spend lots of time at the graveyard walking. It is good exercise and I get to visit mom and dad. It is lonely here without them. Of course dad had been gone for years . And still getting used to mom being gone.
My son moved out to be closer to school and it is just me now. It was kind of weird at first because if I heard a noise I would think "Oh! Mom wants me" than in an instant I would remember she is gone . Guess it sounded like her talking to me from her bedroom.
On a happy note my son ask his girlfriend to marry him Feb 13th not Valentines Day because he said she would be expecting something and he wanted it to be a complete surprise. It was . She is so happy. Me too. We all love her and he is a great son. I am so proud of him and love him very much.
Well time for bed. Have a great weekend.
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alzheimer's. Show all posts
Friday, February 24, 2012
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Feeding Tubes
Feeding Tubes Pros and Cons in Elderly
Elderly people with critical health are often put on tube feeding. Digestive health begins to diminish as you grow old. Hence, very old people often show poor digestive abilities. As a result, they rapidly lose 20 to 30% of their body weight. If proper nutrition is not provided on time, they can easily risk their life. Feeding through a tube becomes inevitable during times of trauma or surgery, as oral ingestion becomes severely impaired. Medical conditions like dementia, stroke also prevent an individual from normal ingestion of food. Feeding tubes for cancer patients serve a great purpose during such terminal illnesses. However, feeding tubes for the elderly involve myriad risks and complications which are as follows.
Risks of Feeding Tubes
Discomfort
People who are put on a feeding tube often experience discomfort due to gas that enters through the site of insertion. If the tube is not inserted or placed properly, it can give way to air which causes a lot of discomfort for the patient. Also, as the human digestive system is not designed to digest only fluids, the person can take some time to adjust to a liquid diet.
Infection
If there is a leakage at the site of insertion, it could mean a free entry to bacteria and other pathogens. The enlarged stoma at the site of insertion leads to misplacement of the tube, which provides passageway to bacteria.
Clogging
Clogging of feeding tube is one of the most common problems with feeding tubes. The feeding tubes should be cleaned before and after every meal and must be replaced periodically. Clogging also limits the amount of liquid that can be given through a tube.
Disappointment
Tube diet does not provide any kind of gastronomic pleasure to the patient. Eventually, the patient loses interest in meals and goes into depression. Less than 40% of the patients who are tube fed survive more than a year.
Feeding tubes pros and cons should be considered while recommending them to babies as well as elderly. In babies, emphasis should be upon strengthening the oral ingestion skills of the babies, while elderly patients must be provided with proper care and caution while tube feeding
When mom could not eat without choking I also had the choice to take her out of Hospice and have a private care doctor or hospital put in a feeding tube. Hospice will not put in a feeding tube. My friend which is also a nurse told me that after awhile her body would not be able to take in the food right. She would swell up and be very uncomfortable. This is not on the pros and cons I found on the Internet but I am sure it is true. I hope you all don't have to decide if your love one needs a feeding tube or not . It is a hard thing to think about.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Your support at is so helpful. Yes , my BF is still around . He is wonderful. We are going to his jobs Christmas party this next week and I am kind of looking forward to it. Maybe I am getting social again. Hoping everyone has a Wonderful Christmas .
Elderly people with critical health are often put on tube feeding. Digestive health begins to diminish as you grow old. Hence, very old people often show poor digestive abilities. As a result, they rapidly lose 20 to 30% of their body weight. If proper nutrition is not provided on time, they can easily risk their life. Feeding through a tube becomes inevitable during times of trauma or surgery, as oral ingestion becomes severely impaired. Medical conditions like dementia, stroke also prevent an individual from normal ingestion of food. Feeding tubes for cancer patients serve a great purpose during such terminal illnesses. However, feeding tubes for the elderly involve myriad risks and complications which are as follows.
Risks of Feeding Tubes
Discomfort
People who are put on a feeding tube often experience discomfort due to gas that enters through the site of insertion. If the tube is not inserted or placed properly, it can give way to air which causes a lot of discomfort for the patient. Also, as the human digestive system is not designed to digest only fluids, the person can take some time to adjust to a liquid diet.
Infection
If there is a leakage at the site of insertion, it could mean a free entry to bacteria and other pathogens. The enlarged stoma at the site of insertion leads to misplacement of the tube, which provides passageway to bacteria.
Clogging
Clogging of feeding tube is one of the most common problems with feeding tubes. The feeding tubes should be cleaned before and after every meal and must be replaced periodically. Clogging also limits the amount of liquid that can be given through a tube.
Disappointment
Tube diet does not provide any kind of gastronomic pleasure to the patient. Eventually, the patient loses interest in meals and goes into depression. Less than 40% of the patients who are tube fed survive more than a year.
Feeding tubes pros and cons should be considered while recommending them to babies as well as elderly. In babies, emphasis should be upon strengthening the oral ingestion skills of the babies, while elderly patients must be provided with proper care and caution while tube feeding
When mom could not eat without choking I also had the choice to take her out of Hospice and have a private care doctor or hospital put in a feeding tube. Hospice will not put in a feeding tube. My friend which is also a nurse told me that after awhile her body would not be able to take in the food right. She would swell up and be very uncomfortable. This is not on the pros and cons I found on the Internet but I am sure it is true. I hope you all don't have to decide if your love one needs a feeding tube or not . It is a hard thing to think about.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Your support at is so helpful. Yes , my BF is still around . He is wonderful. We are going to his jobs Christmas party this next week and I am kind of looking forward to it. Maybe I am getting social again. Hoping everyone has a Wonderful Christmas .
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Better Mood
Today is a much better day. Thanksgiving went great . My future daughter- in- law and her family are wonderful. She is a great cook and did almost all of it. Coming home to an empty house is still a little weird. It is dark and lonely. I think I told you my son moved out. Just a week or two after mom passed so I am having that empty nest thing along with missing mom.
When the grave digger man dug her grave he had to move the stone to be able to get to close enough to dig and that was almost a month ago . Well yesterday the stone was finally returned to where it belonged and I could put the flowers my niece made on top of it. We also got matching ones for both sides of the stone. It looks very nice and that made us all happy. Going out there and seeing the stone off to the side of the graves was bothering me and my sister. Her even more for some reason. My sister's son is going through a divorce and that is tearing my sister up. They have a 7 year old daughter that does not understand while daddy is living with grandma and not with her . My sister can't stand not knowing what is going to happen to her grand -daughter. She wishes her son and the grand- daughter would be able to live with her but of course the girls mommy is not going to let that happen. But it would be nice .
I still don't think I have grieved for mom enough . Waiting on the big break down. Just been to busy and can't get my mind around it. Work is not working out. I used to work at this place and loved it but now I feel out of place and like a teenager at there first job. Hope that changes. Everything is different than when I worked there before. But the money is good. Got my first check Thurs. Love that!!! I was looking in the newspaper for jobs yesterday trying to figure out what I could do that I might be comfy in. Guess what popped out at me . Home Health Aid , Companion for person with special needs. CNA's needed. Never wanted to do these kind of jobs before but now when I think about it they seem right.
When the grave digger man dug her grave he had to move the stone to be able to get to close enough to dig and that was almost a month ago . Well yesterday the stone was finally returned to where it belonged and I could put the flowers my niece made on top of it. We also got matching ones for both sides of the stone. It looks very nice and that made us all happy. Going out there and seeing the stone off to the side of the graves was bothering me and my sister. Her even more for some reason. My sister's son is going through a divorce and that is tearing my sister up. They have a 7 year old daughter that does not understand while daddy is living with grandma and not with her . My sister can't stand not knowing what is going to happen to her grand -daughter. She wishes her son and the grand- daughter would be able to live with her but of course the girls mommy is not going to let that happen. But it would be nice .
I still don't think I have grieved for mom enough . Waiting on the big break down. Just been to busy and can't get my mind around it. Work is not working out. I used to work at this place and loved it but now I feel out of place and like a teenager at there first job. Hope that changes. Everything is different than when I worked there before. But the money is good. Got my first check Thurs. Love that!!! I was looking in the newspaper for jobs yesterday trying to figure out what I could do that I might be comfy in. Guess what popped out at me . Home Health Aid , Companion for person with special needs. CNA's needed. Never wanted to do these kind of jobs before but now when I think about it they seem right.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Aspiration Pneumonia
| Good Morning All. It has been a busy few weeks. I actually got some work done around the house. And I did paint mom's room so I could move back into it. Since it used to be mine. Taking her stuff off the walls and out of the closet was the hardest. I just did not know what to do with it. I will give the pictures back to the family members who gave them to her I guess. I split up her cloths , gowns and personal stuff with my sis. Mom died from Aspirating on her food which gave her Pneumonia. I wanted you all to have a little info so you would know what happens when aspirating. It seemed so painful for mom. The doc said sometimes you do not realize the person is aspirating but with mom you did she would almost choke to death. We felt so sorry for her. If only she could of told us what was going on. We thought she had a cold . She would cough even when not eating. The poor thing. I wonder just how long she was doing this. We will never know. I got a job yesterday driving a Transit Bus which I did before so it will be good. Took the drug test and now waiting on that to come back than will start training. Hopefully I can remember everything it has been a few years since I drove a bus. Hope all is well with you and yours. Have a great Veterans Day and Thank you Veterans for all you have done for us. Aspiration Pneumonia is the reported cause of death of a high proportion of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients | |
| Aspiration pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs and airways to the lungs (bronchial tubes) from breathing in foreign material. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when foreign materials (usually food, liquids, vomit, or fluids from the mouth) are breathed into the lungs or airways leading to the lungs. This may lead to:
| |
Consequences of pulmonary aspiration range from no injury at all, to chemical pneumonitis or pneumonia, to death within minutes from asphyxiation. These consequences depend in part on the volume, chemical composition, particle size, presence or absence of infectious agents, and underlying health status of the person. In healthy people, aspiration of small quantities of material is common and rarely results in disease or injury. People with significant underlying disease or injury, especially hospitalized patients, are at greater risk for developing respiratory complications following pulmonary aspiration because of certain factors such as depressed level of consciousness and impaired airway defenses (gag reflex and/or respiratory tract antimicrobial defense system).
As the lumen of the right main bronchus is more vertical and of slightly wider diameter than that of the left, aspirated material is more likely to end up in this bronchus or one of its subsequent bifurcations.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
It's Time For Mom To Go
Good Morning Bloggers, I have been thinking about this post for years. Now it is here and not sure what I want to write.
Mom is in Hospice she can't eat or drink without it going in her lungs. Her brain does not tell the flap that keeps food out of her lungs to close. Or it is just to weak to work anymore . So when she eats she almost chokes to death. It is so hard to watch. So painful looking. We are giving her drinks "kind of " when she is thirsty but that is it.We kept feeding her up till yesterday morning and than we decided her choking was so much more painful than not eating. She is not asking for food. But when she would smack her lips we would give her applesauce or a milkshake. It was awful. And she really did not seem to want it like used to. But she enjoys cool water in her mouth and she sometimes will not open her mouth for that but when she does she seems to love it.
The doc gave me the pros and cons of feeding her and not feeding her. I can keep feeding her and she will get pneumonia and than die or we can not feed her and she will dehydrate but she will just sleep a lot and than slip into a coma and than die peacefully . I can't stand the thought of her being thirsty but not feeding her is not bothering me so bad because she does not seem to want anything to eat. She is content it seems. Alzheimer's Sucks. Prayers Please and Lots Of Love To All.
Mom is in Hospice she can't eat or drink without it going in her lungs. Her brain does not tell the flap that keeps food out of her lungs to close. Or it is just to weak to work anymore . So when she eats she almost chokes to death. It is so hard to watch. So painful looking. We are giving her drinks "kind of " when she is thirsty but that is it.We kept feeding her up till yesterday morning and than we decided her choking was so much more painful than not eating. She is not asking for food. But when she would smack her lips we would give her applesauce or a milkshake. It was awful. And she really did not seem to want it like used to. But she enjoys cool water in her mouth and she sometimes will not open her mouth for that but when she does she seems to love it.
The doc gave me the pros and cons of feeding her and not feeding her. I can keep feeding her and she will get pneumonia and than die or we can not feed her and she will dehydrate but she will just sleep a lot and than slip into a coma and than die peacefully . I can't stand the thought of her being thirsty but not feeding her is not bothering me so bad because she does not seem to want anything to eat. She is content it seems. Alzheimer's Sucks. Prayers Please and Lots Of Love To All.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I Am Ready For A Shot To Fix This Infection!!!!
In some cases, Alzheimer's disease may in fact be the result of an infection, and may even be transmissible, a new study in mice suggests.
Mice injected with brain tissue from healthy humans showed no signs of the disease.
"Our findings open the possibility that some of the sporadic Alzheimer's cases may arise from an infectious process," similar to the way mad cow disease arises from infection with diseased proteins called prions, said study researcher Claudio Soto, a professor of neurology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
However, the new findings are very preliminary and it's unclear if the same thing could happen in people. Moreover, the transmission occurred under highly artificial conditions that a person would likely not experience.
The researchers are currently setting up experiments to determine whether the same transmission can occur under more natural routes of exposure, Soto said.
The study was published today (Oct. 4) in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Pass it on: Alzheimer's disease may be able to spread, similar to the way mad cow disease spreads, a study in animals suggests
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Mice injected with brain tissue from healthy humans showed no signs of the disease.
"Our findings open the possibility that some of the sporadic Alzheimer's cases may arise from an infectious process," similar to the way mad cow disease arises from infection with diseased proteins called prions, said study researcher Claudio Soto, a professor of neurology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
- MyHealthNewsDaily
However, the new findings are very preliminary and it's unclear if the same thing could happen in people. Moreover, the transmission occurred under highly artificial conditions that a person would likely not experience.
The researchers are currently setting up experiments to determine whether the same transmission can occur under more natural routes of exposure, Soto said.
The study was published today (Oct. 4) in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Pass it on: Alzheimer's disease may be able to spread, similar to the way mad cow disease spreads, a study in animals suggests
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Game Day!!!
Good Morning Bloggers!!! It is Saturday and I have been up since 4am. Oh the life of a caregiver. Mom and I both have colds and she coughed all night. The nurse was here yesterday and said it is not in her lungs only upper chest. That is good. I just have a runny nose. Hope she is better soon and I don't start coughing.
Today is Game Day . The Arkansas Razorbacks are playing at the Dallas Cowboy stadium today against Texas A&M. It is a big deal. I hope we win . We lost to Alabama last week so we need this win. My son and his girlfriend left for Dallas yesterday after classes and staying over for the Cowboys game tomorrow . That will be fun. Maybe we will see them on tv.
A friend of mine is coming over after work to grill steaks today . Kind of looking forward to that and kind of not. It is hard to have company and care for mom. It is hard to watch football and care for mom. I have to either leave her in bed longer or get her up sooner or leave her up in her chair longer or not get her out of bed at all. Just so I don't miss any of the game. She does not have cable in her room and that makes it hard to watch the game and care for her in there if it is not on a local channel.
Sometimes I leave her in her chair till half time than put her to bed to change her if the game starts early. And if it is a late game I put her to bed early. But making sure she gets all her meals in is hard. I am just so unorganized. I fill bad if I put her bed early when she is wide awake. Than if she is in her chair I worry about pressure sores on her bottom. Worry, Worry, Worry. I have so many worry wrinkles. LOL!!!! Hope all your teams win today. Unless it is Texas A&M. LOL!!!!
Today is Game Day . The Arkansas Razorbacks are playing at the Dallas Cowboy stadium today against Texas A&M. It is a big deal. I hope we win . We lost to Alabama last week so we need this win. My son and his girlfriend left for Dallas yesterday after classes and staying over for the Cowboys game tomorrow . That will be fun. Maybe we will see them on tv.
A friend of mine is coming over after work to grill steaks today . Kind of looking forward to that and kind of not. It is hard to have company and care for mom. It is hard to watch football and care for mom. I have to either leave her in bed longer or get her up sooner or leave her up in her chair longer or not get her out of bed at all. Just so I don't miss any of the game. She does not have cable in her room and that makes it hard to watch the game and care for her in there if it is not on a local channel.
Sometimes I leave her in her chair till half time than put her to bed to change her if the game starts early. And if it is a late game I put her to bed early. But making sure she gets all her meals in is hard. I am just so unorganized. I fill bad if I put her bed early when she is wide awake. Than if she is in her chair I worry about pressure sores on her bottom. Worry, Worry, Worry. I have so many worry wrinkles. LOL!!!! Hope all your teams win today. Unless it is Texas A&M. LOL!!!!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Mini Vacation
Good Morning all. It is 5:30 am . I should be back in bed. No nurse or aid coming today but no I am up and at it. Been up since 3. I am going to Eureka Springs Arkansas today for a mini vacation. Be back tomorrow sometime. So wanting to get started.
Got up to turn and change mom at 1 but than I could not go back to sleep again. Layed in bed thinking about the day till 3 so gave up trying to go back to sleep. Turned and changed her again than ate breakfast and took a shower. She is wide awake now. Don't know if I want to get her up or leave her in bed. She would love a milkshake so I will give her one of those in a min. My sis is coming over at 8 than I am out of here. It is chilly. Around 49 degrees. Debating on what to wear. Will be in 80's here later. Shorts or jeans? Can't make up my mind. Guess I will wear jeans now and change into shorts later maybe. A friend and I are going to the Passion Play . It is a live action play in a big outside open theater about the last days of Christ. I saw it when I was a teenager but it is bigger and better now. Can't wait. Better go give mom her milkshake. Have a great day.
Got up to turn and change mom at 1 but than I could not go back to sleep again. Layed in bed thinking about the day till 3 so gave up trying to go back to sleep. Turned and changed her again than ate breakfast and took a shower. She is wide awake now. Don't know if I want to get her up or leave her in bed. She would love a milkshake so I will give her one of those in a min. My sis is coming over at 8 than I am out of here. It is chilly. Around 49 degrees. Debating on what to wear. Will be in 80's here later. Shorts or jeans? Can't make up my mind. Guess I will wear jeans now and change into shorts later maybe. A friend and I are going to the Passion Play . It is a live action play in a big outside open theater about the last days of Christ. I saw it when I was a teenager but it is bigger and better now. Can't wait. Better go give mom her milkshake. Have a great day.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Can't Sleep Again
11:26 pm and I can't sleep. Mom is sleeping so sweetly. Her UTI is so much better. And she has been happy and talking a lot. Can't make out all she says but she is sure talking to someone about something and smiling while doing it.
I turned her and changed her around 9:30 and just peeked in at her and she looked so comfy. I will need to turn and change her again soon. And than hopefully I will be sleepy.
Usually I have nothing to do except care for mom and wait on the aid or nurse to come visit her but tomorrow I have two Doctor's appointments and I can't sleep . Isn't that the way it always turns out? I did not drink a late Cherry Dr Pepper either so it must just be nerves. Since caring for mom my old body is giving out. I have a naval hernia so have to get an ultra sound and see whats going on with that and it is time for my yearly Mammogram. Not sure how they got set for the same day but I guess it works out good . They will be over with all in one day. And they are close to the mall so in between appointments I believe a visit to the mall is in order don't you? Maybe lunch. My sister will wonder what has happened to me.
Time to go bug mom again. I bet she won't be happy. Have a great evening.
I turned her and changed her around 9:30 and just peeked in at her and she looked so comfy. I will need to turn and change her again soon. And than hopefully I will be sleepy.
Usually I have nothing to do except care for mom and wait on the aid or nurse to come visit her but tomorrow I have two Doctor's appointments and I can't sleep . Isn't that the way it always turns out? I did not drink a late Cherry Dr Pepper either so it must just be nerves. Since caring for mom my old body is giving out. I have a naval hernia so have to get an ultra sound and see whats going on with that and it is time for my yearly Mammogram. Not sure how they got set for the same day but I guess it works out good . They will be over with all in one day. And they are close to the mall so in between appointments I believe a visit to the mall is in order don't you? Maybe lunch. My sister will wonder what has happened to me.
Time to go bug mom again. I bet she won't be happy. Have a great evening.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Happy 84th Mom!!!
Well another year.This is the 3rd birthday I have been writing this blog. Time sure has passed fast. I just don't have anything to write anymore.Seems like she is stuck in this stage of Alzheimer's and can't get out.The nurses just can't believe how long it has been . Being on Hospice 3 yrs is not normal. The Lord only knows why we are still here. There must be a reason. Someday he might show me. For now we are just living day by day.
Mom had a pretty good 84th birthday. Better than the day before. The nurse brought her medicine for her UTI Thurs and I think it is working.
I usually make her lemon cake but this year I let my son pick and he wanted spice cake. And she did not mind. She ate it very well.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are playing there first game of the season. The score is 40 to 0 Ark. So my son is a very happy man I am sure. He is at the game with his girlfriend. I can just see them having a great time.
We have rain and cooler weather coming tomorrow so it will be a nice long weekend. I mowed today and it was hot. Should of waited till the cooler weather but have to do it when I am in the mood. My son would of done it tomorrow or Monday but if it rains than no mowing.
Hope all have a wonderful Labor Day.
Mom had a pretty good 84th birthday. Better than the day before. The nurse brought her medicine for her UTI Thurs and I think it is working.
I usually make her lemon cake but this year I let my son pick and he wanted spice cake. And she did not mind. She ate it very well.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are playing there first game of the season. The score is 40 to 0 Ark. So my son is a very happy man I am sure. He is at the game with his girlfriend. I can just see them having a great time.
We have rain and cooler weather coming tomorrow so it will be a nice long weekend. I mowed today and it was hot. Should of waited till the cooler weather but have to do it when I am in the mood. My son would of done it tomorrow or Monday but if it rains than no mowing.
Hope all have a wonderful Labor Day.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Yes It Is A Monday
Good morning everyone. I hope all is well for the bloggers in the path of Irene. We got a nice thunderstorm last night. Sure needed the rain.
Mom has not been feeling good all weekend. I believe she has another UTI . And her tummy is all swollen. I don't think that is a good thing. UTI's are very common in older people in mom's shape and many die from it. She sure gets them a lot but so far we have cleared them up. The nurse will be by today and we will figure it out.
I have some kind of allergy or poison Ivy thing going on my face. My eyes are blood shot and swollen and I have a rash near one eye and on my chin. It itch's a little . To top it off I have a lunch date with a friend. And I really wanted to go. I still might it my eyes look better by then.
The cat might of got into some poison Ivy and brought it home to me. No more letting him give me some loving. He loves to rub your face with his head. But no more. Not taking any chances.
Got to go. Have a great week.
Mom has not been feeling good all weekend. I believe she has another UTI . And her tummy is all swollen. I don't think that is a good thing. UTI's are very common in older people in mom's shape and many die from it. She sure gets them a lot but so far we have cleared them up. The nurse will be by today and we will figure it out.
I have some kind of allergy or poison Ivy thing going on my face. My eyes are blood shot and swollen and I have a rash near one eye and on my chin. It itch's a little . To top it off I have a lunch date with a friend. And I really wanted to go. I still might it my eyes look better by then.
The cat might of got into some poison Ivy and brought it home to me. No more letting him give me some loving. He loves to rub your face with his head. But no more. Not taking any chances.
Got to go. Have a great week.
Friday, August 19, 2011
What Do You Think?
TUESDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, especially wine, may lower the risk of dementia, according to a review of previous research.
The team at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine analyzed data from more than 365,000 people who took part in 143 studies that were conducted since 1977.
Moderate drinkers were 23 percent less likely to develop dementia, Alzheimer's disease and other forms of "cognitive impairment," a phrase used to describe a decline in thinking skills. Moderate drinking is generally defined as a maximum of two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
On the other hand, heavy drinking (more than three to five drinks per day) was associated with a higher risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, but the researchers said this finding was not statistically significant.
"We don't recommend that nondrinkers start drinking. But moderate drinking -- if it is truly moderate -- can be beneficial," study co-author Edward J. Neafsey, a professor in the department of molecular pharmacology and therapeutics, said in a Loyola University Medical Center news release.
Wine appeared more beneficial than beer or spirits, but that finding was based on a relatively small number of studies, the study authors noted.
The researchers said the protective effect of moderate drinking remained after they factored in age, education, sex and smoking, and that the effects of alcohol were the same in men and women.
They also noted that the association between moderate drinking and reduced risk of dementia and cognitive impairment was statistically significant in 14 of 19 countries, including the United States.
Still, experts in neurological health weren't entirely sold on the findings.
"This study was well-designed and well-executed but falls in the category of epidemiology [population wide, observational studies]," said Dr. Sam Gandy, chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research and professor of neurology at the Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "There are at least a dozen reports such as this, touting the beneficial neurological effects of alcohol. Each report brings calls and visits from patients, interested in what advice they can take away and apply to their own lives."
Gandy said that proof that moderate drinking helps curb dementia rates could only come from a prospective, randomized clinical trial -- something that hasn't happened yet. "Until there are some randomized clinical trial data, no patient guidance is warranted," he said.
Another expert agreed. Dr. James Galvin, director of the Pearl Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said that there is growing evidence of a beneficial effect of moderate drinking on dementia, but "we should not rush out to buy bottles of Merlot, Cabernet or Pinot just yet."
And he added that the brain-healthy effects of moderate drinking noted in studies might just be a marker for an overall healthy lifestyle. "The Mediterranean diet with whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil and moderate red wine also reduces the risk of dementia, as does exercise, social engagement, mental activities and an optimistic outlook on life," Galvin said. "It is clear that heart healthy behaviors are also brain healthy behaviors."
For their part, the researchers said that it's not clear why moderate drinking may reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment, but one premise suggests that alcohol might improve blood flow in the brain and thus brain metabolism, the researchers said. And they offered up another theory, that small amounts of alcohol may make brain cells more fit by slightly stressing them and increasing their ability to cope with major levels of stress that can eventually cause dementia.
The review appears in the August issue of the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about dementia.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
First Lady wrote back! Kind of.
Well, I got an email from Mrs Obama but it was a form letter so you know she really did not read my email or our blogs . Anyway how are all you guys. I have been busy. It has been hot but we have gotten some rain. Mom had a real bad weekend a few weeks ago but she is ok again. My son got us a new tv so we could watch Football in style. We had to rearrange the living room which was a mess. I needed to vaccuum under everything but I had no bags for the vaccuum because I just tossed the last one I had the other day. It was busting at the seams. Oh well everything is covered up again that needed to be cleaned.
Hope all you guys are doing good. Sorry I have not read any blogs for along time. Just can't make myself do it. I am so lazy . I just want to eat and sleep all the time.
The Memory Walk is next month so we are going to make t-shirts the end of this month. Kind of excited about that. Thanks again for the donations and go to a walk in your area. I'm not kidding it is great.
Heres my email from the First Lady .
Hope all you guys are doing good. Sorry I have not read any blogs for along time. Just can't make myself do it. I am so lazy . I just want to eat and sleep all the time.
The Memory Walk is next month so we are going to make t-shirts the end of this month. Kind of excited about that. Thanks again for the donations and go to a walk in your area. I'm not kidding it is great.
Heres my email from the First Lady .
Dear Karen:
Thank you for sharing your views with me. I am always so encouraged to hear from Americans who are interested and engaged in the democratic process, and I hope you continue to stay involved in these important national discussions in the months and years to come.
As our country faces tough challenges, please know that the President and this Administration are working hard every day to move our country forward. Although we have made enormous progress, there is much left to do-and we need your help. Your engagement is vital, so I urge you to stay involved in your community and in civic life. To learn more about the President's agenda and the latest news from the White House, please visit www.whitehouse.gov.
Again, thank you for writing. I wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Michelle Obama
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Dad's Day
I hope all the dad's had a wonderful Dad's day. I have been trying to get to my dad's grave all week to visit and put new flowers but have not gotten away. I also have been trying to think of something to write a post about. Alzheimer's or mom and could not think of anything. Than I read Had a Dad's post today and she made me think of something to write. She is a great writer .
I think I might of wrote about this before but I forget . But Dad died when I was 4 months pregnant . My son turned 21 in April so that is how I keep track of how long it has been since dad died. That kind of sucks but it's what it is. He died in a farming accident. I was at work and a nurse from the hospital called to tell me he had been in a accident and died and my mom had told her to call me . Ok have you ever gotten news like that and was able to function. It is hard. I told one of my co-workers what had happened and just left . All the way home I was praying that is was not true or a mistake. Anyway he died fast and was gone in a instant. Mom is dieing slow . She has been dying for so long. We just wake up every morning wondering if today she will turn worse. The nurse says it can happen at any time. And it has a couple of times. But she comes out of it. I am so Thankful when she is back to her normal than I start the waiting game again. Why can't things just be perfect all the time. Perfect birth , life and death. Things don't always work out Perfect. But we seem to always make it through. I am going to get through this. And I do Thank the Lord everyday for my Son . He came at the worse time of my life and has been the best thing that has every happened to me. Hopefully I will get out today. I have not been out since last Sunday not this Sunday last Sunday. Except to the store for a few minutes so that may be why I'm in a crazy mood. I really need to get out of here. It really has been the longest day . Have a great first day of summer.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Brain Scans
Acording to Caring.com there might be a brain scan to spot early warning signs of Alzheimer's available this year. But that will not help people with the disease. So no help for our love ones yet. There still is no cure. The only thing I see good out of this is maybe getting you on meds to slow Alzheimer's done. The sooner the better. I do believe that. But we need more money and time spent on looking for a cure. And money to care for the 5.4 million already affected by Alzheimer's and for the love ones who care for them. I am sorry I wrote about this before but In 2010 Alzheimer's and Dementia caregivers had 1.9 billion in additional heathcare cost.
I know first hand how heathcare cost can blow through your checking, savings, and or your retirement money. We just need the gov. to realize this. Ok I am done for today. Have a great week.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Dry Skin
Mom's skin is pretty dry. We put lotion on it everyday. But it is dry and flaky. Today Agingcare.com had a story on skin .
It said to bath every other day instead of everyday because this will dry out the skin. Mom's aid only comes twice a week and I give her a sponge bath "kind of "in between so I think we are good on that. It also said to dress in Cotton instead of other cloths. I think all mom's gowns are cotton.
Increase water consumption. Mom drinks all day. I am giving her sips of water because she is always thirsty seems like. She drinks Gatorade, tea, nutrition drinks or juice with meals plus a glass of water with that . But I need to lay off the tea . Agingcare says Caffeine can cause itching. She really loves her tea. Maybe one glass a day won't hurt. Using a wash cloths to rub off died skin instead of those fancy other things you can use to bath with will help. And Humidifiers or vaporizers will make the room not so dry. I am going to try all these. Plus get a better lotion . The bottle Hospice brings is thin and like water and I just buy the cheapest . I think a good lotion will do the trick.
It said to bath every other day instead of everyday because this will dry out the skin. Mom's aid only comes twice a week and I give her a sponge bath "kind of "in between so I think we are good on that. It also said to dress in Cotton instead of other cloths. I think all mom's gowns are cotton.
Increase water consumption. Mom drinks all day. I am giving her sips of water because she is always thirsty seems like. She drinks Gatorade, tea, nutrition drinks or juice with meals plus a glass of water with that . But I need to lay off the tea . Agingcare says Caffeine can cause itching. She really loves her tea. Maybe one glass a day won't hurt. Using a wash cloths to rub off died skin instead of those fancy other things you can use to bath with will help. And Humidifiers or vaporizers will make the room not so dry. I am going to try all these. Plus get a better lotion . The bottle Hospice brings is thin and like water and I just buy the cheapest . I think a good lotion will do the trick.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Blueberry Pancakes and Chicken Salad
Hoping everyone had a wonderful long weekend. We did . My son grilled Chicken one day. I made a roast in the crock- pot the next day and Yesterday was the best. I made Blueberry pancakes for breakfast. And mom can eat pancakes . They mash up good and she loves them, She also does good with very tender roast , potatoes and carrots. So when we make something for us that mom can eat it is a good day. I am a whiz at mashing things with a fork these days.
But the best was the Chicken Salad my son made yesterday. He got the idea from Subway . They have a new chicken salad sandwich with dried fruit of some kind in it and apples. He went and got one . I thought it was ok but he really loved it. So he found a recipe online . It calls for 4 cups chopped chicken , 3 cups chopped apples , 3/4 cup mayo. Than dried cranberries, raisins and chopped celery to taste. It is amazing. I can't stop eating it. I made a sandwich for lunch and I keep going back to get more for snacking with crackers off and on all day. It is the most healthy thing I have ate in months. Can't remember the last time I ate an apple.
But the best was the Chicken Salad my son made yesterday. He got the idea from Subway . They have a new chicken salad sandwich with dried fruit of some kind in it and apples. He went and got one . I thought it was ok but he really loved it. So he found a recipe online . It calls for 4 cups chopped chicken , 3 cups chopped apples , 3/4 cup mayo. Than dried cranberries, raisins and chopped celery to taste. It is amazing. I can't stop eating it. I made a sandwich for lunch and I keep going back to get more for snacking with crackers off and on all day. It is the most healthy thing I have ate in months. Can't remember the last time I ate an apple.
Labels:
Alzheimer's,
Blueberry Pancakes,
Chicken Salad,
Roast Potatoes
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mothers Day!!!
I want to tell all my blogger friends Happy Mom's Day ! It is going to be sunny and warm today here in Arkansas. I do believe I will have to turn the air one. I had a fan in mom's room last night . And I only covered her up with a sheet. She seemed ok. I got a little warm. Even with the windows open there was no breeze. Our sink is still stopped up. I am so ready to move into a nice condo so all I have to do is call the maintenance man to come fix something. Last month it was mom's bathroom sink this month it is the kitchen . I am so waiting for the money to move into a condo too. LOL!
Last night my son said that if my sister came over today he would take me to the Casino for a buffet dinner. He just turned 21 last month so I think the casino thing might be more for him than me. I never go except twice in Las Vegas for vacation where I spent a whole three dollars on a slot machine. We are not big gamblers here. Anyway I said it is my sister's mothers day too so she might have plans. Than I told him I would like a Hot Fugde Sundae for Mothers Day. So guess what I had for supper last night. Yes, a hot fudge sundae. Yum!!!
I like mom's day at church. Mom used to keep the nursery but on mothers day the men stayed in the nursery and did all the work in the church kitchen so the moms could enjoy the day. And it was a big deal for all the ladies. We would wear nice dresses and have pretty corsages on. It was kind of like easter only just for mom's. Mom has a big box of corsages. We seem to always buy the fake ones instead of real ones. She loved keeping them. I forgot to tell her happy mom's day this morning . I better get off here and go do that.
I am not a very good witness for the lord am I? Casino's and Church all in the same post.
Have a great day!!!
Last night my son said that if my sister came over today he would take me to the Casino for a buffet dinner. He just turned 21 last month so I think the casino thing might be more for him than me. I never go except twice in Las Vegas for vacation where I spent a whole three dollars on a slot machine. We are not big gamblers here. Anyway I said it is my sister's mothers day too so she might have plans. Than I told him I would like a Hot Fugde Sundae for Mothers Day. So guess what I had for supper last night. Yes, a hot fudge sundae. Yum!!!
I like mom's day at church. Mom used to keep the nursery but on mothers day the men stayed in the nursery and did all the work in the church kitchen so the moms could enjoy the day. And it was a big deal for all the ladies. We would wear nice dresses and have pretty corsages on. It was kind of like easter only just for mom's. Mom has a big box of corsages. We seem to always buy the fake ones instead of real ones. She loved keeping them. I forgot to tell her happy mom's day this morning . I better get off here and go do that.
I am not a very good witness for the lord am I? Casino's and Church all in the same post.
Have a great day!!!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Meltdown
OK, I had a meltdown today. I am a little stressed because the kitchen sink it stopped up and I can't get it unstopped. And now I have to have my brother come in and unstop it. I even took the pipes underneath apart . They are all clean . I put it back together and still stopped up. That means it is under the house or behind the wall. That just sucks.
But the meltdown came while the nurse was here. I guess I am going crazy . For months all I think about is mom's funeral. How stupid is that? I think about it all the time. Music, food , preacher, pallbearers, the service. I know the chapel takes care of a lot of this but mom has been so out of the real world so long that her friends and family are already passed or have not been around in yrs. I worry no one will come . Or a lot will come and then how do I feed them. When my dad died we had a family dinner at church . But we have not been to that church for yrs. Our pastor comes to visit now and than but he is a pastor of a new church and the members of the old church that might still be a live have not been by for a long time. I have gotten great advice from some of you on this before . But it just bugs me all the time. The new thing is open casket or closed. Mom looks so different now. No teeth. No glasses , skinny, and her hair . Lets not go there.
I ask the nurse if she had been to a service lately for a Alzheimer's patient like mom and if the casket was open. She said yes. Than I lost it and started crying. I cry at home alone all the time. But I keep it together when someone is here. Not today. I am so stupid.
I think I will reserve a room at the Western Sizzling and tell everyone to come by if they want after the service . What do you think.? I have been to two services that did that. It was OK. Now what about the casket. Opened or Closed?
But the meltdown came while the nurse was here. I guess I am going crazy . For months all I think about is mom's funeral. How stupid is that? I think about it all the time. Music, food , preacher, pallbearers, the service. I know the chapel takes care of a lot of this but mom has been so out of the real world so long that her friends and family are already passed or have not been around in yrs. I worry no one will come . Or a lot will come and then how do I feed them. When my dad died we had a family dinner at church . But we have not been to that church for yrs. Our pastor comes to visit now and than but he is a pastor of a new church and the members of the old church that might still be a live have not been by for a long time. I have gotten great advice from some of you on this before . But it just bugs me all the time. The new thing is open casket or closed. Mom looks so different now. No teeth. No glasses , skinny, and her hair . Lets not go there.
I ask the nurse if she had been to a service lately for a Alzheimer's patient like mom and if the casket was open. She said yes. Than I lost it and started crying. I cry at home alone all the time. But I keep it together when someone is here. Not today. I am so stupid.
I think I will reserve a room at the Western Sizzling and tell everyone to come by if they want after the service . What do you think.? I have been to two services that did that. It was OK. Now what about the casket. Opened or Closed?
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Percolator
What do you call it? Percolator, coffeepot or coffeemaker.
Last night my son's girlfriend was looking at an old cookbook that her grandma had gave her and it had the recipe to make coffee in a percolator . She said what is a percolator. So I went and got one of mom's coffeepots. "That's what I call them" and perked her some coffee. She says I have never seen anything like that before in my life. Boy now I know how old I am.
I made coffee for breakfast too. I usually have a cherry Dr Pepper for breakfast but for a change I perked coffee. It was pretty good. I also made blueberry pancakes that tasted really good. I can smash them up and mom can eat them. She finished off her plate. It is raining again and chilly out so coffee and pancakes hit the spot.
Mom has a new hospice Chaplin going to come visit soon. The old one has a different route now. I might tell him he does not have to come since mom's pastor is coming to visit too. We will see how I feel when the new one calls to make an appointment. I guess you can never get to much help. And having someone to pray with is nice.
Mom told me she was going to kill me the other day when I was moving her around. It is not the first time nor will it be the last . She also said today after I took her water away . Come Back Here!!!! Those are very good sentences. And if she makes good sentences I am happy. Even if one of them is not so nice.
Happy May to All.
Labels:
Alzheimer's,
coffeemaker,
coffeepot,
Hospice and Caregiving,
Percolater
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The Early, Mild to Moderate and Advanced stages of Alzheimer's in the brain.
Seven Stages of Alzheimer's
1. No sign of congnitive impairment.
2. Very mild congnitive decline.
3. Mild congnitive decline.
4. Moderate congnitive decline.
5. Moderately severe congnitive decline.
6. Severe congnitive decline.
7. Very severe congnitive decline.
(Congnitive pertains to the mental process of perception, memory, judgement, and reasoning, as contrasted with emotional and volitional processes.)
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Blogs and sites I like to visit.
- Alz's Team
- Alzheimer's Association
- Alzheimer's info
- alzheimersinthehouse.blogspot.com
- astrollthrulife.blogspot.com
- carer,worker,mother ,wife
- Dealing With Alz's
- Dementia and Alzheimer's weekly
- diaryofacarer.blogspot.com
- Donna's Den
- God,mom,Alzheimers and me
- Had A Dad
- http://50somethinginfo.blogspot.com/
- http://agingcare.com
- http://alzheimersadvocacy.com/
- http://amountaintoohigh.com
- http://backdoorlogic.blogspot.com
- http://caring.com/
- http://citygirltalks.blogspot.com/
- http://conniesclassicclips.blogspot.com
- http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com
- http://kimshappyhome.blogspot.com
- http://lifeisgood-smile.blogspot.com/
- http://livebold-helen.blogspot.com
- http://mandatorybloghere9.blogspot.com/
- http://movingforwardwithalzheimers.blogspot.com
- http://ourjourneythroughalzheimers.blogspot.com
- http://plantcityladyandfriends.blogspot.com/
- http://sherizeee.blogspot.com/
- http://shop4freebies.com
- http://stapjeterug.blogspot.com/
- http://suzysbloomers.blogspot.com/
- http://themomandmejournalsdotnet.net/2009/11/over-last-two-weeks.html
- http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_16202.asp
- http://www.angelfoodministries.com
- Living with Alzheimer's
- My Life As A Daughter
- That Old House
- the trip over
- www.ecarediary.com







