Alzheimer's 2010 Facts and Figures by Angela Geiger

Alzheimer’s disease has no boundaries. It crosses gender, race and age.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, African-Americans are about two times more likely and Hispanics are about one and one-half times more likely than their white counterparts to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In addition, in spite of their heightened prevalence, Hispanics and African-Americans are less likely than whites to have a diagnosis of the condition.

Also in the newly-released report, in 2009, nearly 11 million Alzheimer and dementia caregivers provided more than 12 billion hours of unpaid care totaling $144 billion.

Facts and Figures is filled with up-to-date statistics that expose Alzheimer’s as the public health threat it is today, addressing the growing impact of the disease on the American people – both those living with Alzheimer’s and those providing care to a loved one.

Download your complimentary copy of the 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures today to learn more.

Stay involved. Know the facts. Be a voice for change.

The Man Peeping In the Window

It is truly hard to imagine the impact that Dementia/Alzheimer's Disease has on the mind until you have an opportunity to experience it first hand. In January of this year, I purchased Muddear a new calendar. Normally, I purchase a wall calendar full of pictures - from flowers, to landscapes, they are always quite beautiful. This year, I purchased Muddear's 2010 calendar a little later than usual, which meant the selection was less diverse than normal. Nevertheless, I found an adorable calendar full of pictures of puppy dogs. Cute right?

Wrong! The calendar lasted no more than two months. About once a week, Muddear would come into the hallway and start calling us in a panic. "Come quick, there is a man peeping in my window!" Of course, I tried to reason with her by explaining...

"Muddear, your room is on the second floor, it isn't possible for someone to peep in your window." That didn't work. Therefore, I went into her room to explain further. It was then that I realized every time that Muddear thought the calendar was a window and the puppy picture was a man. Initially, I thought she would get used to the calendar and these panic attacks would stop. They never did. So today, after about eight (8) weeks - the calendar was removed and I'll have to purchase a new one tomorrow.

When someone has Dementia/ Alzheimer's Disease there are times when the simplest things can be very challenging. This situation was definitely a learning experience for me. It is important to keep things as simple as possible for Muddear. There are things that she remembers fairly well - like her daily routine. That is because we keep Muddear on a regular schedule - bath's on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with wash-ups on Tuesday and Thursday; towel folding on Thursdays; breakfast at 9:00 and lunch at 12:30; calendars with flowers and landscapes. No Changes. A calendar with puppy dogs was apparently too much change - I should have figured that out immediately instead of causing weekly panic attacks. Muddear, I am very sorry!

*Image courtesy of Wikipedia

I'm Backkkkkkkkkk!

Of course, I recognize that my aide deserves to go on vacation, just like the rest of us. Nevertheless, I always dread the week I know she will be gone. Over the years, Sharon has become part of the family - she knows our schedules and we know hers. I believe, we have a great partnership. Some may say we are picky or quirky about the care of Muddear, but I say that's okay, we have a right to be. Sharon agrees with this sentiment.

Every time a new aide arrives it is like starting over from scratch and we lose that comfortableness that we share with Sharon. This week wasn't any different. Two aides were assigned to cover Sharon's time, but for some odd reason, the agency only scheduled 38 hours of coverage instead of 40. To begin with, the aides were late two days and that's just the beginning of the story.

To protect the innocent, I'll call the first aide Sandy and the second Jamie. Jamie was supposed to work on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 to 4:30. I asked if she could stay until 5:30 to which she responded "no" for Tuesday and "yes" for Wednesday. On Wednesday, during the middle of the day Jamie called my husband at work stating she needed to leave early, but needed to make sure someone would be home. What?

I was sick on Monday and Tuesday and therefore was home all day. Thank goodness! Jamie didn't bring lunch on Tuesday and needed to leave to pick up something - the agency never notified her that Flossie could not be home alone. Huh?

Sandy was the aid for Monday, Thursday and Friday. Ironically, she had no lunch on Monday either - for the exact same reason stated by Jamie. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from the agency that Sandy needed to leave early on Thursday, but would make up her hours on Friday. No problem, I thought, I can work with that. Unfortunately, on Thursday she had a family issue that required her to leave after only a half day at work. Friday morning I received a phone call from the agency - Sandy called in. Great! Especially, since she had not completed half of the items requested.

To top matters off, it seemed like the aides were afraid to make decisions on their own. I recognize that Flossie was a new client for both of them, BUT... while I was sick Jamie knocked on my door to show me how much Flossie ate for lunch. She wanted to make sure she had eaten enough. Why do I have to make that determination? Common sense would say "no" if Flossie ate less than half of her lunch or "yes" if she ate more than half. If no, save the rest and offer later when inevitably Muddear will be hungry again.

This morning was Sharon's first day back. When I caught a glimpse of her, Sharon's first words were... "I'm Backkkkkkkkkk!"

Hunger Strikes

Grandma is back to her old tricks... For about a month now, I have noticed that Muddear has been extra finicky about eating. Breakfast is quite a small meal - nothing unusual. Lunch has become her largest meal of the day with a small snack between lunch a dinner. But dinner? Well that's a crap shoot. Many days Muddear simply refuses to eat dinner. Some days she sucks her meal down as though she is starving. However, last week, the aid discovered Muddear's little treasure chest of discarded dinners! Under the futon mattress Muddear hid at least five dinners. Obviously not the entire meal - it's always the meat portion. A piece of chicken, a hamburger, half of a pork chop... each meticulously wrapped up in a wad of Kleenex! She then pushes around on her plate the vegetables and whatever else we fixed for dinner as though she has eaten something. We've been duped again!

What is a caregiver to do?

To Depend or Not To Depend

One night, I awoke to Muddear screaming something unintelligible about using the bathroom. Usually Muddear does not have problems with incontinence, but you never know what's new with Dementia.

I scrambled blindly into her bedroom only to find myself standing barefoot in a puddle of water. Or so I wished. Immediately it was obvious that I was standing in a pudding of urine. Why me? Muddear was sitting in her wheelchair covered in urine. For about 30 seconds I thanked God that we had the aforethought to cover her carpet with plastic after the last cleaning. However, those positive feelings ended as quickly as they begin - I returned to reality. The reality that I was standing in a puddle of urine that quickly needed to be cleaned.

So I began the process of cleaning up the puddles, and I mean this literally, of urine off the floor. While in the midst of disinfecting, Muddear begins to yell that she has to go the bathroom again - is it possible she has anything left?

"Muddear, please hold on for just a few minutes."

"No, I can't! Watch!"

Within seconds, I was horrified. Muddear began to urinate in her wheelchair, all over herself, and all over the floor. It was now about 4:30 a.m., I was exhausted, and all the puddles I had just cleaned up had returned. As you can guess, I spent another hour and a half drying and disinfecting the floor, cleaning up Muddear, changing her clothes and the sheets, and placing all of the urine soaked items in the washing machine.

I'm sure you are wondering... why don't you put Depends on Muddear. Periodically, I ask myself the same question. The problem... Muddear refuses to wear them. Initially, after incidents like those above (which thankfully are far and few in between), Muddear will agree to wear Depends for about a day or two. However, Dementia kicks in and as far as Muddear is concerned the incident never occurred and she has no idea why we are treating her with such injustice. We put the Depend on Muddear at bedtime, but as soon as we leave her room she takes the Depend off and hides it.

What do we do?

Accidentally Outrageous Flirting

A few months have passed since my last post. Classes end on January 25th and I will be FREE from school! Thank the LORD! So let me catch you up on what's been happening with Muddear lately...

Every other Wednesday evening, I have a hair appointment - my personal luxury. My hubby get to granny-sit on those nights. Of course, after feeding Muddear dinner, Mike sat in her room to watch television. Nothing unusual, right?

Upon my return from the hair salon, Mike came into our bedroom to talk to me. That is when the drama began.

"Mike? Where are you Mike?"

"What do you need Muddear?"

"Come here."

Considering Muddear was already in the bed and Mike had just left her room, we figured she didn't really need anything. Boy were we surprised...

"Mike why don't you sit down?"

"Muddear, I was just sitting in here. Nikki is home, so I am going to sit with her."

"Mike, I want you to sit with me. Come over here and sit on the bed."

"Sit on the bed? You never want me to sit on the bed."

"I want to talk to you."

"Okay, I'll sit for a minute."

For about five minutes, Mike sat with Muddear and asked her multiple times what she wanted to talk about. But Muddear never explained what she wanted to talk about, instead I was surprised to hear Mike say...

"Muddear, why are you rubbing my arm?" (There was no response, just giggles.)

"Muddear, why are you rubbing my arm? (giggle) Okay, since you won't tell me, I am going back in my room."

"Where are you going, Mike?"

"I am going to my room."

"Well, I'm coming to your room with you."

"Muddear, I'm getting in the bed."

"Oh, well, I'm going to get in the bed with you."

"So you are going to get in the bed with me and my wife?"

Again, Muddear started giggling.

At this point, I am cracking up laughing and Mike looks incredibly uncomfortable as he walks into our bedroom. I couldn't believe nor make heads or tails about why Muddear was outrageously flirting. And then she begins again...

"Mike... I'm coming to get in the bed with you."

"Muddear, I'm getting in the bed with my wife so you need to stay in your bed."

Muddear giggles.

You probably would not believe me if I said this went on for at least an hour, but it did. Finally, Muddear says...

"You wife? Oh Lord! I thought you were my husband!" She giggled again and went to bed.

It is unbelievable what Alzheimer's and Dementia can do to the mind. As caregivers we just love and laugh our loved ones through these times.

98 Birthday Wishes

It has been awhile since I've posted. Thank you very much to those of you who reached out to me to check on Muddear. I appreciate your concern and kindness.

There is so much to tell, but I won't spill the beans all in one sitting. First things first...

Muddear celebrated another birthday on October 30, 2009. Believe it or not, she is officially 98 years old! What an amazing life she has lived. As always, we took Muddear out to dinner to celebrate. The only thing she likes better than going out to dinner is shopping, but it was not a shopping kind of day.

Our restaurant of choice was a repeat of last year - TGI Fridays. This year, Muddear ordered the Jack Daniels Ribs and Shrimp meal. I'm sure you are not surprised - Muddear LOVES ribs and we make sure every birthday she gets an order. Anyone who has ordered any of the ribs meals from TGI Friday's knows that the plate is huge and overflowing with food. Muddear almost had an asthma attack when her plate arrived. After calming her down with numerous reassurances that anything left uneaten could be taken home, dinner proceeded without a hitch.

The "cutest" event of the night... When the servers came out singing the Happy Birthday song, poor Muddear didn't realize they were singing to her! She just kept looking around as though she were thinking... "what are they saying? And why are they standing there?" At then end of the song, Muddear accepted her dessert and asked, "Is this for me?"

Overall, we had a great evening out. I have noticed recently, that Muddear prefers shorter outings and dinner was the perfect duration. Dinner, dessert, presents and then we were out the door.

Happy Birthday Muddear!