#fightalz

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[sabrinakapp-blog]

Knowing there are resources, and knowing where to look for them: an ALZ Cheat Sheet

Hi there! I’m writing this on a Saturday morning, watching squirrels run up and down the little hill in our backyard while the sun tries to peek out after days of clouds and rain. Maybe THIS will be the day those last two diminishing piles of snow in our front yard finally melt away.

I’ve recently joined an Alzheimer’s support group on Facebook. Since I’m no longer officially a caregiver (my father passed away three years ago), I’m out of the loop in terms of how physicians and facilities are helping families and friends face the daily challenges of living with Alzheimer’s, but the plights of the brave people in this FB group quickly brought me back to reality.

So today I thought I would share a couple of thoughts and resources that might be helpful to other families on this journey.  

First - Google is my friend, and should be your friend as well.  Most physicians and their staff focus on the physical, medical health of their patients, while doing little to help family members navigate the needs for simple, everyday living. Fortunately, it’s been my experience that there are a growing number of qualified groups who provide knowledge and compassion, with the mission of supporting caregivers and families.

The national (and local) chapter(s) of the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) should be a starting point for anyone beginning this process, and a checking-back point all along the path. You’ll find chat support, scientific and medical breakthroughs, local contacts for a variety of topics, and a community of hope and compassion. For some, their 24/7 hotlines might be the most important outreach they provide.  Check here for their ‘developing a caregiver action plan’ section. And here for wonderful online resources. 

Eldercare attorneys represent a growing niche in the legal field - a logical evolution. Some states even have a board certification process to qualify as an eldercare attorney, and when dealing with power of attorney (POA), medical POA, living wills, DNR, etc, who better to assist in the process than someone who specializes in the very issues ALZ patients and their families are facing? Check out the videos here for more information.

Many communities will have a not-for-profit agency devoted to Seniors - in my community, it’s a county-based Senior Services Center. They have a wonderful building that serves a daily hot lunch, a workout room monitored by trained staff, activities galore, and a lending library. They provide a sort of adult day care service, they take clients to appointments, and they even provide transportation to the facility each day. And they have people on staff who know about local resources - it’s their job to support seniors and their families. They are wonderful people, and I bet many communities have agencies just like this.

Likewise, more and more churches and faith organizations are expanding their services to include seniors - whether it be members who will call on elderly members just to check on them or visit with them, to providing respite care a few hours at a time, or even providing a weekly meal and social time.  

There are also many businesses now specializing in in-home (and even in-facility) assistance for the elderly. Companionship, meal prep, simple daily routine activities like getting dressed, walking a dog, getting outdoors, even running errands and possibly light housekeeping - there are plenty of options for hiring someone to come in, a few hours a day, a few hours a week, or even round-the-clock. There are options for different levels of nursing care, as well - dispensing meds, bathing, assessment, etc. Here are a FEW, of many, options.

Senior Helpers

Home Instead

SitterCity

There are so many things to know, to discover, to resolve. And these resources are just a few of many. We don’t yet have a cure for Alzheimer’s, and there aren’t treatments that make it, magically, less awful. But with a LOT of help, a LOT of knowledge and understanding, a LOT of compassion and support, it can be better than what I see many people experiencing. So, read, reach out, question - find the help you need and that your loved one deserves. It might be closer than you realize. 

Sadly, I must include this disclaimer - I’m not a medical professional. I’m not an attorney. I’m not a banker or financial consultant. I’m simply a daughter who lost her beloved father to ALZ. These are my experiences and ideas but in no way should they be interpreted as professionally-qualified advice or endorsements. 

[sabrinakapp-blog]

#StillAlice, Julianne Moore and a posse of strong, determined women

For those devotees of movies and awards season, tonight is the big shebang, the whoop-ti-do, the creme de la creme. As the world watches the Red Carpet and The Academy Awards, untold dollars will be represented in terms of economic investment. From the writers to the producers, to location scouts and the locations themselves, and the box office, RedBox and Hulu revenues, movies mean big money in our culture.

But #StillAlice, with award-winning Julianne Moore in the title role, has brought tremendous attention to the devastating effects of Alzheimer's Disease, and we can only hope that this attention will be associated with greater donations, greater support and greater understanding. 

I saw #StillAlice a couple of weeks ago with a group of good friends, all women. While we often joke about our forgetfulness, we all know the truth. And the odds. And the fear. 

But my hope is that awareness, and discussion, and greater funding will lead to prevention.  And that our friends and families will find a world with greater resources to support those afflicted with Alzheimer's. The cold reality is that, with the onslaught of Baby Boomers in our prime years for the onset of Alzheimer's, our medical and caregiver systems are about to be overwhelmed. We have to help.

And to Maria Shriver, Julianne Moore, and all the other amazingly strong and determined women who stand behind, and in front of, #StillAlice - we owe a tremendous THANK YOU.  

A final Good Luck to that team, hoping that tonight will be the night when Julianne Moore wins the #Oscar for her portrayal of Dr. Alice Howland.