Forum on Living Well with Alzheimer's

Dr. Terry Barclay spoke at the Brainerd LAMAA Forum on Alzheimer's and dementia.

A few highlights from his speech:

* Celebrate what your loved ones who are suffering from dementia can do, and try not to dwell on what they can't do.

* People who are suffering from dementia have not lost their ability to sense mood and feel stress. What is most perserved is the emotional brain, the ability to feel love and connectedness.

* Work hard to seek out joy. Do fun activities. Go to concerts and plays. Engage in the arts. Music and art are another way of connecting and communicating, a different language, one that doesn't disappear.

* Try really hard to live in the moment. Don't quiz them and confuse them with "Do you remember" questions. Talk about what's going on right now. Introduce yourself. Be the one who tells them their story.

* Eat a healthy diet. Good heart food is also good brain food.

* Spice it up! The mid-Western pallet it rather bland, so we need to make an effort to add a variety of spices, particularly those in curries and the Mediterranean diet. High doses of brightly colored fruits and veggies, not as much meat, and really cut back on red meat.

* Caregivers, stop being stubborn and thinking "I can do it all myself" and ask for help. We all need help from time to time, and caring for someone with dementia is one of the most stressful things you can do. You need to take care of yourself and be emotionally and physically healthy in order to effectively care for others. (These are doctor's orders.) Plus, most people want to help. Don't shut out their generosity.

* The blues are not a normal part of aging. If people are retreating and isolating, address the issue. The highest rate of suicide happens in the elderly.

* Knowledge is power. Get all the information you can on the illness. Keep track of meds. Know who is in your network.

* All life has value. You can continue to live, love, laugh and learn together through any stage.

We offered several wonderful breakout sessions at the Forum.

Lori La Bey

Hannah Erickson, RN, demonstrating a machine in her "Living Well at Home" session

Thanks to Central Lakes College for hosting our Forum and providing us with brain healthy snacks.

If you'd like more information on Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and the LAMAA group, contact us at memoryadvocates@gmail.com.

Live well. Laugh often. Love much!

Advocates for Alzheimer's Visit Washington, D.C.

Corrie Brown visited Washington, D.C. last month in support of funding for Alzheimer's disease. The following is her review of the trip.

Corrie Brown at the LAMAA Forum: Living Well with Alzheimer's

On April 23-25 over 700 Alzheimer’s Association advocates, visited Washington D. C. to convene, learn and advocated for more research and funding on behalf of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. They visited numerous Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill on April 25^th to encourage support for a National Alzheimer’s Plan that accelerates and prioritizes the government’s efforts on Alzheimer’s disease and commits the resources necessary to change the trajectory of the disease by providing $100 million in FY 2013 for Alzheimer’s research, education, outreach, and support activities. Lastly they asked their legislators to co-sponsor the “Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act (S.738/H.R. 1386)” which would improve access to diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, provide information on medical and non-medical services for newly-diagnosed patients and their families, and document the diagnosis in the patient’s medical record. If you would like to become an advocate please send us an email!

To view photos of this event, click here.