ACT on Alzheimer’s - Preparing Sauk Rapids

ACT on Alzheimer’s - Preparing Sauk Rapids

ACTION TEAM ADVISORY BOARD

Chairperson: April Myers Aprilmyers@goodshepherdcampus.orgHousing Director Good Shepherd Senior Community

Dr. George Schoephoerster, Geriatric Practitioner

Debbie Anderson, St. Cloud Metro Bus

Rebecca Molitor, Family Member

Nicole Ruhoff, Director of Public Health,Benton County

Maureen Otremba– Pastoral Minister

Jodi Speicher, VP Marketing Good Shepherd

Barb Rebischke, VP of Outreach Good Shepherd

Melinda Fast, Ridgeview & Prairie Ridge

Rona Karasik, Ph.D., Professor & Director Gerontology, St. Cloud State University

Mary Bauer, CMCOACommunity Development Specialist

Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias

Rona J. Karasik, Ph.D.

Professor & Director, Gerontology Program

St. Cloud State University

www.stcloudstate.edu/gerontology

What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

Dementia is the broad category of symptoms that may be caused by over 70 different disorders including:

Alzheimer’s Disease

Vascular Dementia

Lewy Body Dementia

Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD)

Huntington’s Disease

Memory

Judgment

Abstract Reasoning

Sense of Time

Emotional Responses

Speech & Communication

Coordination

Symptoms associated with dementia include significant decline in one or more of the following:

Important Things to Consider #1

There are many OTHER things besides dementia that can cause these very same symptoms, including:

• Decline in Sight and/or Hearing

• Certain Medications

• Nutritional Issues

• Emotional Factors (grief, stress, love, etc.)

• Fatigue

• Overload

• Other illnesses

Important Things to Consider #2

Forgetfulness is normal (and even helpful)

Some Signs of “Normal” Forgetfulness:

• Forgetting details, but not the recent experience

• Remembering a forgotten item later

• Using reminders to refresh your memory

• Recognizing people and places, even if you cannot recall names

• Being able to follow written and spoken directions

• Being oriented to time, place, etc.

Important Things to Consider #3

• An estimated 88,000 Minnesotans age 65+ are thought to have Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia

• Estimates vary, but approximately 8 – 12% of all people over age 65 are thought to have some form of dementia.

• Risk of dementia increases with age

• 30 to 50% of people in the U.S. over age 85 are thought to have dementia

• Suggesting that over half of people over the age of 85 are not thought to have dementia

Most people do NOT have dementia, but it’s impact affects us all!

Signs and symptoms to have evaluated:

• Cognitive changes that seem to be getting worse (e.g. new forgetfulness)

• Mood changes (e.g., withdrawal, apathy)

• Personality changes (e.g. inappropriate friendliness, blunting)

• Changes in behavior (e.g., wandering, agitation)

• Changes in daily functioning (e.g., difficulty driving)

Important Things to Consider #4

Note: CHANGE is the key word here

Important Things to Consider #5

People with dementia are STILL people. Personhood does NOT go away

• EVERYONE (persons with dementia, family members, caregivers) deserves to be treated with dignity and respect

• People in the early stages of dementia have MANY remaining abilities

• People in the later stages of dementia STILL have feelings and remaining abilities

• Even SMALL changes can make a big difference in the lives of persons with dementia and those who care for them.

The Unspoken Impact of Dementia (4:03)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z15-0xZTng4

So What Can A Community Like Sauk Rapids Do to Help?

Dementia-Friendly Communities

Source: Act on

Alzheimer’s

http://www.actonalz.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz8ACEu7Lho (3:35)

Small changes help make a dementia friendly community - Alzheimer's Society

What Can We As Individuals Do ?

• Get involved

• Share your talents and expertise

• Learn more about dementia

• Take a personal and person-first approach

• Recognize that we all have differing

cognitive abilities

• Embrace the challenges

• Communicate

• People with dementia are NOT “doing things” just to annoy you.

• What some might label “challenging behaviors” others call “efforts to communicate”

• Confusion and/or lack of control can make ANYONE feel afraid

• Persons with dementia have cognitive challenges – so WE need to improve OUR communication skills

• Accuracy & reality can be overrated! The experience (e.g., a pleasant conversation) is often more important than the content!

Points to Remember When Interacting with a Person with Dementia

ACT on Alzheimer’s - Preparing Sauk Rapids

Together, We Can Make a Difference!

To Find out More:

Act on Alzheimer's Minnesota: http://www.actonalz.org/

Act on AD Sauk Rapids (April Meyers, Advisory Board Chair) Aprilmyers@goodshepherdcampus.org

Senior LinkAge Line 1-800-333-2433www.MinnesotaHelp.Info

Alzheimer's Association (Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter)1-800---272-3900http://www.alz.org/mnnd/

Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center1-800-438-4380www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers

Sources:

Agronin, M. (2014). Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias: A Practical Guide, 3rd Edition. NY: Routledge

Alzheimer’s Association (2014). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Chicago, IL: Author.

Alzheimer’s Association (2012). Communication: Best Ways to Interact with a Person with Dementia. Publication # 770-10-0018

Alzheimer’s Society (2013). Communicating. Factsheet 500LP alzheimers.org.uk

Hodgson, H. (1995) Alzheimer’s: Finding the Words. A Communication Guide for Those Who Care. Minneapolis: Chronimed.

Koenig Coste, J. (2003). Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s: A Groundbreaking Approach for Everyone Dealing with the Disease. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Mace, N. and Rabins, P. (2011). The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease, Related Dementing Illness and Memory Loss in Later Life, 5th Edition. NY: Johns Hopkins University Press.

National Institute on Aging. (2013). Understanding Memory Loss: What to Do When you have Trouble Remembering. Silver Spring, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/understanding-memory-loss/introduction

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2014) The Dementias: Hope Through Research. Bethesda, MD: Author http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dementias/detail_dementia.htm

Power, G.A. (2010). Dementia Beyond Drugs. Changing the Culture of Care. Baltimore: Health Professions Press.