Her name is Sarah Mae

This was sent to me by my aunt, Millie Jaggard. I was so touched by it that I had to share it right away. –Janet

Her name is Sarah Mae—Aunt Sally, Mom, Sal, Grandmother, sister, friend. She has led an exemplary life, always helping others even to the extent of taking in an immigrant refugee Vietnamese man and wife in the eighties. She is a college graduate and taught home economics for years. She has volunteered for so many community events, done Meals on Wheels, survived cancer and chemotherapy, and attended and was active in the bell and voice choirs of her church. She is a Philadelphia Orchestra supporter. She had helped everyone in her family in so many ways, hosting many summer stays at the New Jersey shore for all.

Now it is her time to receive help from strangers and from her family. She has been diagnosed with infarct dementia that is progressing.

Abuse by Caregivers

I just read an interesting article about abuse of Alzheimer’s patients by their caregivers.

It’s a hard truth and it doesn’t fit with the narrative of a caregiver as a selfless person with endless patience. My mother often compares caring for someone with dementia to caring for a child, in that you love the person, you want to do your best, but sometimes frustration causes you to yell or say things you regret.

This study highlights the ongoing need for caregiver support.  They are human, like the rest of us. They have limits and weaknesses. Holding them to a standard of sainthood only sets them up for failure and disappointment. Throwing light on the potential for abuse can help us all look for ways to prevent it.

Forms of Dementia

Heather Finch has a new article on common forms of dementia in seniors posted at stillsomeone.org.

The challenge of managing diabetes in nursing home

An often-ignored consequence of the diabetes epidemic in America is the increased number of seniors needing blood sugar monitoring and focused diets in long term care facilities.

A recent study in Diabetes Care found that more than a third of diabetes patients in nursing homes were meeting their short-term blood glucose goals. The good news is that 98% of the patients had their blood regularly monitored and 2/3 were meeting their long-term goals.

Interestingly, there are no standard guidelines for managing diabetes in seniors cared for in nursing homes. In addition caregivers must balance managing blood sugar levels with the increased risk of dangerously low glucose.

With diabetes rates on the rise, it is likely that this will be a growing concern to facilities.

A day in the life of a caregiver

This was sent to me by a 67-year old man who, together with his 65-year old wife, care for his mother.

When you are a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, your day usually starts early, sometimes as early as 2: AM. You may awaken to a loud voice calling for mommy, even though you are a child or grandchild of that person. You cut the monitor off and hurry downstairs before they climb over the safety railing and fall because they think they can walk even when they cannot.

When it is dark, paranoia seems to be prevalent. They talk to people or animals that only they can see. You calm them down and try to get a few more hours of sleep before getting up at an early hour to bathe the patient, change the clothes and disposable underwear. Usually the bed clothing needs to be washed and dried daily.

The patient often is very demanding and wishes to have breakfast served immediately, Usually, before you can get the soiled clothes into the washer.

Medicine must be accounted for and given at the proper times. Medicines are given in the mornings, the evenings and before the patient goes to bed. Once a month a B-12 shot is required and administered. Learning to administer this shot is much easier than responding to the doctor each month.

It helps to try to think of them as they were before the Alzheimer’s disease took over their brain and took most of their memory. You continue to feed, change and do for them as you would an infant for the better part of the day.

Evenings are extremely taxing as repeatedly the clothes are removed, you put them back on, then repeat as required. Questions are asked over and over again, questions that make no sense to you. The patient can become extremely agitated and often look with wild appearing eyes at you as if they need your help and do not know what is going on inside their own mind.

You are glad when it is time to get them on the bedside commode and ready them for a few hours of rest for themselves and you. Sometimes you are lucky and that is what happens. Sometimes this is not to be as fear seems to take over and you must assure them repeatedly that they are with you and things are all right.

Finally, sleep takes over and you get in bed to ready yourself for tomorrow when the routine starts again.