Poems offering support for those with Alzheimer's disease

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, here is an article in Denver Daily News that might interest you

by Gene Davis, DDN Staff Writer

Beyond Forgetting
Poetry and prose about Alzheimer's disease

Anyone who has a loved one suffering from a debilitating disease needs all the support they can get, and a new collection of poems is doing what it can to provide companionship to people who are losing someone to Alzheimer’s disease.

“Beyond Forgetting: Poetry and Prose about Alzheimer’s disease” is a collection of selected poetry and prose from 100 writers who encountered Alzheimer’s disease firsthand. With Alzheimer’s disease becoming increasingly prevalent, there are more people than ever who need the support of knowing that they are not alone in their experiences, said Holly Hughes, the editor of “Beyond Forgetting.”

“I think poetry is really important to witness these difficult passages and help us through them,” she said. “Whenever I found poems, I felt very supported by somebody’s experiences and I wanted to do the same for other people.”

Hughes wrote numerous poems while losing her mother to Alzheimer’s disease in 2001. When reading some of the Alzheimer’s-related poems out in public, there would always be a few people who wanted a copy because they knew someone with the disease.

“During that time period, writing poetry was what kept........read more about Beyond Forgetting

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Massage and Alzheimer's Disease: What would Maslow say?

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, here is an interesting article from
MassageToday.com

By Ann Catlin, LMT, NCTMB, OTR

It has been said that in 25 years, the United States will have two kinds of people: those who have Alzheimer's disease and those who are caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease. Dementia is a term meaning loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.

As a licensed massage therapist and Compassionate Touch practitioner, I have witnessed the transformation that can occur when intentional touch is offered, enhancing quality of life of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease.

For example:

The woman, withdrawn and thought to be non-verbal, who looked me in the eye and said "thank you" following a hand massage.


The gentleman whose agitation was calmed with a simple back rub allowing the nurse's assistant to help him get dressed without the usual struggle.


The activities director who said to me, "She has been here for several months, but when I gave her a hand massage, I felt like I really got to know her for the first time!"
So what is at the heart of these seemingly magical moments? There is clearly something profound happening that goes well beyond simple touch. We can explore the relationship between human needs and well-being to gain a greater understanding of how deep our touch truly goes.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) was an......read the whole article

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More about smiling and dementia

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, here is some valuable information from the book, Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals, a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals



Here are questions for a discussion about the baby

If your dementia residents do not respond well to questions, then simply say

Lets have a discussion about

instead of the question format

Our baby likes to look at bright, colorful toys when he wakes up.
Where is the baby?
If prompting is needed, say something like:
I think he is in his crib. Do you see him there?

What time do you think this baby wakes up in the morning?
If prompting is needed, say something like:
I think he wakes up at 6am. What do you think?
Have a discussion about the best time to get up. Also, talk about why babies get up so early.
Then ask: What time do you wake up in the morning?

What is the baby doing?
If prompting is needed, say something like:
I think he is looking at his toys. What do you think?

Let’s name some toys.
If prompting is needed, say something like:
Is a truck a toy? There are many toys that could be named.
You can have a discussion about which toys are for boys, girls, or both.
You could have some pictures of toys or even have toys for group members to see and touch.

What color toys do you see?
If prompting is needed, say something like:
I see a red toy. Do you? What other color toys do you see?

Color ideas--

Get more information about this dementia book

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Baby pictures make those with dementia smile

Isn't this a cute baby picture?
There are 13 more in the book,Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful, Mind-Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones, and Involved Professionals, a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals.

Besides making folks with dementia smile, there are conversation stimulators which help to maintaining the remaining cognitive functions of a person with dementia

This dementia book is a must have for anyone working or living with a person with dementia.

Come back tomorrow for a sample of conversation stimulators related to this picture

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Bring a teddy bear to an Alzheimer’s patient

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, read this

TERRE HAUTE — With Alzheimer’s disease, a person can lose their intellectual, social and emotional abilities over time. Research has found that dolls and teddy bears can help people with Alzheimer’s disease interact and communicate with others. Teddy bears have been known to stimulate memories and improve communications with others and overall improves the quality of life for the Alzheimer patient and their families.

The Teddy Bear Picnic was created to provide the opportunity for our community to be heroes and enhance the quality of life for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.

The general public is invited to a picnic complete with refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the following locations:

n Southwood Health and Rehabilitation, 2222 Margaret Ave.

n Terre Haute Nursing and Rehabilitation, 830 S. Sixth St.

n Wyndmoor Retirement, 1465 E. Crossing Blvd.

n Bethesda Gardens, 1450 E. Crossing Blvd.

n Cobblestone Crossing Health Campus, 1850 E. Howard Wayne Drive

n McMillan Adult Day Service, 486 First Ave.

n Royal Oaks Health and Rehabilitation, 3500 Maple Ave.

n Vermillion Convalescent Center, 1705 S. Main St., Clinton

It is requested visitors bring a teddy bear as a gift for an Alzheimer’s patient.

Come bring an.............Alzheimer's gift

Buy the Alzheimer's book

caregiver< information

An interesting dementia activity

The Power of Your Music Muscles

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is an article of interest by A Jom

Caring for a person with Parkinson’s disease or dementia can be fraught with challenges, but there are ways of making life and rehabilitation not only more enjoyable, but possible more effective. A growing body of research suggests that music, and other creative forms of therapy, can enrich the lives of people with Parkinson’s and dementia.

remember my father’s expression when he received the phone call. His sister was in hospital, seriously wounded and in a coma. My aunt had had a nasty fall while she was hanging up the washing. She used to be a dressmaker, but the last couple of years she had been unable to button up her blouse. Her nimble fingers that used to produce the most beautiful garments were constantly shaking and trembling.

Caring for a person with Parkinson’s disease or dementia can be fraught with challenges, but there are ways of making life and rehabilitation not only more enjoyable, but possible more effective. So how do we help create a better life for people when their movements and cognitive functions are seriously affected and in decline?

My father is a music lover, and he spent hours escaping into the world of divine sounds after the phone call. Music is capable of transpiring us to the height and depth of emotion, and now scientists are beginning to understand how music can have such a dramatic effect on our minds. A growing body of research suggests that music, and other creative forms of therapy, can enrich the lives of people with Parkinson’s and dementia.

Music can bring dreamy feelings, uplift, and even nurse you back to health. The power of music to enhance our lives begins even before birth. The fetus hears music, and a year after they are born, children recognize and prefer music the heard in the womb.

Research by Norman Doidge suggests that the adult brain is capable of change and growth; it can produce new and modified connections, and even new neurons. The brain is plastic and elastic and it can alter its structure and find a new way to function. Research has shown that melody and rhythm can sometimes activate neurological abilities that have been lost to disease or damaged.

We often tap out toes or bob our heads in time with music, even babies might have a sense of rhythm (recent research by István Winkler and Henkjan Honing). One of the characteristics of Parkinson’s disease is that movements are often too fast or too slow. Focusing on the rhythm and trying to feel its pulse can help people with Parkinson’s walk better and perform consecutive tasks where previously they froze. Music speeds up and slows down and our cerebellum, the little brain, adjusts itself to stay synchronized. Music for people suffering from Parkinson’s should have a firm rhythmic character, but it need not be familiar. The rhythm is the most important.

Parkinson’s isn’t something that is always dark, there are light and memorable moments. Singing may help when speech becomes slurred and unclear due to poor breath support, or as a result of difficulties with the motor aspects of speech.

Memory loss is one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Unbelievable as it might sound, people affected by dementia.........read more about music muscles

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“Preventive gerontologist” specializes in preventing memory loss

Activities directors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is an article of interest.

By TONY CASTRO
Los Angeles Daily News

LOS ANGELES | If a picture is worth a thousand words, Arnold Bresky believes a painting is worth a million memories.

Bresky, a physician who calls himself a “preventive gerontologist,” has been using art therapy in working with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients — and he claims a 70 percent success rate in improving their memories.

“I have 96-year-old people who get better,” says Bresky, 69, who said he believed that encouraging Alzheimer’s and dementia patients to draw and paint exercised their brains and turns back the clock on their memory loss.

“I have patients ... learning to draw and paint for the first time in their lives, and their quality of life improves.”

The work of some of those patients recently was on display at City Hall in Los Angeles as part of Brain Health Month, and Councilman Dennis Zine recognized Bresky with a proclamation.

Patients like octogenarian Yolanda Wood of Camarillo, Calif., swear by Bresky’s program, which is covered by Medicare.

“I’ve been a patient of his for years, and I do his art therapy program all the time,” Wood said. “I’m always drawing, and it’s helped me. It’s even helped me pass my driver’s license test.”

Last spring, Wood was notified by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles that, because of her age, she would have to retake her driving examination.

“I went to Dr. Bresky and I said, ‘Am I going to be able to do this?’ And he said, ‘Of course,’ and we went to work on learning all the driving laws. When I took the test, I made a perfect 100.”

“She’s a better driver now,” said Bresky, “and it’s because of my program.”

Bresky, who gave up his obstetrics practice 12 years ago to work on preventing memory loss, calls his program a “Brain Tune Up,” and includes a multidisciplinary approach that also includes the use of music.

“My program improves the memory function to enhance a person’s quality of life,” he said.

Bresky teaches his program to caregivers and nursing students at California State University, Northridge; Pierce College; and through his book “Brain Tune Up: The Secret for Caregiver Success,” published last year.

At the Sunrise Senior Living facility in Woodland Hills, Calif., Bresky on recently introduced his program to eight residents who had never worked with him before. He got remarkable results in getting them each to draw the face of a person by copying lines and patterns from one sheet of paper to a grid on another sheet.

The results were cubist-like renditions of faces.

By the end of the session, the octogenarian residents of the facility were animated and eager to discuss what they had just done.

“It got me concentrating, and I like that,” Molly Morgan said.

“The more I did this, the more I enjoyed it,” Irene Kowalski said.

The program gets people, especially those who are older and suffering from memory problems, exercising their brains. Bresky said.

“The brain works through numbers and patterns,” he said. “The numbers are on the left side of your brain, the patterns are on the right side. What I’m doing is connecting the two sides.

“And we’re getting the brain to grow new cells. It’s called.........read more of preventing memory loss

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