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WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT ISN’T DEMENTIA ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Jo T. Letwaitis, President/CEO The Senior Site, Inc. www.TheSeniorSite.com 630-200-1149 or jo@TheSeniorSite.com

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: A DEGENERATIVE DISORDER THAT AFFECTS THE BRAIN AND CAUSES DEMENTIA, ESPECIALLY LATER IN LIFE. MICROSOFT ENCARTA COLLEGE DICTIONARY definition

INCREASED INCIDENCE – 350% WITHIN THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF THIS DECADE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION ESTIMATES 5 MILLION PRESENT DAY SUFFERERS BY 2050 THAT NUMBER WILL RISE TO 14 MILLION 50% WILL DEVELOP ALZHEIMER’S IF WE LIVE PAST AGE 85 OF ALL DEMENTIA-RELATED DEATHS, 70% ARE RELATED TO ALZHEIMER’S 33% IS RELATED TO GENETICS AND THE REMAINING 64% TO LIFESTYLE Alzheimer’s Disease statistics

WHAT IT IS WHAT IT ISN’T A chronic, generative disease Fatal Affects older individuals Treatable A cause of dementia Caused by a variety of factors Detectable with testing Mental illness Unavoidable Caused by aging Inevitable The prevalent cause of memory loss Widely inherited Apparent physically in its early stages ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Stage one: No cognitive impairment – unimpaired individuals experience no memory problems; none are evident to a health care professional during medical interview Stage two: Very mild decline – memory lapses, forgetting familiar words or names or locations, yet not evident during exam or apparent to others The many stages of Alzheimer’s

Stage three: Mild cognitive decline – those around begin to notice changes such as problems with memory or concentration Words and name finding noticeable Decreased ability to remember Performance issues; retaining little Misplacing valuable objects Decline in ability to plan or organize STAGES CONTINUED

Stage four: Moderate cognitive decline (mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease) Careful medical interview can detect deficiencies in the following areas: Decreased knowledge of recent events Impaired ability to perform mental arithmetic Decreased capacity to perform complex tasks such as planning a dinner, paying bills Reduced memory of personal history Person may seem subdued and withdrawn STAGES CONTINUED

Stage five: Moderately severe cognitive decline or Moderate/mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease Major gaps in memory and deficits Unable to recall important details Become confused about surroundings Need help choosing proper clothing Can retain substantial knowledge of themselves, eg name Requires no assistance, usually, with eating and using the toilet ALZHEIMER’S STAGES CONTINUED

Stage six: Severe cognitive decline or Moderately severe/mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease At this stage, individuals may: Lose most awareness of recent experiences Recollect their personal history imperfectly, although they ay recall their own name Occasionally forget the name of spouse or primary caregiver Need help getting dressed properly Experience disruption of normal sleep/wake cycle Trouble toileting Experience significant personality changes Tend to wander and become lost STAGES CONTINUED

Stage seven: Very severe cognitive decline or severe/late-stage Alzheimer’s disease Some lose their ability to speak Individual lose capacity for recognizable speech, although some words are uttered Need help eating and toileting with general urinary incontinence Lose the ability to walk without assistance Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid Swallowing is impaired LAST STAGE

WHAT CAN BE DONE? EARLY DETECTION - learn these subtle detectors FINGERPRINTS – whorls and arches decrease with Alzheimer’s SENSE OF SMELL – can experience a loss of the sense as early as two years prior to cognition problems VISION – may not be able to interpret sights, eg clock test HEARING – loss is more prevalent DEPRESSION – can surface two years prior to detection PROFESSIONAL TESTING – not yet 100% accurate NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING – noninvasive way to appraise different areas of the brain TESTING FOR CEREBROSPINAL FLUID PROTEINS

NUTRITION – REALLY? CHECK YOUR DIET, WHAT ARE YOU EATING? HOW ABOUT: FAT AND SALT – THE EVIL TWINS ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS – OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6 OMEGA-3 IN FLAXSEED, FLAX OIL; ENGLISH WALNUTS, SOYBEANS, TOFU OMEGA-6 FOUND IN ANIMAL PRODUCTS – KEEP A BALANCE

THE NUN STUDY – KEEP LEARNING CONTINUE SOCIALIZING TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR STRESS REMOVE YOUR STRESSORS EXERCISE YOUR BRAIN THROUGH DAKIM BRAINFITNESS OR OTHER BRAIN EXERCISES EXERCISE YOUR BODY YOUR BRAIN – USE IT OR LOSE IT?

WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN? ARE YOU THE SPOUSE ADULT CHILD RELATIVE LOVED ONE CAREGIVER OF SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA?

YOU WILL FEEL: ALONE ANGRY UPSET HURT GUILTY FRUSTRATED WITH THEM AS WELL AS YOURSELF IMPOTENT TO DO ANYTHING Living with, or otherwise caring for, someone with dementia

BEGIN BY EDUCATING YOURSELF ON THE DISEASE THEY SAY “KNOWLEDGE IS POWER” – IT IS! AS A STUDENT OF NAOMI FEIL I CAN SINCERELY SAY THAT HER RESEARCHED METHOD, THE VALIDATION METHOD, WORKS FOR COMMUNICATING GO TO WWW.VFVALIDATION.ORG FOR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS

Validation is a method of communicating with and helping disoriented very old people. It is a practical way of working that helps reduce stress, enhance dignity and increase happiness. Validation is built on an empathetic attitude and a holistic view of individuals. When one can "step into the shoes" of another human being and "see through their eyes," one can step into the world of disoriented very old people and understand the meaning of their sometimes bizarre behavior. Validation theory explains that many very old disoriented people, who are often diagnosed as having Alzheimer type dementia, are in the final stage of life, trying to resolve unfinished issues in order to die in peace. Their final struggle is important and we, as caregivers, can help them. Using Validation techniques we offer disoriented elderly an opportunity to express what they wish to express whether it is verbal or non-verbal communication. What is Validation?

Validation has three basic components Validation is a theory that very old people struggle to resolve unfinished life issues before death. Their behavior is age-specific. Their movements reflect human needs. Validation is a way of classifying their behaviors into four progressive stages: Malorientation- expressing past conflicts in disguised forms. Time confusion- no longer holding onto reality; retreating inward. Repetitive motion- movements replace words and are used to work through unresolved conflicts. Vegetation- shuts out world completely and gives up trying to resolve living . Each phase has specific physical and psycho-social characteristics. Validation includes specific techniques for individual as well as group work, based on the needs of the individual and his or her phase of resolution. Examples…………………

All very old people are unique and worthwhile. Maloriented and disoriented old people should be accepted as they are: we should not try to change them Listening with empathy builds trust, reduces anxiety and restores dignity Painful feelings that are expressed, acknowledged and validated by a trusted listener will diminish. There is a reason behind the behavior of very old maloriented and disoriented people Examples of Validation principles

6. The reasons that underlie the behavior of maloriented or disoriented very old people can be one or more of the following basic human needs: resolution of unfinished issues, in order to die in peace To live in peace Need to restore a sense of equilibrium when eyesight, hearing, mobility and memory fail. Need to make sense out of an unbearable reality: to find a place that feels comfortable, where one feels in order or in harmony and where relationships are familiar. Need for recognition, status, identity and self-worth Need to be useful and productive Need to be listened to and respected. Need to express feelings and be heard. Need to be loved and to belong: need for human contact Need to be nurtured, feel safe and secure, rather than immobilized and restrained. Need for sensory stimulation: tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, as well as sexual expression Need to reduce pain and discomfort Examples of Validation principles

7. Early learned behaviors return when verbal ability and recent memory fails 8. Personal symbols used by maloriented or disoriented elderly are people or things (in present time) that represent people, things or concepts from the past that are laden with emotion. 9. Maloriented and disoriented old people live on several levels of awareness, often at the same time 10. When the 5 senses fail, maloriented and disoriented elderly stimulate and use their "inner senses'. They see with their "mind's eye' and hear sounds from the past. Examples of Validation principles

Call or email: The Senior Site, Inc. 630-200-1149 [email_address] QUESTIONS ARE HONORED WITH ANSWERS THANK YOU

THANKS AND CREDITS TO: Naomi Feil Validation Method for knowledge on communication methods www.vfvalidation.org Alzheimer’s - A Message of Hope By: Dr. Abraham Isaac Anbar

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