I recently came across this:
http://www.alzforum.org/res/for/journal/detail.asp?liveID=188
It interests me greatly and not just because there is a lot of detail (I've barely scratched the surface) about the link between herpes simplex and Alzheimer's (a link that was first looked at in the 1970's). I'm also intrigued that what is clearly a reputable Alzheimer's Research site is taking the growing body of research in this area seriously.
I simply cannot understand why the comparable bodies in the UK are neglecting this research. I think it's scandalous.
Dedicated to my dear wife, who is still - recognisably and remarkably - the same person I have known and loved since 1995.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Sonas - Irish word meaning well-being, joy and contentment
Also the name given to a sensory stimulation programme.
S was offered a place on a Sonas course. As the day of the week on which it takes place is one when we have the care worker visiting to sit with S for a few hours, I asked her if she would like to go with S. She readily agreed even though this meant adjusting her time of arrival.
I thought it would be interesting for S to go to an activity with someone else. The downside of this is that I don't have a clear idea of what goes on. However I offered to go and collect S at the end of the session as the care worker lives near the venue and could then go straight home.
The session was winding down when I arrived. I could see S was quite happy, as she mostly is these days. Two things slightly disturbed me however. All the other participants were clearly quite old. We are used to this, to an extent, as S is still relatively young at 63 and a large majority of people with dementia are a good deal older. But usually there's a handful of younger people at the activities we attend. I'm not sure whether this bothers S though the songs they were singing along to at the end were all old songs and I doubt whether she would have known more than one or two.
The other thing was that, from my brief sample of the session, the prevailing attitude towards the participants might have been a little patronising. I am now quite sensitive to this since I realised how easy it is to get into the habit of treating someone with dementia as a child:
This struck a chord
Neither of these reservations make me at all question the potential value of the approach which involves stimulating all the senses in a programmed way. The care worker said that S really enjoyed it though she did find some of the activities difficult (which she does at most of the sessions we attend). So I'm still hopeful that there will be benefits beyond the enjoyment (which is obviously good in itself).
I would be happy to hear from anyone with experience of Sonas.
S was offered a place on a Sonas course. As the day of the week on which it takes place is one when we have the care worker visiting to sit with S for a few hours, I asked her if she would like to go with S. She readily agreed even though this meant adjusting her time of arrival.
I thought it would be interesting for S to go to an activity with someone else. The downside of this is that I don't have a clear idea of what goes on. However I offered to go and collect S at the end of the session as the care worker lives near the venue and could then go straight home.
The session was winding down when I arrived. I could see S was quite happy, as she mostly is these days. Two things slightly disturbed me however. All the other participants were clearly quite old. We are used to this, to an extent, as S is still relatively young at 63 and a large majority of people with dementia are a good deal older. But usually there's a handful of younger people at the activities we attend. I'm not sure whether this bothers S though the songs they were singing along to at the end were all old songs and I doubt whether she would have known more than one or two.
The other thing was that, from my brief sample of the session, the prevailing attitude towards the participants might have been a little patronising. I am now quite sensitive to this since I realised how easy it is to get into the habit of treating someone with dementia as a child:
This struck a chord
Neither of these reservations make me at all question the potential value of the approach which involves stimulating all the senses in a programmed way. The care worker said that S really enjoyed it though she did find some of the activities difficult (which she does at most of the sessions we attend). So I'm still hopeful that there will be benefits beyond the enjoyment (which is obviously good in itself).
I would be happy to hear from anyone with experience of Sonas.
Thursday, 7 February 2013
This is what we have sunk to
I'm amazed that this story has not been given greater exposure:
No food, no water, no medication - left to die in her own home
What this appears to tell us that in the UK in 2012, it's more important to crack down on allegedly illegal immigrants than to keep an elderly woman, who is paying for her own 'care', alive. What she must have gone through doesn't bear thinking about.
I am aware from reading online forums that there are many elderly confused people (often actually suffering from dementia) in the same situation, totally dependent on carers and with minimal, if any, contact with family.
As a British politician once said: 'I warn you not to grow old.'
No food, no water, no medication - left to die in her own home
What this appears to tell us that in the UK in 2012, it's more important to crack down on allegedly illegal immigrants than to keep an elderly woman, who is paying for her own 'care', alive. What she must have gone through doesn't bear thinking about.
I am aware from reading online forums that there are many elderly confused people (often actually suffering from dementia) in the same situation, totally dependent on carers and with minimal, if any, contact with family.
As a British politician once said: 'I warn you not to grow old.'