It's Alzheimer's Month

Dear gentle reader, September is World Alzheimer's Month and Sept. 21st is Alzheimer's Action Day. Join me this month to raise awareness for the more than 35 million people worldwide living with dementia. Here in the US, one in eight has this terrible disease for which there is no cure. Alzheimer's is the sixth-leading cause of in the United States. On September 21st, wear purple, the color of the Alzheimer's movement.

To learn more about World Alzheimer's Month, please visit www.alz.org/wam.

On Sept. 22nd, join me and Lisa, my spouse and caregiver for the Alzheimer's Walk to end Alzheimer's, which is hosted by our own Local Charleston Chapter. You can get involved by calling the Charleston Alzheimer's Chapter @ 843-571-2641 or visit www.alz.org/sc. There you will find opportunity in other parts of the state for additional walks.

As most of you gentle readers know, I have Alzheimer's and it was first suspected by my primary care doctor. The diagnosis was confirmed after many different types of tests by many kinds of doctors. After reviewing the test results, my neurologist confirmed my worse fear. Yes, I did have Alzheimer's. The year was 2008.

The other day, I saw my primary care doctor, Dr. David Castellone here in Summerville for a check up. You know gentle reader, he said "I am amazed at how healthy you are." I believe that I have been able to stay healthy by keeping my brain active through writing, like this blog and making sure with the help of Lisa, my spouse and caregiver partner to take the perscribed medications. I take 11 pills in the morning and 11 at night. Big ones, small ones, funny shaped ones. Some start to disolve in your mouth as you try to swallow them. That gentle readers, is 22 pills per day and some are so big that they are difficult to get down. Perhaps some of you know what I mean. But it is what it is. Life for all of us has hills and valleys. Why, I just don't know...only God knowns and it is all part of His plan for me and for you.

Do I have bad days? Sure, we all do, sometimes a whole string. But for someone living with the disease I am Thankful to wake up and get up. That gentle reader is a BIG deal! The rest is only frosting on the cake of life.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. which accounts for 60 to 80% of the cases. What is dementia? I'm glad you asked. Dementia refers to the death of of nerve cells in the brain that lead to change in memory (my spelling is one. I can even beat "spell check"!) Just ask my editor. Other changes are behavior and cognition. Of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer's disease is the only cause that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed down. If you want to learn a bit more visit www.alz.org

Individuals with Alzhiemer's and and their caregivers may and do experience stigma associated with dementia.

People pull away. Loss or disappearance of long known friends and then there is isolation. Life is turned upside down. There is no such thing as a normal day and it only gets worse as the person's brain is destroyed and loses-over time all their abilities..... You can find in my list of published blogs. It is not a pretty picture.

I know, having worked as a weekend Chaplian in an inner city hospital for ten years watching,praying, and just being there as the final days of Alzheimer's takes that love one.

But in this, their is someone else involved, called a caregiver. For me that is my spouse. She is suffering from ulcerative colius. Currently I am able to go to a respite care center called The Ark here in Summerville. I have fun and it gives my spouse a needed break from caregiving duties. We all need some personal time of our own, don't we?

Here the engineer in me. I want to give you some real numbers about caregivers.

Over 15 million Americans caregivers provide unpaid care. and payments for doctors and other care is estimated at $200 Billion in 2012. Caring for someone is a full time Job! and the job of caring for the one with the disease with ever increasing needs is a 7/24 day job. Think about that gentle reader. 

But you, yes you, can give Caregivers NEEDED personal time breaks. They need support from families, neighbors, volunteers from the local Alzheimer's Chapters professionals from health agencies or Senior Service non- profits.

You ask, OK, I want to help the Caregiver, but what can I do? 

• spend some time with the caregiver, they like visitors.
• Bring a covered dish once in a while.
• Sew Large terry cloth bibs.
• Offer to to help with the laundry, vacuum, dust...practical things just like you do at home.
• Talk and read to the patient, play music they like, sing to them.
• Hold their hand. 

It's the little things that count and are welcome by the caregiver. Try it. I promise you will not regret it. Call the Charleston Alzheimers Chapter to offer you services. Contact my spouse @ lfox1@sc.rr.com. We just moved and we are try to unpack. You know, seek and you shall find type of thing.

Below I have listed information on who you can contact to get involved. Try it. I promise you you won't regret the time well spent. Who knows, you might even find it habit forming. :))

Hey, gentle reader, thanks for the read and your comments. They are always welcome. Now let's us all get involved. You can do it, I know you can.

Yours for the Cure, Pastor Kaye

For further Info. Charleston Chapter: Cawanda Wilson, Director @843-571-2641 or alz.org 1-800-860-1444