Medical alert bracelets have been around for some time. People with chronic conditions that need particular attention have found them to be utter lifesavers at times. Doctors can be alerted to the condition itself, or to allergies to common medications, and so on. Still, there is a new Alzheimer's awareness bracelet that goes one step further - it really works as a tracking device for the Alzheimer's patient.
Using an Alzheimer's awareness bracelet is an excellent idea to let medical personnel and law enforcement agencies know that the person wearing the bracelet has Alzheimer's, as these patients do occasionally have a tendency to wander away from their home or caregiver. It can be tricky for these to return the patient to their home if the patient himself or herself does not remember where they live, or even who they are. Moreover, there have been some fateful circumstances of Alzheimer's patients walking out of their private home or nursing home in the middle of the night or in very poor weather, without the caregiver noticing. These new Alzheimer's awareness bracelets can really trigger an alarm when the patient crosses a certain point. These bracelets work much like the security systems in stores that get triggered when someone walks out the door with merchandise that still has the security tag attached.
Miniature global satellite positioning (GSP) chips have been made to fit into the newest models of Alzheimer's awareness bracelets, meaning that if the patient wanders off, the bracelet can be easily tracked, just like stolen cars.
These Alzheimer's awareness bracelets are not meant to be degrading or embarrassing to the patients. Many of them come in very stylish models with crystal beads and charms, and for the men, there are thick silver chain styles. Some are also made of nylon and come in a diversity of colors. Alzheimer's awareness bracelets are simply meant as a safeguard for the patients in case something happens to them and they are admitted to an emergency room without their caregiver, or if they should leave the home at unsuitable times. They can be lifesavers to those patients whose caregivers obviously cannot watch over them twenty-four hours per day.
Numerous brands of Alzheimer's awareness bracelets also donate a portion of their prices to Alzheimer's research funding, so you are not only protecting your patient, you are supporting a great cause as well.
July 25, 2008
July 22, 2008
What Does Alzheimer's Care Involves
When somebody you love is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, you know that being a caregiver may be the hardest job you've ever had. There is continuous work to take care of the patient physically, and the sight of him or her slowly slipping away is very difficult on you emotionally. So it's important to understand that Alzheimer's care involves more than just the patient himself or herself! It is very easy for any Alzheimer's caregiver to become mentally, emotionally, and physically drained when trying to handle this weight alone.
The Physical Fee of Alzheimer's Care
Particularly in the later stages of the disease will Alzheimer's patients need more and more care with their physical needs. They frequently have difficulty swallowing and with reflexes. They may need help even with basic hygiene, including using the restroom. All of this can take quite a physical fee on those giving the Alzheimer's care. It's difficult enough to care for the many physical needs of babies that can be carried and bathed, but Alzheimer's patients are adults! Trying to get them in and out of a tub or even out of a chair can be very complicated.
Alzheimer's patients also need regular oversight, as they may have a tendency to wander away or leave the home at inappropriate times. When giving Alzheimer's care, this is a twenty-four hour job, and many caregivers can go days and days without enough sleep.
The Emotional Fee of Alzheimer's Care
Seeing a dearly loved parent or spouse regress into somebody that doesn't even know your name or worse, fears that you're a stranger and gets angry at you constantly can be shocking for those giving Alzheimer's care. This type of condition can also subconsciously remind them of what they have to look forward to in their own coming years, making them intensely aware of their own mortality.
Recruiting Help for Alzheimer's Care
There are possibly other people that can support you in giving Alzheimer's care if you simply ask them, and let them know directly what you need. Brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and any other relatives that live near by should be doing all they can to help even if the patient lives with you. They may also be willing to share the cost of professional visiting nurses and medics to assist in the patient's Alzheimer's care. You can ask your doctor for such referrals if necessary.
The Physical Fee of Alzheimer's Care
Particularly in the later stages of the disease will Alzheimer's patients need more and more care with their physical needs. They frequently have difficulty swallowing and with reflexes. They may need help even with basic hygiene, including using the restroom. All of this can take quite a physical fee on those giving the Alzheimer's care. It's difficult enough to care for the many physical needs of babies that can be carried and bathed, but Alzheimer's patients are adults! Trying to get them in and out of a tub or even out of a chair can be very complicated.
Alzheimer's patients also need regular oversight, as they may have a tendency to wander away or leave the home at inappropriate times. When giving Alzheimer's care, this is a twenty-four hour job, and many caregivers can go days and days without enough sleep.
The Emotional Fee of Alzheimer's Care
Seeing a dearly loved parent or spouse regress into somebody that doesn't even know your name or worse, fears that you're a stranger and gets angry at you constantly can be shocking for those giving Alzheimer's care. This type of condition can also subconsciously remind them of what they have to look forward to in their own coming years, making them intensely aware of their own mortality.
Recruiting Help for Alzheimer's Care
There are possibly other people that can support you in giving Alzheimer's care if you simply ask them, and let them know directly what you need. Brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, and any other relatives that live near by should be doing all they can to help even if the patient lives with you. They may also be willing to share the cost of professional visiting nurses and medics to assist in the patient's Alzheimer's care. You can ask your doctor for such referrals if necessary.
July 19, 2008
You Can Overcome Alzheimer’s Disease!
Listen to this extended interview with Alzheimer's patient, Don Hayen.
He is a retired doctor and former medical director of an HMO. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2005, at age 71.
More than the past two years, Don has managed well with the disease -- so well he's been unable to meet the requirements to take part in clinical trials of experimental Alzheimer's drugs.
He is a retired doctor and former medical director of an HMO. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2005, at age 71.
More than the past two years, Don has managed well with the disease -- so well he's been unable to meet the requirements to take part in clinical trials of experimental Alzheimer's drugs.
July 15, 2008
Be Careful of the Alzheimer's Caregiver
If you are an Alzheimer's caregiver, you need to be careful to watch your own health and not hesitate to speak up when you need help. Why do we say this?
Being an Alzheimer's caregiver can be one of the hardest jobs one could have. To watch a beloved parent or spouse slowly slip away as they continue to forget things can be absolutely upsetting. The formerly strong father that taught you to ride a bike or mother that walked you to school when you were a child is now the child himself or herself. To see that the husband or wife that you've build a life with is quickly thinking of you as a stranger can be almost too much to bear. Being an Alzheimer's caregiver can take an emotional toll on someone like almost nothing else can.
There is a danger too of becoming physically exhausted when you're an Alzheimer's caregiver. The patient can need virtually round-the-clock care and attention. Some patients do not know to stay in their own home and have been known to walk out the door in the middle of the night, or when they're still in their pajamas, or have no place to go. This can happen even in the nasty weather, putting them in great physical risk. An Alzheimer's caregiver can be always on the alert while keeping an eye on the patient.
Many Alzheimer's caregivers are hesitant to ask for help, thinking that it's their responsibility to take care of their parent or spouse twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. They think that a "good" son or daughter would never ask for assistance in caring for a parent, and a spouse may be afraid that somebody will put both the patient and him or her in a nursing home if they consider they can't take care of themselves. Yet, all Alzheimer's caregivers can use assistance. They need time to themselves, and time to rest as well. They can suffer from physical tiredness as they try to care for the patient's physical needs such as hygiene, feeding, dressing, and so on. Such things can be especially difficult if the Alzheimer's caregiver is also getting a bit older himself or herself. So if this sounds like you, don't hesitate to ask for support from other family members or friends before you become exhausted yourself.
Being an Alzheimer's caregiver can be one of the hardest jobs one could have. To watch a beloved parent or spouse slowly slip away as they continue to forget things can be absolutely upsetting. The formerly strong father that taught you to ride a bike or mother that walked you to school when you were a child is now the child himself or herself. To see that the husband or wife that you've build a life with is quickly thinking of you as a stranger can be almost too much to bear. Being an Alzheimer's caregiver can take an emotional toll on someone like almost nothing else can.
There is a danger too of becoming physically exhausted when you're an Alzheimer's caregiver. The patient can need virtually round-the-clock care and attention. Some patients do not know to stay in their own home and have been known to walk out the door in the middle of the night, or when they're still in their pajamas, or have no place to go. This can happen even in the nasty weather, putting them in great physical risk. An Alzheimer's caregiver can be always on the alert while keeping an eye on the patient.
Many Alzheimer's caregivers are hesitant to ask for help, thinking that it's their responsibility to take care of their parent or spouse twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. They think that a "good" son or daughter would never ask for assistance in caring for a parent, and a spouse may be afraid that somebody will put both the patient and him or her in a nursing home if they consider they can't take care of themselves. Yet, all Alzheimer's caregivers can use assistance. They need time to themselves, and time to rest as well. They can suffer from physical tiredness as they try to care for the patient's physical needs such as hygiene, feeding, dressing, and so on. Such things can be especially difficult if the Alzheimer's caregiver is also getting a bit older himself or herself. So if this sounds like you, don't hesitate to ask for support from other family members or friends before you become exhausted yourself.
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