While the article wasn't that great I was pleased to see it in main stream news http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703730804576324204204958510.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
What I liked about the article was that it was realistic. It didn't advise teaching them to do crossword puzzles when they have no vocabulary or to take them ball room dancing. It's common sense to us, but maybe not to those who are not totally immersed in the disease and need a guide.
I tried to look at the article, but the run of numbers was too long to type in with my tri-focals, plus chasing my wife. I got about half way and had to quit.
I actually liked the article. Thank you for sharing it with us Nora :)
I agree with Joan, it was SO refreshing to not read the same old crap about crossword puzzles etc. Since we put Lynn on Marinol we have seen remarkable changes in him. Ever see the movie Awakenings with Robin Williams? That is how I feel with Lynn, we are having many "Awakening" moments!
Just a couple of weeks ago I took him down to the main dinning room which also serves as a recreational area. On the shelf I saw a huge beach ball. I wasn't sure if he would know what to do with it, but I thought what the heck, give it a try, at least he would like to watch it bounce. Lynn stunned me by not only catching it, but throwing it back to me! We played for the longest time, him laughing right out loud. It is now a daily activity with us. He has a wonderful time "playing" and it must be good to stimulate him.
The kids enjoy their visits with him so much more now that he can interact and talk with us. It isn't what we want, but it is so much better than it was!! The other day we went outside to play catch, it was a gorgeous day and I thought he would like to feel the sun. As soon as we got outside he asked me where the water was.... took me awhile to figure out what he meant. We had a beach ball, now where was the beach!? lol
I think about all the lost souls at the nursing home. Some never even have visitors, breaks my heart! They just sit in the dinning room with that blank stare, or the ones who are not as bad just go up and down the hallway in their wheelchairs all day. There HAS to be some activity that they could enjoy. I am having a meeting with the nursing home next week. They do offer a ton of activities, but none that most AD victims could participate in. There has to be something between Bingo and nothing!
Nikki, I think that is great about the beach ball. My dh can't get words out anymore other than "I don't know", Yes for No, No for Yes, WHAT????? and a few others. I read that some caregivers are so tired of repeating the same things over and over and being asked the same questions again and again,,,,,, well sometimes I miss him asking things every few minutes. Now it is me repeating things hoping he will understand and follow the instructions....... Hardly ever works..... But it sure was nice to hear about the beach ball. I may get one and try it with my dh. Hope you have a great nite and day tomorrow.....
Mammie, it is so difficult isn't it!!! I remember all to well when Lynn could hardly talk at all..... was just heartbreaking! Even now that he is able to talk more.... it is still just gut wrenching.....And I understand completely what you are saying! I DO recall the times when the constant repetitive questions bothered me, but now..... yeah, I would give anything to have those times back!!
I remember how the constant shadowing use to irk me to no end. I couldn't even go to the bathroom! And yet, NOW..... damn what I wouldn't give to have him just walk again.... I have learned a great deal from Alzheimer's, and one of the most important is to treasure what I have today. I wish had learned that way back in the earlier stages.
Nikki, I was just talking to my friend tonight about her younger brother who is in a nursing home with eoad and some other health problems, he is in a wheelchair, and she is trying to find fun activities...so anyway now that the weather is nice she found some water balloons and some target and they go outside and blast away at the target. She said he likes it so much that he even has recruited others from the dining room to join in.
marsh, anytime someone here types in a website, to visit, all you really have to do is copy it and then paste it into the address line at the top and hit the button to the right of the address line to go there.
Nikki--I toured a new ALF's dementia floor recently and noticed that in a long hallway they had "stations" set up with props for the patients. On one table (obviously for the men) they had caps and tees from our local baseball/football teams and things connected with other sports; on the other table, for the ladies, they had a fancy hat, handbag, jewelry, etc. I'm sure these objects are there to stimulate the residents' memories and to get them engaged in conversations.
phil14:3 and Anchor20 - I tried the copy and past method, but for some reason my computer won't do it. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but after I copy the item and then go to the address line the "paste" portion goes "gray" and won't work.