A special opportunity for your donation to have twice the impact- Alzheimer’s Association

Recently, I wrote you about two anonymous donors from California who agreed to collectively give $225,000 to the Alzheimer’s Association if we raise that same amount by December 31, 2013. This matching gift challenge represents an exciting opportunity to make one gift and have twice the impact.
More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – and that number is projected to increase 40 percent by 2025 unless we make significant progress. And we can’t make that progress without you.

Your tax-deductible year-end donation of $50 can become $100, or a gift of $100 can become $200. Any amount you give will help us continue to enhance vital care and support as well as advance research for all affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Please don’t miss this opportunity to make an urgently needed gift that can go twice as far in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

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Wednesday, December 4 from noon to 1 p.m. on Alzheimer’s preparedness

Nancy Brain, community educator with Presence United Samaritan Medical Center, will discuss how families dealing with Alzheimer’s must first understand the challenges it brings and the choices that must be made. This then empowers families to make a difference in improving the quality of life for all those affected. This presentation will also provide information and insight into putting together a specific preparedness plan to help yourself, your family as well as others touched by Alzheimer’s disease.
To register online or call 309.662.8392.

Description:
Are you too busy to attend an educational program? Audio Conference is designed for those who aren’t able to attend a program outside the home or office.

Once registered, you will receive through the mail, a toll free telephone number with instructions. On the day of the conference you will call-in and join many others who are seeking the latest information on memory loss.

Alzheimer’s Preparedness
Nancy Brain, Community Educator Presence United Samaritan Medical Center, Illiana Alzheimer’s Alliance
By being prepared with basic knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease, you can better understand the challenges & choices that families walking with Alzheimer’s face. With this understanding, you will find yourself better equipped to offer needed support & assistance. This presentation will also give insight & information to aid in putting together a preparedness plan to help yourself, your family, or others who are being touched by Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Memory Rock benefit has its best year to date!

The 7th annual Memory Rock, a benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter held in October, raised nearly $50,000 to aid the organization as it funds research and provides care and support programs to the 68 counties it serves throughout the state.
This year’s event was the largest to date, with more than 400 people in attendance. Donations came in from across the United States, including Washington, Delaware and California.

The 7th annual Memory Rock, a benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter held in October, raised nearly $50,000 to aid the organization as it funds research and provides care and support programs to the 68 counties it serves throughout the state.
This year’s event was the largest to date, with more than 400 people in attendance. Donations came in from across the United States, including Washington, Delaware and California.
The Greater Illinois Chapter would like to thank the Memory Rock planning committee as well as those who attended and supported this very important cause. The Chapter would also like to express thanks to musical performer Liquidated Damages.
To learn more about events, contact Bethany Hein at bhein@alz.org.

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Planning can make the holidays memorable and enjoyable

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather to enjoy each other’s company. For families living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the holidays can be challenging. With some planning and adjusted expectations, your celebrations can be happy, memorable occasions.

The holidays are a time when family and friends often come together. But for families living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the holidays can be challenging. Take a deep breath. With some planning and adjusted expectations, your celebrations can still be happy, memorable occasions.

• Familiarize others with the situation
• Adjust expectations
• Involve the person with dementia
• Adapt gift giving
• When the person lives in a care facility

Familiarize others with the situation

The holidays are full of emotions, so it can help to let guests know what to expect before they arrive. 

If the person is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, relatives and friends might not notice any changes. But the person with dementia may have trouble following conversation or tend to repeat him- or herself.  Family can help with communication by being patient, not interrupting or correcting, and giving the person time to finish his or her thoughts.

If the person is in the middle or late stages of Alzheimer’s, there may be significant changes in cognitive abilities since the last time an out-of-town friend or relative has visited.  These changes can be hard to accept. Make sure visitors understand that changes in behavior and memory are caused by the disease and not the person.   

You may find this easier to share changes in a letter or email that can be sent to multiple recipients. Here are some examples:

>> “I’m writing to let you know how things are going at our house. While we’re looking forward to your visit, we thought it might be helpful if you understood our current situation before you arrive.
>> “You may notice that ___ has changed since you last saw him/her. Among the changes you may notice are ___.
>> “Because ___ sometimes has problems remembering and thinking clearly, his/her behavior is a little unpredictable.
>> “Please understand that ___ may not remember who you are and may confuse you with someone else. Please don’t feel offended by this. He/she appreciates your being with us and so do I.”

For more ideas on how to let others know about changes in your loved one, join ALZConnected, our online support community where caregivers like you share tips on what has worked for them.

Adjust expectations

Involve the person with dementia

• Build on past traditions and memories.
  Focus on activities that are meaningful to the person with dementia. Your family member may find comfort in singing old holiday songs or looking through old photo albums.
• Involve the person in holiday preparation.
  As the person’s abilities allow, invite him or her to help you prepare food, wrap packages, help decorate or set the table. This could be as simple as having the person measure an ingredient or hand decorations to you as you put them up. (Be careful with decoration choices. Blinking lights may confuse or scare a person with dementia, and decorations that look like food could be mistaken as edible.) 
• Maintain a normal routine.
  Sticking to the person’s normal routine will help keep the holidays from becoming disruptive or confusing. Plan time for breaks and rest.

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Adapt gift giving

Read more: http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-holidays.asp#ixzz2lDMDrspS

Adapt gift giving

Reduce post-holiday stress.

Arrange for respite care so you can enjoy a movie or lunch with a friend.

• Encourage safe and useful gifts for the person with dementia.
  Diminishing capacity may make some gifts unusable or even dangerous to a person with dementia. If someone asks for gift ideas, suggest items the person with dementia needs or can easily enjoy. Ideas include: an identification bracelet (available through MedicAlert^® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return^®), comfortable clothing, audiotapes of favorite music, videos and photo albums.
• Put respite care on your wish list.
  If friends or family ask what you want for a gift, suggest a gift certificate or something that will help you take care of yourself as you care for your loved one. This could be a cleaning or household chore service, an offer to provide respite care, or something that provides you with a bit of rest and relaxation.

When the person lives in a care facility

Read more: http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-holidays.asp#ixzz2lDMH8Qkc

When the person lives in a care facility

A holiday is still a holiday whether it is celebrated at home or at a care facility. Here are some ways to celebrate together:

• Consider joining your loved one in any facility-planned holiday activities
• Bring a favorite holiday food to share
• Sing holiday songs and ask if other residents can join in
• Read a favorite holiday story or poem out loud

Read more: http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-holidays.asp#ixzz2lDMJtWi2

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The toll of Alzheimer’s caregiving

Alzheimer’s Association Greater Illinois Chapter CEO and President Erna Colborn spoke as a panelist in Washington Post Live’s Caregiving in America forum on November 14 in Chicago. The event, which also included Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, featured conversation about the realities faced by millions of caregivers as well ideas and resources to better support individuals and families.

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