Soul legend Bobby Womack diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/03/bobby-womack-reveals-alzheimers-diagnosis/

Legendary soul singer Bobby Womack has been diagnosed as being in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Womack, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, said he will continue to perform for as long as he’s able.
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Seniors gather at the Alzheimer’s Café for support

http://www.nhpr.org/post/alzheimers-caf-unforgettable-therapy

Once a month, a dozen or so seniors, some with dementia, gather at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover, N.H., for coffee, cake and live music. The gathering is called the Alzheimer’s Café and is similar to a support group.
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Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s can’t neglect their own health

http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-healthy-caregiver.asp?WT.mc_id=enews2013_01_09

As a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, you may find yourself with so many responsibilities that you neglect to take good care of yourself. The best thing you can do for the person you are caring for is to stay physically and emotionally strong. Eat well, exercise and listen to what your body is telling you.
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As a caregiver, you may find yourself with so many responsibilities that you neglect taking good care of yourself. But the best thing you can do for the person you are caring for is stay physically and emotionally strong. Here’s how:

• See the doctor
• Get moving
• Eat well
• Tips to help you cope

See the doctor

e sure to visit your physician regularly (at least annually), and listen to what your body is telling you. Any exhaustion, stress, sleeplessness, or changes in appetite or behavior should be taken seriously. Ignoring these symptoms can cause your physical and mental health to decline.

If you are caring for someone in the late-stages of Alzheimer’s, talk to your health care provider about the seasonal flu shot. Being vaccinated protects both you and the person you are caring for.

Learn more:
Caregiver DepressionStress ManagementLate-State Care: Infections

Get moving

No doubt you know that exercise is an important part of staying healthy — it can help relieve stress, prevent disease and make you feel good. But finding the time to exercise is another story.

Use these tips:

• Take friends and family members up on their offers to help.
  You can get in a good workout in a short amount of time — even a 30 minute break. Use our Care Team Calendar to help coordinate a schedule where you have breaks to exercise and take care of your health.
• Start small.
  While it is recommended that you get 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week, even 10 minutes a day can help. Fit in what you can, and work toward a goal.

• Exercise at home.
  When the person with dementia naps, pull out a yoga mat and stretch, set up a stationary bike, or try exercise tapes.
• Find something you love.
  If you enjoy the activity, it will be easier to make it a habit.

There also are many ways you can be active with the person with dementia. Here are a few ideas:

• Take a walk together outside to enjoy the fresh air
• Go to the mall and take a stroll indoors
• Do seated exercises at home
• Dance together to favorite music
• Garden or do other routine activities that you both enjoy

Eat well

Heart-healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, are good for overall health and may help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively little red meat and emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats. Try new recipes and involve the person with dementia.

Need ideas on how to go healthy?
Try these resources:

• Nutrition: Tips for Improving Your Health (American Academy of Family Physicians)
• Eat Right Nutrition Tips (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Healthy Breakfast: Quick, Flexible Options to Grab at Home (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Five tips to help you cope

• Manage your level of stress.
  Consider how stress affects your body (stomach aches, high blood pressure) — and your emotions (overeating, irritability). Find ways to relax. Learn more.
• Be realistic.
  The care you give does make a difference, but many behaviors can’t be controlled. Grieve the losses, focus on positive times as they arise, and enjoy good memories.
• Give yourself credit, not guilt.
  It’s normal to lose patience or feel like your care may fall short sometimes. You’re doing the best you can. For support and encouragement, join ALZConnected, our online caregiver community.
• Take a break.
  It’s normal to need a break from caregiving duties. No one can do it all by themselves. Look into respite care to allow time to take care of yourself.
• Accept changes.
  Eventually your loved one will need more intensive kinds of care. Research care options now so you are ready for the changes as they occur.

Read more: http://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-healthy-caregiver.asp?WT.mc_id=enews2013_01_09#ixzz2HbcGO6tH

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http://www.crowdrise.com/sethmfc

I could really use your help. As you probably know there’s a thief out there. It’s robbing memories. It’s robbing the ability to talk. It’s robbing the ability to eat, walk, get dressed, shower, or recognize loved ones. It’s robbing people of their ability to be humans. It’s called Alzheimer’s, and we’ve got to do something about it.

I started the Hilarity for Charity Fund to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Last January, I co-hosted the first annual Hilarity for Charity event in Los Angeles, California-and we raised over $300,000. I am trying to break that record this year and it starts with an outstanding opportunity. I am participating in the Mozilla Firefox^® Challenge and they will donate $50,000 to the charity that raises the most money by the end of the day January 10. I know we can win with your help!

To make it even more enticing, I asked my fellow members from 2012’s Hilarity for Charity to sign a special ukulele-friends like Paul Rudd, Aziz Ansari, Ty Burrell, Bruno Mars, Judd Apatow and more! All you have to do is donate $26 dollars or more before time is up and you will be entered into a raffle to win the ukulele.

Not a ukulele person? That’s ok, you can still donate any amount to help me win the extra $50K for Alzheimer’s. So, please make a gift today. Together we can make a huge stand in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

You all rock my world! Thanks!
Seth

PS Curious about the Hilarity for Charity Fund? We started this fund as part of the national Alzheimer’s Association, through which monies raised will be directed to help families struggling with Alzheimer’s care today, increase support groups nationwide, and help advance cutting edge research.

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Georgia man to run across the country for Alzheimer’s research

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/georgia-man-to-run-across-country-to-benefit-alzhe/nTTdz/

After a bleeding ulcer landed him in intensive care in 2001, Jack Fussell Sr. decided he need to improve his health. He has turned this quest into a mission — he is planning jog and walk from Georgia to California to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. His father passed away with Alzheimer’s in 2000.
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