Another great resource for anyone on the long road of Alzheimer's is http://www.leezasplace.org.
Leeza Gibbons has established a memory foundation and they have seven locations throughout the country. You may be familiar with her from TV but her mom was diagnosed years ago with Alzheimer's and her foundation has made great strides in helping families/caregivers cope with the disease.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF CAREGIVERS

COMMANDMENT I:TAKE THE OXYGEN FIRST As the FAA says, when the plane gets into trouble and the life saving equipment falls from the upper compartment, you take the oxygen first and then give it to your child. With only 19 seconds of useful consciousness in such a situation this approach gives both of you a chance of survival. Caregiving is no different. At its base, caregiving is an experience of confusion, challenge and mixed emotions. Love for your family member and the satisfaction you derive from helpingmay create a situation where one sacrifices their lives at the “alter of caregiving.” That sacrifice gives rise to conflicting emotions such as guilt, stress, anxiety and a host of other mental health challenges. It is imperative as a caregiver to take care of one’s own mind, body and soul by taking the oxygen first.

COMMANDMENT II:NEVER ASSUMECaregivers are no different than others in that we tend to make assumptions about other people and situations before actually having gathered all of the neede information. In fact, when we make an assumption we are really passing judgment without even realizing it. How often do we assume that our loved one knows what we know, or knows what we need or desire to have happen, when if fact we are not all psychic? The result of this is often misplaced anger or resentment. Let’s make a sincere effort to garner all the details before we make assumptions.

COMMANDMENT III:HAVE ONGOING FAMILY CONFERENCESRoles and responsibilities are extremely important to explain to all involved. Ongoing family conferences maintain the boundaries necessary to the caregiving process so that no one feels out of control or inadequate. This is a vital and should be done in person and as frequently as needed. Family conferences are like tuneups used to maintain the family car. This car needs to drive well, efficiently and for a long time. Schedule these conferences regularly, before the wheels fall off.

COMMANDMENT IV:DO NOT ISOLATESocial isolation can detach and separate a caregiver and give rise to a wide variety of stresses for those taking care of a loved one. Isolation is dangerous because it cuts off family members from outside help and support they need to cope with the stresses of caregiving. Isolation makes it harder for outsiders to see and intervene in a volatile situation. Support groups help caregivers feel less isolated creating strong bonds of assistance and friendship. Participating in a support group helps caregivers manage stress by sharing their experiences and helping to improve caregiver> skills. It may also help you to face that some problems> have no solutions and that accepting the situation is reality. Join a Caregiver Support Group today.

COMMANDMENT V:DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY Taking things personally is about self-importance, “the maximum expression of selfishness,” where we assume everything is about “me.” As a famous author once said, “Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.” The actual words said by your loved one are not what is hurting you; it is that you have wounds that are touched by what was said.

COMMANDMENT VI:PLAN AHEAD/HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANSMurphy's Law is a popular adage in our culture which broadly states that things will go wrong in any given situation. In American culture the law was named after an engineer working for a brief time on USA rocket sled experiments. No doubt if you are a caregiver than Plan A needs to be made but has to be followed up by Plan B, a contingency plan. Recognize what you can and cannot do, define your priorities, and act accordingly. Turn to other people for help - your family, friends, and neighbors. Prepare clear written list of tasks for anyone who may offer assistance. Planning ahead is vital as it gets all on the same page, allows your loved one to feel safe and to have continuity, lessening their anxiety. What if I go before my loved one does? The answer is plan ahead!

COMMANDMENT VII:DO NOT FALL PREY TO SHAME & STIGMAShame and stigma have tragic consequences. Caregivers with mental health challenges fail to see help for themselves because of the shame associated with their condition. As a result of this feeling many think they will experience some form of discrimination, whether in the workplace, from health insurance plans or in social settings. They must get help for their behavioral issues in the same manner they would get help for any other other medical condition. Though a loved one is surrounded by medical and behavioral complications at all times, matters get much worse if the caregiver represses their own mental health issues and keeps it in a closet. There is a high need for ongoing assessments for depression, anxiety, fear, alcohol usage and many other challenges. Often shame and stigma prevent vital access to in-depth evaluation of those on the caregiving path. There is no biochemical difference between a disease of the brain and a disease of the heart.

COMMANDMENT VIII:USE COMMUNITY RESOURCESA full complement of support services that address the caregiver and the recently diagnosed exists in every community. The quality and the extent of such a continuum of resources may vary but just know that neither a caregiver nor their loved one has to be alone. Supportive services may include medical, behavioral, legal, dental and various psycho-educational support groups Investigate community resources that might be helpful. If there is a Leeza’s Place in your community, consult a Leeza Care Advocate or attend meetings and ask other caregivers for the resources that have helped them. If there is not a Leeza’s Place in your community try our Caregiver Connection Line.

COMMANDMENT IX:HONOR SACRED MEMORIESEmpower yourself and your family using experiential approaches to memories. Take time to “remember.” Get away from it all while relaxing with yourself and your loved ones. Use photography journaling, scrapbooking, holiday decorations or any other means to associate with the endearing “stories” of the family. If there is a Leeza’s Place near you, make sure you schedule time for LMTV, Leeza’s Memory Television. The caregiver and the care receiver can find common and connective ground in the face of the best and worst of times. Making sure that all members of the family are included is vital in this process. This is a great time to bring children into the process of honoring their elders and allows loved ones to connect in a valuable way. Keeping what emerges out of such a dynamic process is a great way to honor sacred memories and bridge the generations.

COMMANDMENT X:FIND HUMOR IN MANY PLACES“Laughter Is the Best Medicine.” This is an old expression popularized by Norman Cousin’s book “Anatomy of an Illness,” in which he describes his battle with cancer and how he “laughed” his way to recovery. His hypothesis and the subject of many studies suggest that there are positive effects to be gained from laughter as a great tension-releaser, pain reducer, breathing improver, and general elevator of moods. It sounds miraculous, is not proven, but studies continue. In short, humor therapy is valuable and it helps us through difficult or stressful times. Try to see the humor in being a caregiver. Try writing on a card “Have you laughed with your loved one today?” and placing it in a conspicuous place in the bathroom or kitchen. Read funny books or jokes, listen to funny tapes or watch humorous movies or videos that make you laugh. Try it and you’ll like it!

Tip for Kids and Coping with Alzheimer's Disease

What children may be feeling when a family member is suffering from Alzheimer's disease:

Fear and grief at the gradual losses the family member experiences.
Ashamed; may avoid inviting friends home.
Anxious if he or she detects stress in the parents' relationship.
Loneliness due to a parent focusing his or her attention on the ill family member.
Awkwardness due to a reversal of roles within the family.
Frustrated due to changes in lifestyle.
Frightened about his or her own future and the chances of getting Alzheimer's disease.

Tips for parents to help children cope:

Assess the child's need for counseling and refer him or her to a counselor who specializes in this area.
Notify the child's teachers and provide them with information about Alzheimer's disease.
Encourage open communication between parent and child.

Children Affected By Alzheimers?

Technorati Profile
Anyone have any ideas how to best get my book out to families with a loved suffering from Alzheimers?
My children's book appeals to a niche market yet it is a large and growing market with the disease growing exponentially.
I welcome suggestions to maximize my effort to reach that market.
With Christmas approaching it would be a great gift for children and adults, however, I have yet to tap into a broader market!!

Did you Know?

· There are now more than 5 MILLION people

in the United States living with Alzheimer's

· Every 72 seconds someone develops Alzheimer's

The Journey of Alzheimer's Through The Eyes Of A Child

The heartbreaking journey of Alzheimer's is overwhelming and at times beyond comprehension for an adult but for a child it produces a myriad of emotions, ranging from bewilderment to sorrow to angst. Often, children affected by Alzheimer's are overlooked as they struggle to cope with the confusion the disease has brought into their family in the life of a grandparent or other loved one.
It is this very situation that caused me to write "Grandma Can't Remember".
I am a first time author and began my children's book as a cathartic way to heal from my mom's horrible strruggle and eventual death from Alzheimer's. My book was born out of my real life experience with my amazing mom as she succumb to Alzheimer's. Many books were recommended to help me but none to help my children.
So, in "Grandma Can't Remember" I share my own children's heartbreaking journey into the world of Alzheimer's. It is written from the viewpoint of a young granddaughter (my children) as she endeavors to understand, as well as accept, her Grandma's new life robbed of her memory.
"Grandma Can't Remember" transcends all ages and is as appropriate, as well as comforting and encouraging, for adults as it is for children. It is my passion to get my book into the hands of everyone who struggles to grasp the daunting and confusing realities of Alzheimer's.
My book is available through www.tatepublishing.com under the title or under my name Carin Billington