Take Care of YOU

Care and comfort at a moment’s notice.
Volume 3, Issue 3
Summer 2012
Take Care of YOU
A Special Message for Caregivers
of Loved Ones with Dementia
This article has been contributed by
Teepa Snow (MS, OTR/L, FAOTA), a
nationally renowned dementia expert
who trains and consults for agencies,
facilities, and families. For more
information about Teepa Snow,
visit www.teepasnow.com.
It’s Puzzling
Pairs in Rhyme
Caring for someone with dementia can be one of the most
stressful situations possible for an adult child or spouse. The
process can last for over 10 to 15 years and affects every aspect
of life and function. The person requiring and receiving care
generally cannot appreciate the problems they are experiencing
and does not understand why they are no longer able to live their
lives as they have been doing without “interference” and help
that they believe is not needed.
Caregiving for someone with dementia is also an ever changing
process. The conditions of Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body dementia,
vascular dementia, frontal-temporal lobe dementia, and others
are all progressive. The ultimate result is that the brain can no
longer guide the person with the disease in how to think, talk,
understand, behave, respond to sensation, move, and even swallow and breathe. Providing care to someone you have known as
a vital and independent individual is incredibly stressful. You are
losing the ‘person’ as you are caring for them and they may very
well resent and resist your efforts to help and protect them as the
disease progresses.
Continued on following page
Each of these pairs of words is a rhyme
for a famous pair. Can you decipher the
original pairs?
Example: Owen & Carton
Answer: Rowan & Martin
1. Bunch & Moody
2. Putt & Chef
3. Coral & Tardy
4. Mom & Berry
5. Bunny & Dare
6. Mate & Valley
7. Pick & Flora
Answers on page 2
Take Care of YOU
Continued from preceding page
Caregivers of people with dementia are 80% more
likely than other caregivers to perceive that they
are very stressed in their caregiving role. Caregivers, in combination with the person with dementia, should be considered needing care, support,
and intervention, but it rarely happens without
a direct request for help on the caregivers’ part.
Several studies have indicated that caregivers of
people with dementia typically spend over 70
hours a week in care related activities, while others
spend only 62. Dementia care is the third most
expensive disease category in the United States,
and yet little of it is paid for by governmental programs, adding a financial burden to the caregiver.
The amount of burden or stress a caregiver of someone
with dementia experiences is not so much related to the
length of time they have given care, the amount of physical care provided, or the severity of the memory loss of the
person. Instead, it is closely related to the behaviors that
the person with dementia is having, including the amount
of their depression or apathy, the amount of support the
caregiver feels that they have, and the knowledge and skill
the caregiver has about the disease and the disease process.
Caregivers of people with dementia also routinely experience a significant worsening of feelings or distress and
guilt, depression, burden, and illness after placing the person in an institution. This is a unique and very troubling
finding, indicating that the burden and stress of caregiving
is much more than the physical demands of the job, and
needs to be addressed even after placement has occurred.
Caregivers need to know that there are agencies and
services available to help them in their journey from the
beginning to its end. Resources are available to find out
more about dementia and its symptoms, as well as to
provide training, guidance, assistance, or someone to
just listen. There may be local agencies and programs
that use the state of the art techniques and strategies to
provide support and care. Getting support and learning
more about dementia will change the caregiving experience. Becoming more knowledgeable and skilled in the
caregiver role, learning from others, and taking care of
yourself are key pieces of the puzzle to reduce your stress
and improve interactions and outcomes.
Find time every day to do something you enjoy, even if
only for a few minutes. When you start to feel the stress of
Say that Again?
Answers from Page 1
your caregiving role, try some simple stress management
techniques to clear your mind and help you relax.
10 Minute Stress Tamers
• Sit quietly in calm surroundings with soft lights.
• Use aromatherapy with scents such as lavender,
citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, or peppermint.
• Breathe deeply – rest your mind and oxygenate.
• Soak in a warm bath, or just your hands or feet.
• Read spiritual selections, poetry, inspirational readings, or one chapter of a favorite book.
• Laugh and smile. Watch classic comedians, Candid
Camera, America’s Funniest Home Videos, or look at
funny animal photos.
• Stretch – front to back, side to side, and across.
• Garden – work with plants, indoor or outdoor.
• Remember the good times and record memories. Use
scrapbooks, photo journals, keepsake memory picture
frames, or jot down favorite family stories.
• Have a cup of decaffeinated tea or coffee.
• Have that cup of coffee or tea with a friend who
listens well.
• Play a brain game – crosswords, jigsaws, Jeopardy,
jumbles, word searches, Sudoku.
• Listen to and sing along with a favorite song.
• Rest your eyes and read at the same time by listening to an audio book.
• Take a walk.
• Sit in the sun.
• Journal – take the opportunity to “tell it like it is.”
• Cuddle and stroke a pet. n
1. Punch & Judy; 2. Mutt & Jeff; 3. Laurel & Hardy; 4.Tom & Jerry;
5. Sonny & Cher; 6. Kate & Allie; 7. Nick & Nora
Recipe
For
Health
Summer Salad with
Cumin-Crusted Salmon
By USA WEEKEND
Columnist Jean Carper
Ingredients:
Salad:
2 oz pine nuts
5 c mixed greens
1 (15 oz) can black beans,
drained and rinsed
1 c scallions, sliced
1 large orange,
cut in 1-inch chunks
1/2 c feta cheese,
crumbled
1 c cilantro, chopped
Dressing:
2 tbsp orange juice
concentrate
4 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tbsp
balsamic vinegar
2 garlic cloves,
crushed
1/4 tsp salt
Drink Up!
Now that the dog days of summer
are here, the threat of dehydration
for seniors increases. Dehydration
is a serious health issue that affects
millions of seniors in the United
States each year. But it is also one
of the most easily avoidable health
concerns.
It is important for seniors to be
aware of how to avoid the medical
problems and hospitalizations that
are a direct result of dehydration.
Older Americans are bombarded
with lists of things they can do to
decrease their risk of health issues like heart attack, stroke, and
diabetes, but dehydration is among
the most common and most serious dangers that is easily forgotten.
Seniors are particularly susceptible
to dehydration because they don’t
drink or eat as much as younger
people and their bodies do not
retain as much water to begin with.
This means that elderly individuals
Salmon:
1 1/2 tbsp cumin
2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground
black pepper
1 lb salmon fillet,
skin removed
typically take in less fluid over the
course of the day and also lose it
more quickly.
A study by the Mayo Foundation
for Medical Education and
Research found that the average
adult loses more than ten cups of
water per day and states that thirst
is not always a reliable gauge of the
body’s need for water, especially
among older adults, who may have
less acute senses.
Most of the time, dehydration can
be easily prevented by paying attention to simple dietary measures and
looking out for early warning signs.
According to the Mayo Foundation,
some of the most telling signs of
dehydration include:
• Dizziness
• Blurred Vision
• Dry, sticky mouth
• Unusual sleepiness
• Decreased urine output
• Muscle weakness
• Sudden or persistent headaches
Directions:
1. Heat a non-stick skillet, add pine
nuts and stir until toasty, about 5
minutes. In a large bowl, place all
salad ingredients (reserve half of
the cilantro and half of the pine
nuts for garnish).
2. In a separate bowl, stir dressing
ingredients together.
3. In a bowl, combine cumin, paprika,
salt and pepper. Cut salmon in 8
strips and coat with spices. Grill (or
sear in a non-stick skillet brushed
with canola oil) until crusty.
4. Toss salad and dressing; divide
on plates. Top with salmon and
reserved cilantro and pine nuts.
The easiest way to prevent dehydration
is by drinking more fluids, primarily
water. If you don’t enjoy drinking
plain water, add a bit of flavor with a
few drops of fresh squeezed lemon,
lime, or orange juice, or slices of
cucumber. Stay away from caffeinated
or alcoholic beverages, since those
actually cause dehydration. You can
also eat fruits and vegetables high in
water content, such as watermelon,
cantaloupe, oranges, cucumbers,
zucchini, and tomatoes.
n
Top Foods for Brain Health
Health Facts
1. Blueberries. Studies show
that these little blue treats may
actually reduce the effects of
Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias. Ways to eat them
include adding berries to lowfat yogurt or making wholewheat blueberry pancakes.
2. Fatty Fish. While that may not
sound appetizing right off the
bat, many types of fish contain healthy fats that are good
for your brain. Some prime
sources include salmon, sardines, herring, and mackerel.
3. Beans. Beans are a super-easy
and super-inexpensive way to
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Any recommended food list that includes coffee and chocolate is
sure to be a winner! Include these seven super brain foods in your
diet to give your noggin an extra boost.
boost your brain power. They
provide a steady stream of glucose to help the brain operate.
Try to eat 1/2 cup of any kind
of beans every day.
4. Avocados. Creamy and delicious, avocados help to improve
blood flow, which is great for
your brain power. It’s great on
sandwiches, as a salad topping,
or in guacamole, but limit your
consumption to 1/4 to 1/2 an
avocado per day.
5. Pomegranates. Whether you
enjoy eating the seeds or drinking the juice, pomegranates are
the way to go to help protect
For More Info...
In an effort to support families
dealing with Alzheimer’s and
dementia, Teepa Snow and
Senior Helpers
have partnered
to create a
special DVD,
Your Guide to
Supporting
Family Members with Dementia.
your body from those nasty free
radicals.
6. Dark Chocolate. Chocolate
includes natural stimulants that
can enhance focus and improve
your mood. Careful though—
you don’t need to eat a whole
candy bar to feel the effects. Just
1/2 to 1 ounce will do.
7. Coffee. Two cups of coffee or
tea per day can improve focus
and enhance memory. Just be
sure to drink an extra glass of
water—caffeinated drinks cause
dehydration.
n
Source: Eat Smart for a Healthier Brain, By Carol
Sorgen for WebMD.
In this instructional video,
Teepa Snow, an occupational
therapist and dementia
expert with over 30 years of
clinical experience, provides
an overview of the impacts
of the disease as well as
techniques that make a
difference. Teepa is an
advocate for those living with
dementia and has made it
her personal mission to help
families and professional
caregivers understand how it
feels to have dementia and
provide better care.
Senior Helpers
1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite 507
Timonium, MD 21093
Phone: 800-760-6389
www.seniorhelpers.com