JUNE IS ALZHEIMER'S AWARENESS AND BRAIN AWARENESS MONTH
During the month of June, the Alzheimer's Association asks
people around the world to take the Purple Pledge, #GOPURPLE, and use their brains to fight
Alzheimer's disease!
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| We have to help Grandma a lot now, because she has Alzheimer's |
** Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States
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| Grandma doesn't remember a lot of things and people anymore, but she remembers ME and she loves when I come to visit her! |
** Alzheimer's is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, slowed, or cured
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| My Mom, just a few short years ago at the very beginning of her Alzheimer's diagnosis. She is still Mom and we all love her. |
My Siberian Husky Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team. We often visit seniors in nursing homes, many of whom have Alzheimer's. I'm always struck when they cannot remember a family member's name but they seem to remember how to interact with a dog. As they pet Icy, many times they'll start talking about a childhood dog, recounting details about the dog's name, breed and personality!
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| I love to visit Grandma. I give her kisses, comfort her, and make sure she knows she is loved. |
If you or someone you love has, or may have, Alzheimer's disease your first resource for information should be the Alzheimer's Association.
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| #GOPURPLE to fight Alzheimer's disease |
When my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, one of the first books I read that was really helpful to me in understanding the disease and how to cope with it was A Caregiver's Guide to Alzheimer's and Related Diseases, by Judith McCann-Beranger.
I know it's "wordless" Wednesday and I've been too wordy already, but I hope you won't mind if I take the opportunity to thank MY MUTT RILEY here. We are so honored that our Husky, Icy has received the Pooch of the Month award from MY MUTT RILEY, Life With A Miniature Schnauzer! Icy was chosen for this month's award because they were impressed that she is a therapy dog that does many things to help our community including: children's reading programs, visiting the elderly, and participating in Stress Buster events for college students during exam weeks. They know that Icy loves everyone (including cats!!) and think it is a great skill. A giant THANK YOU to MY MUTT RILEY!!
I know it's "wordless" Wednesday and I've been too wordy already, but I hope you won't mind if I take the opportunity to thank MY MUTT RILEY here. We are so honored that our Husky, Icy has received the Pooch of the Month award from MY MUTT RILEY, Life With A Miniature Schnauzer! Icy was chosen for this month's award because they were impressed that she is a therapy dog that does many things to help our community including: children's reading programs, visiting the elderly, and participating in Stress Buster events for college students during exam weeks. They know that Icy loves everyone (including cats!!) and think it is a great skill. A giant THANK YOU to MY MUTT RILEY!!
32 comments:
We bet you are a very big help to grandma
Lily & Edward
Beautiful post. I didn't know it was that common in the U.S. it's so sad.
Hi Y’all!
Alzheimer's patients seem to remember things from their earliest years and not remember more recent events. Sometimes they mistake a grandchild as their own child but don't recognize the older version of their child.
Did you follow me to http://www.browndogcbr.net? There is a link on http://browndogcbr.blogspot.com .
Hope, if you haven’t already, I hope y’all will come to my new home. I’m still workin’ on it. I’ll be tryin’ a different format tomorrow. We need your input.
Y’all hurry on by now!
Hawk aka BrownDog
Congratulations on being Pet of the Month! I am so sorry that your mom has Alzheimers. Unfortunately, cases seem to be on the rise. It is amazing that patients can remember dogs but not humans. The love from a dog can truly make difference in so many lives. Thanks for sharing your story.
Wow, I just couldn't even imagine how hard it would be. Your mom is so beautiful btw. That is really interesting how some can recall the childhood dog yet not family members names. Wow. Thank you for sharing this.
Also, congrats on pet of the month!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Mommy says we are! Thanks for stopping by Lily & Edward
Thank you. It is so scary and very sad. It's such a cruel disease. Thanks for stopping by
That's right, my mom often remembers things from her childhood but can't recall that my dad recently past away. It's awful. I noticed that you changed your site, we will definitely be visiting you at your new home, Hawk! Thanks for stopping by & providing your comments.
Thanks for the congratulations M.K.! It really is so awful. She's physically doing quite well for her age but her mind is going. It's so sad and so cruel. Thanks for coming by to see us!
Thanks Jenna, it really is so difficult. I'm always awed when I see an elderly person not be able to remember how to do daily activities or recall anything in recent years. but they remember how to interact w/ dogs and can often recall a childhood dog! Amazing. Thanks for stopping by!
It is amazing how they can remember the dogs. I have never had a family member with alzheimer's before and can't imagine what it might be like.
I'm so sorry to hear that your mother has Alzheimers. That is a very difficult disease to understand -especially for the family members. It's great that the dogs are helping her! I love seeing the human-animal bond used to heal people. That part is wonderful news.
-Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net
How wonderful that you are Pet of the Month - dat B pawesome! I will pray for U momma, my momma's friends be world leading Alzheimer's researchers - and I pray for dem every day too…for knowledge and something dat makes it through clinical studies to halt dis disease. Thank you for sharing your story-studies do indicate dat music and animals correlate memories, so keep them near and dear!
My Grandpa has Alzheimer's. Luckily his progress was slowed by medication and he still knows who I am. He had a cat when he still lived at home but I took it in with me when we moved him into assisted living. They are allowed to have pets there but the cat was old and needed medical attention. Sometimes I wonder if getting him another cat would be a good thing. I know it's not a dog that can do things for him but I can't help but think having a constant companion would help.
Pets can be a big comfort to people with Alzheimers. They don't care if you forget their name and they accept you just the way you are. Just a word of caution tho - my sister lives with someone with Alzheimers and she isn't careful about closing the door so it's really important to make sure the dog isn't free to get out of the house by accident.
What a wonderful post! Dogs or pets in general are so wonderful for aging individuals.
Thanks for supporting a great cause. Grandma sure is happy to see you! ~RascalandRocco
Thank you for raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease. It is a terrible disease, and I hope they find a cure someday. My grandma also has it, and it is really sad.
Congrats on your award!
It really is amazing how they so often remember dogs they've had in the past. It is a terrible disease that robs you of your memories, and who are we without the memories of our lives and the people in it? Thanks for stopping by Ann.
Thank you Robin. It really is a strange disease and a cruel one. I pray they find a cure one day, or at least a way to slow down it's progress. It helps families to see their loved one reacting normally to anything, so when they respond to a dog like anyone else it gives you some kind of solace. Thanks for stopping by Robin.
Thank you for your congratulations and your prayers Mattie! You are so sweet and kind. Please thank your friends for working to help end this cruel disease. I pray they can find a cure some day. Thanks for visiting us on the blog!
I'm sorry to hear that your Grandpa is also suffering through this dreadful disease. I was under the impression that meds can't slow it down but can only help some of the psychological symptoms. It's so nice of you to give his cat a home! I think another pet could be very comforting, they can get so lonely, but only if someone else is around to provide the care and feeding. He may not remember to feed the pet. Sending thoughts and prayers for your Grandpa. Thanks for stopping by Jessica.
Pets are definitely a great comfort and source of pleasure, my Mom loves when I bring the dogs to visit her. It is really difficult for someone w/ Alzheimer's to care for a pet, they definitely do forget things from one moment to the next and have trouble keeping any kind of routine. You definitely need to exercise caution and have someone else available to assist in caring for the pet. Thanks for stopping by & providing your insight Val.
I'm glad you enjoyed the post, Spencer! Pets are welcome visitors to an aging person who cannot care for their own pet. My dogs are always welcome visitors for my mom, she loves to see them. Thanks for stopping by!
Grandma love to see the dogs when they come to visit her! Thanks for stopping by Leah!
I'm sorry to hear your Grandma is also suffering through this awful disease. Let's pray for a cure one day soon. Thank you for your support and for visiting us on the blog today!
Congratulations to Isis on the Pooch of the Month award! You and Isis are doing a grand thing raising Alzheimers awareness!
Cathy, my spouse's mom had Alzheimers. We lost her in 2001 and I know the devastation of this disease. I am writing a similar post next month and I am going to link to this article. TY so much for getting the word out. My last dog was there with her often.
Thank you Ruth! We appreciate the kind words, and thanks for stopping by to see us!
Carol, I'm so sorry for both Darlene and you. I'm glad Mom had your dog with her, our dogs really are a source of comfort and a ray of sunshine through the ordeal. Alzheimer's is such a cruel disease that robs you of every dignity in it's slow & merciless progression. I look forward to seeing your post next month, and thank you so much for linking to my article I really appreciate that! Thanks for stopping by to visit us on the blog!
Such an important message! I will definitely share!
Since my mom's passing earlier this year, Harley and I haven't been back to the Senior facility. We miss it and plan to get back into our therapy work. We know first hand the seriousness of this disease, thanks for highlighting it this month.
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