September 30, 2009
Support and hope for those whose loved ones have Alzheimer's disease
John Stofflet, NBC 15 - The stories are all too familiar to those gathered around the table at the Alzheimer's Association office in Madison: "She's totally wheelchair-bound, legally blind, very helpless at this point"... "Every day I visit, she seems to be in a different phase...a different stage"..."It's to the point now where we figure it would be dangerous for her to drive the car."
Once a month, they are brought together by a disease that tears lives apart. Members of the Men's Support Group, whose partners have Alzheimer's disease, gather at the Alzheimer's Association office to hear the latest about research and services...but mostly, they gather to share.
Hal Blotner volunteers to lead the sessions. He says, "It does offer support, and it's good to hear that other people are having the same problems that you are. We learn from each other." Blotner not only runs the meetings, he benefits from them as well. His wife, Sue, now lives in a dementia care unit.Speaking with emotion in his voice while holding a picture of the two of them together, Blotner says, "She's had a very active life, and she volunteered in so many things. Now it's time for us to sort of reward her for what she's done."
Those who attend have partners who are in various stages of Alzheimer's disease: "I'm in the process of having my wife kind of go into Alzheimer's, and I'm kind of lost. I don't know where to go, what to do, or who to see"..."She went into an absolute panic, people around us tried to help us even get her into the car. She struck one woman twice, and it was totally a whole new phase, which just astounded me."Some, like Marcus Marx, have just lost their spouse. Fighting through tears while talking about his late wife Doris he said, "Two months ago she died..and I saw a nice plaque that says when you lose someone you've loved, it's a memory. It says, 'Treasure the memory'...and that's all I can say." About the support group, Marx added, "It's a very beneficial, knowledgeable group, and it has helped me a lot."
Patting Marx on the shoulder, Howie Steinmann said, "It's a long road if you're out there all by yourself. You can use all the moral support you can get, and these people do that for me."Blotner agrees that hiding one's feelings is the worst thing a person whose loved one has Alzheimer's disease can do. "It doesn't make sense to be in denial -- that's number one. It does help to talk to other people who are having similar problems. "
The support group is just one of many programs the Alzheimer's Association of South Central Wisconsin offers.If you'd like to help the Alzheimer's Association carry out its mission of care, support, and research, you can participate in or contribute to this Saturday's Memory Walk at Warner Park in Madison. You can also donate to "Team Blotner", Hal Blotner's Memory Walk team.
Team Blotner, by the way, was the largest individual Memory Walk fund raising team in the state last year, raising nearly $9,000 dollars.Link to NBC 15 video (WMV file) >>
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September 23, 2009
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center opens in Madison
Jeff Angileri, WKOW - The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine now houses one of the premier research labs for Alzheimer's disease.
It is a debilitating disease, affecting 160,000 families in Wisconsin. Alzheimer's patients suffer memory loss, poor judgment, and language problems -- making treatment difficult.
"The person with the disease has trouble communicating, so we don't know what to do to help them," said Paul Rusk, executive director of the South Central Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
And the number of cases is spiking -- 115 million people worldwide by the year 2050. "Over the age of 85, 40 percent of people at that age have Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Sanjay Asthana. "Another 20 percent have some kind of memory problem." Dr. Asthana is director of the new Alzheimer's Disease research center. He says the illness creates social and economic burdens for families. "The disease is so devastating. It's projected that millions of people will have the disease in this country, and bankrupt the Medicare system, unless we find an effective treatment."
Doctors have lofty goals -- to recognize and treat the disease before symptoms start. Using brain scans, blood tests, and psychological exams, doctors hope to discover the secrets of Alzheimer's -- most importantly, how it happens and who's going to get it.
One of the most unique features of the UW center is a statewide registry of at-risk Alzheimer's patients. Doctors say these 1,300 people -- some as young as 20 -- could be a key to treatments down the road.
"We know these people are at genetic risk for the disease," Dr. Asthana said. "So, we'll follow them over 20, 30 years to see who develops the disease and why they're different from those who don't." Proactive steps, researches hope, will uncover the mystery of Alzheimer's. Said Rusk, "Participating in research is an incredibly powerful way to fight back." UWSM received a $7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and Aging for the project. It is one of only 17 centers in the entire country to take on this kind of work. People at UWSM hope to open another Alzheimer's center in Milwaukee, targeted at helping minority patients.
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September 10, 2009
Association hopes for another successful year
Brian Gray, The Monroe Times - Walkers will take part in the annual Memory Walk Saturday to help raise money for Alzheimer’s research and support programs. The walk begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Behring Senior Center in Monroe. About 140 people took part in the Memory Walk last year, raising about $22,000.
In 2008, over 2,000 walked as part of the South Central Wisconsin Chapter's seven Memory Walk events, Miriam Boegel, Development Director for the Alzheimer's Association, said. They walked for a variety of reasons. They might walk because they have family members who suffer from the disease, or they know someone who has the disease. Some walk just because they want to make a difference and raise money to fight an illness that affects about five million people.
According to the Alzheimer's Association Web site, http://www.alz.org, Alzheimer's destroys brain cells which causes problems with m
thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, life-long hobbies or social life. Eventually it gets worse and is can be fatal.
Alzheimer's is more than just forgetfulness often associated with people who are getting older. According to the Alzheimer's Association, people with Alzheimer's:
• Use poor judgment and have poor decision making skills.
• Can't manage a budget.
• Lose track of the date or the season.
• Have difficulty having a conversation.
• Misplace things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
Walkers will take part in the annual Memory Walk Saturday to help raise money for Alzheimer’s research and support programs. The walk begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Behring Senior center in Monroe. Boegel said people can still register to walk or sign up a team from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday or at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Behring Senior Center. Money raised helps support programs and services, such as support for caregivers and people who have recently been diagnosed with the disease.
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September 1, 2009
Artists with Alzheimer’s give back to Memory Walk
Kevin Kirkpatrick, Portage Daily Register - Linda Goehre helped nearly 20 Columbia County residents with memory loss create a collage for this year's Columbia County Memory Walk. Anyone making a donation of at least $10 can honor a loved one or favorite caregiver at the walk by having their name added to the border of this painting. Columbia County residents with memory loss are giving back to the annual event that raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research programs.
The third annual event, scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at Riverside Park, benefits the Alzheimer's Association. More than 300 people participated in last year's event, which raised more than $31,000."We were asking for (the residents') help for once, instead of helping them," said Carol Olson, outreach specialist for the Alzheimer's Association's South Central Wisconsin Chapter and an event organizer. "It was a very meaningful activity for the residents."
Each year, the Columbia County Memory Walk features a painting by a local artist. This is the first time the event has asked residents with memory loss to create the painting...
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August 16, 2009
Learning about loss
Gayle Worland, Wisconsin State Journal - When the kids at camp started burying one of their own in the sand at his request, Mary Kay Baum turned it into a teachable moment.
“In what way is this like Alzheimer’s,” she asked, as the children patted down Mason Capps’ arms and legs while he lay grinning in a heap of sand.
“It’s hard to move for some people with Alzheimer’s,” answered one.
“And some people move a whole lot with Alzheimer’s — and wander,” Baum continued.
“And I’ll add to that. Some of us have a hard time getting started to do something because we feel like we’re stuck,” she said.
Along with the typical summer-camp fare — from canoeing and rock-climbing to arts and crafts — the 14 kids at the weeklong “Time for Us” camp near Elkhorn in July came to learn about coping with memory-loss diseases such as Alzheimer’s, a condition that has touched their lives by striking a parent, grandparent or family friend.
Organized through the South Central Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Association and spearheaded in part by Baum, a long-time Madison activist and former public official who is now an advocate for dementia patients — she also has early-stage Alzheimer’s — the camp is only the second of its kind in the U.S. ...
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June 19, 2009
Adult day care plan under discussion
Brian D. Bridgeford, Baraboo News Republic - One or more adult day care programs in the area would give seniors being cared for at home a place to socialize and receive services while giving their family caretakers a needed respite, say people hoping to launch such services.
Tuesday afternoon, adult day care advocates Mary Larson of Lake Delton and Baraboo resident Priscilla Fitzgerald invited other interested people to the community room of Baraboo’s United Church of Christ to spark discussion on the issue. Responding to the call were Carol Olson, Portage-based area representative of the Alzheimer’s Association, Trish Vandre, director of the Sauk County Aging and Disability Resource Center and Kathy Boettcher, director of the Our House assisted living senior residence in Baraboo.
During an hour-long discussion of what it would take to create one or more adult day care programs they reviewed past local efforts. The idea is to have a place where seniors who are frail or have dementia, but live at home, can go for all or part of a day...
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April 19, 2009
Outstanding caregiver award winners announced
Winners of the Outstanding Caregiver Awards will be presented at an awards ceremony to be held at the 23rd Annual State Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease, May 3-5, 2009. Seven different awards will be presented to individuals and organizations in Wisconsin recognizing significant contributions in caregiving and advocacy. Winners were chosen from 30 nominations made by individuals and organizations from throughout the state.
Winners are selected based on their outstanding contributions as caregivers to those with Alzheimer’s disease in Wisconsin. The 2009 winners include:
- Professional Award: Barbara Lawrence (Madison)
- Physician Award: Robert Smith, M.D. (Richland Center)
- Family Caregiver Award: Anita McKnight (Reedsburg)
- Organization Award: Senior Behavioral Sciences – Southwest Health Center (Cuba City)
- Advocacy Award: State Representative Margaret ‘Peggy’ Krusick (Milwaukee)
- Special Service Award: Carrie Zelazoski (Antigo)
- Courage Award: Tony Nagovan (West Bend)
The Outstanding Caregiver Awards are coordinated by the Alzheimer’s Association Wisconsin Chapter Network as part of their annual statewide conference held each May. The state conference highlights innovative approaches to Alzheimer’s care, examines critical research initiatives and facilitates the sharing of ideas among dedicated professionals and family members. For more information, go to http://www.alzwi.org/ or call the conference planning office at 715.344.2929.
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January 5, 2009
Lawmaker wants new alerts for wandering elders
Kristen Durst, Wisconsin Public Radio (STATEWIDE) - A Wisconsin state senator plans to introduce legislation to bring Silver Alerts to the state.
Wisconsin could join twelve other states that now use the emergency alert system to notify the public when seniors go astray. A Silver Alert expands on the Amber Alert System to include those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s who often get confused and wander off.
Rob Gundermann of the South Central Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association says it’s welcome legislation that could save lives.
"Anyone who's been outside this morning understands what Wisconsin weather is like in the middle of winter,” he says. “Now imagine being out there in nothing but a light sweater, how long would you survive? And if you think if you're in your 70s or 80s and you have Alzheimer’s disease and you've wandered out of a facility and all you've taken is your sweater."
During an Amber Alert, the Emergency Alert System cuts into radio and TV programming to broadcast information about an abducted child. That info is also displayed on electronic highway signs. State Senator Mary Lazich of New Berlin wants to employ that same technology to help find missing elderly.
"The Silver Alert can be just as successful for our senior citizens and I think that the sooner we get it in place the greater security our seniors will have and the greater security family members will experience knowing that we have that safety net."
Lazich intends to introduce the Silver Alert bill within the next few weeks. She says Silver Alerts wouldn't increase costs because they use the Amber Alert system which is already in place.
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