2018 Wellness Expo

Page 24 2018 Wellness Expo LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Wednesday, February 21, 2018 Alzheimer’s patients at the end stage, but the last moment of any terminal disease is not pretty. What I encourage is to actively plan the several years likely faced between now and the final outcome. Specifically make the following choices: 1. Re-commit to a covenant of love. 2. Understand the nature of the disease. Learn both the limitations and the opportunities to be found for the next few years. 3. Seek out the best evidence-based medical care. Consider engaging one of the drug trials that may soon help find the first person to be cured of Alzheimer’s. 4. Reaffirm your support system. Inform them of your challenge, inviting their partnership in facing the dementia. 5. Work at communication, using clear verbal communication, and supplementing with sticky-notes, white boards, and any other helps you might discover to meet your distinct needs. 6. Try to maintain active living, making accommodations where the disease progression requires changes, but still providing experiences of joy, even if the joy is only for the moment. 7. Participate in Alzheimer’s Support Groups, exercise programs, and informational resources available through the Alzheimer’s Association website, www.alz.org 8. If you are the spouse or family member who is giving primary attention to the person with dementia, accept the title of “caregiver” and realize that you can fulfill that role most effectively when you take care of your own physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness, and when you accept the help that is available for caregivers. The website: www.aarp.org/caregiving is a good place to start. The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L Mace and Peter V. Rabins, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, provides a wealth of information for every stage of caring for a person with dementia. I would not wish Alzheimer’s on any other person, but every 66 seconds another American is diagnosed. If you or someone you love faces the diagnosis, one of the best resources you have is love - persistent, resilient, adaptable, well- informed love that works to provide your loved one with the best life available while journeying through the disease. Both you and your loved one will be grateful for that choice.