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"We
did a lot of traveling. We would just get in the car and go. One
year, we rented a motor home, which is something I always wanted to
do, and we went to Florida. We had a blast just being together and
enjoying each other’s company. I was looking forward to retiring
— we had lots of plans to travel," she said.
In
the past two years, both women’s lives have changed dramatically.
There are no future travel plans, and even a trip to the grocery
store or a simple conversation can be a difficult experience.
"Sometimes
my mother doesn’t even know who I am, and it’s only going to get
worse," Susan said.
Susan’s
mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive,
degenerative
disease of the brain, which results in impaired memory, thinking and
behavior. The disease, which affects four million people nationwide,
is the fourth leading cause of death in adults.
Although
there were warning signs for the past decade, it was only a few
years ago that the situation required prompt action. Susan, (who
requested that her last name not be used), moved her mother back to
central Illinois and became her primary caregiver while maintaining
a full-time job. She is in the process of selling her own home so
she can move into a house with her mother.
Although
Susan has two married brothers who live out of state, she made the
decision to take care of her mother.
"Fortunately
for me, I’m the only daughter and don’t have a spouse and kids.
But even if I had a family, I’m the one that’s closest to her,
and I can relate to her," she said.
"My
life has totally unraveled. But I’m willing to do this. She’s my
mom, and you want to provide and protect (your mom)," she said.
Despite
good intentions, the burdens of caring for a loved one with the
disease can be overwhelming.
"You
have to have a sense of humor or you’ll cry. I cry a lot and get
angry a lot. I would recommend (to others) to find a support group
and learn what you can and can’t do. My job is not to make her
happy; my job is to protect and provide for her. At times I get
angry at her and the disease. You need to get counseling and deal
with feelings of anger and guilt and realize you can only do so
much," she said.
"In
the patient’s mind, the bad guy is the caregiver. My mom gets
upset with me, because she thinks I’m the one who won’t let her
go back home to Virginia or spend money. You have to accept that. I
will look back on this and know I did the best I could."
Experts
predict that by the year 2050, as many as14 million in the United
Sates will have the disease. While people of all ages can suffer
from the disease, research shows that the older a person gets, the
higher the risk is of getting the disease.
When
German physician Alois Alzheimer first described the disease in
1907, it was rare. Today, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common
cause of dementia, affecting 10 percent of people over the age of 65
and nearly half of people aged 85 and older. However, because of
improved testing and greater public awareness, physicians are seeing
an increase in diagnosed patients in their 40s and 50s. Alzheimer’s
disease strikes both men and women and all races and socioeconomic
groups. In
Illinois 540,000 people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Before
the disease, Susan’s 72-year-old mother was an immaculate
housekeeper who loved to sew, crochet, travel, read and collect
shells.
"She
has four bookcases full of books. She loved to read. Now, she can
read one newspaper all week long. Seeing her die emotionally and
physically is sad. She writes me little notes, and her spelling is
atrocious. She was always able to express herself well. Now, we have
no meaningful conversations. We talk about things in the past. In
five minutes, she can repeat the same story four times," she
said.
Now,
it’s the little things they have found they can do together that
eases some of the pain of the situation, liking taking their dogs
for a walk in the park or going out for a milkshake — two of her
mother’s favorite things.
Susan
said there are three things that are really difficult about her
mother’s disease. "The dreams of the future are decimated. My
mother says hurtful things because of paranoia. I have to step back
and realize it’s the disease and not my mother talking, but it’s
hard to not personalize it. Also, the randomness and
unpredictability of the disease — one minute she’s there and the
next she’s gone," she said. "Her reality and my reality
are two different things. She can’t live in my reality, so I have
to live in hers."
Through
a support group, Susan is learning not only how to deal with her
mother’s disease, but also recognizing how to take care of herself
and what her limitations are.
"It’s
surprising how comforting it is. You realize you’re not the only
one, and you learn about ideas of how to handle situations. Just
being able to talk about it helps. It’s a lifeline," she says
of her support group.
James
Dearing, program manager at the Great Illinois Chapter of the
Alzheimer’s Association, said loss of memory is the most
frustrating aspect of the disease, for both the person with the
disease and their family.
"Forgetting
names and memories they have shared is very troubling. It’s very
frustrating for spouses and for the children when Mom and Dad forget
who they are. And for the patient, forgetting and losing reality in
their world is probably one of the most frustrating things," he
said. "The disease disorients them to time and place. They may
be living in 2001, but they feel like they are living in 1950 and
looking for the house they grew up in, for example."
[to top of second column in this
article]
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|
Ten
warning signs of
Alzheimer’s disease
(source:
Alzheimer’s Association)
*Recent
memory loss that affects job
*Difficulty
performing familiar tasks
*Problems
with language — forgetting simple words or substituting
inappropriate words.
*Disorientation
of time and place
*Poor
or decreased judgment
*Problems
with abstract
*Misplacing
things
*Changes
in mood or behavior
*Changes
in personality
*Loss
of initiative |
The
association is the only national voluntary organization dedicated to
conquering Alzheimer’s disease through research and providing
information and support to people with the disease, their families
and caregivers. Founded in 1980 by family caregivers, the
association has more than 200 chapters nationwide and is the leading
funding source for Alzheimer research after the federal government.
The
local chapter focuses on education programs, support groups and
offering information to the public. Monthly meetings of a support
group at the Oasis in Lincoln were canceled recently, but two support groups meet
in Springfield: at
the Hope Presbyterian Church, 2211 Wabash Ave., and
at Westminster Presbyterian Church, located at Walnut and Edwards.
More information can be obtained by calling 1 (800) 823-1734 for
meeting times and dates.
Workshops,
seminars and conferences on Alzheimer's disease are also offered
throughout the year. The programs, designed to increase knowledge of
the disease, are appropriate for family and professional caregivers.
Program topics include research developments, caring for the
Alzheimer individual and coping strategies.
Dearing
said that during his 10 years working in the long-term care health
field, he developed a passion for working with Alzheimer’s
patients and their families to ensure they received a good quality
of life. He advises people who are diagnosed with the disease and
their family members to prepare for the future as soon as possible.
"After
the initial shock, people should find out as much as they can and
know what to expect, including legal issues. They need to be
proactive and need to be aware of their options later on in life.
From diagnosis, this disease can last from two to 20 years," he
said.
Matters
that should be addressed in the early stages of the disease are
legal issues, such as power of attorney, a will and health care
proxy; health care insurance; financial affairs, such as bank
accounts, stock certificates and mutual funds; and future housing
options.
While
it may seem premature to think about those issues in the early
stages of the disease, Dearing said matters that require judgment
and attention to detail is best done early, while the person with
the disease is able to make decisions.
Even
though Alzheimer’s is an incurable illness, there are important
interventions, including medical and behavioral treatments, that can
treat some of its symptoms. This is especially true if the disease
is diagnosed early.
If
a person suffers from several of the 10 warning signs, such as
disorientation, poor judgment and changes in personality, they are
advised to see a physician. Not everyone with Alzheimer’s disease
has all of the warning signs, and not all signs have to occur for
the disease to be present. Experts advise contacting a health care
professional for an evaluation if you have concerns or show several
of the warning signs.
Most
people with Alzheimer’s live about eight to 10 years after
symptoms appear, but life expectancy varies widely.
The
three most common stages of the disease are mild, moderate and
severe.
The
first, or mild stage, usually lasts two to four years. People in
this phase may say the same thing over and over, get lost easily and
undergo personality changes, among other symptoms.
The
moderate stage of the disease is often the one that last the
longest, from two to 10 years. People in this phase may become more
confused about recent events, believe things are real when they aren’t,
require close supervision, pace, argue more often and have problems
with simple daily activities.
The
final stage of the disease, which lasts from one to three years,
requires constant care, 24 hours a day. Those in the final stage may
not use or understand words, recognize family members or care for
themselves.
Additional information on the disease is
available at the Greater Illinois Springfield office at (217)
726-5184 or this website:
www.alzheimers-illinois.org
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
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Roasting
instructions
Set
the oven temperature no lower than 325 F. Preheating the oven is not
necessary.
Place
turkey on a rack in a roasting pan.
For
safety and uniform doneness of the turkey, cook stuffing separately
in a casserole. Use a food thermometer to check that the internal
temperature of the stuffing has reached 165 F.
If
you choose to stuff a turkey, you must use a food thermometer to
check the internal temperature of the turkey and the stuffing. The
temperature of a whole turkey must reach 180 F in the innermost part
of the thigh and the center of the stuffing must reach 165 F.
If the stuffing has not reached 165 F, continue cooking the turkey
until the stuffing reaches 165 F.
If
the turkey has a "pop-up" temperature indicator, it is
also recommended that a food thermometer be used to test in several
places, including the innermost part of the thigh and the center of
the stuffing.
When
cooking only a turkey breast, the internal temperature should reach
170 F.
Many
factors can affect the roasting time of a whole turkey:
•
A frozen or partially frozen turkey takes longer to cook than a
completely thawed turkey.
•
A turkey will cook faster in a dark roasting pan.
•
The depth and size of the pan can affect heat circulation to all
areas of the turkey.
•
The use of a foil tent for the entire cooking time can slow cooking.
•
Putting a lid on the roasting pan speeds up cooking.
•
An oven cooking bag will shorten cooking time.
•
A stuffed turkey will take longer to cook than an unstuffed turkey.
•
Ovens may heat unevenly.
•
The oven rack position can have an effect on even cooking and heat
circulation.
Optional
steps
•
Tuck wing tips back under shoulders of turkey.
•
Add 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the pan.
•
A tent of aluminum foil may be placed loosely over the turkey for
the first 1 to 1½ hours, then removed for browning. Or, a tent of
foil may be placed over the turkey after the turkey reaches the
desired golden brown.
•
For quality, you may choose to let the turkey stand 20 minutes
before removing the stuffing and carving.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
Approximate
cooking times
Time
charts are based on fresh or completely thawed turkeys at a
refrigerator temperature of 40 F or below. Frozen or partially
thawed turkeys will take longer to cook. The cooking time for a
frozen turkey will take at least 50 percent longer than the time
recommended for a fully thawed turkey. These cooking times are
guidelines only. Use a food thermometer to determine safe doneness.
Unstuffed
|
4
to 6 pounds, breast |
1½
to 2¼ hours |
|
6
to 8 pounds, breast |
2¼
to 3¼ hours |
|
8
to 12 pounds |
2¾
to 3 hours |
|
12
to 14 pounds |
3
to 3¾ hours |
|
14
to 18 pounds |
3¾
to 4¼ hours |
|
18
to 20 pounds |
4¼
to 4½ hours |
|
20
to 24 pounds |
4½
to 5 hours |
Stuffed
|
8
to 12 pounds |
3
to 3½ hours |
|
12
to 14 pounds |
3½
to 4 hours |
|
14
to 18 pounds |
4
to 4¼ hours |
|
18
to 20 pounds |
4¼
to 4¾ hours |
|
20
to 24 pounds |
4¾
to 5¼ hours |
Note:
Turkeys purchased stuffed and frozen with the USDA or state mark of
inspection on the packaging are safe because they have been
processed under controlled conditions. These turkeys should not be
thawed before cooking. Follow package directions for handling.
For
further information
Meat
and poultry hotline:
1
(800) 535-4555 (toll-free nationwide)
(202)
720-3333 (Washington, D.C. area)
1
(800) 256-7072 (TTY)
Food
Safety and Inspection Service website: www.fsis.usda.gov.
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