PET and Aging. Understanding Dementia & How to Help. Learning to Make a Positive Difference. As We Age, WE DO NOT lose func4on in our Brains, UNLESS

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1 Understanding Dementia & How to Help Learning to Make a Positive Difference Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC to be reused only with permission. As We Age, WE DO NOT lose func4on in our Brains, UNLESS Something Goes Wrong with Our Brains PET and Aging PET Scan of 20- Year- Old Brain PET Scan of 80- Year- Old Brain ADEAR,

2 What is the Difference Between ForgeGulness & Memory Loss that Comes with Demen4a? Brains at Work Normal Aging Early Demen>a from G Small, UCLA Is There a Difference? 2

3 Not Helpful Words that get used GeOng senile Crazy Not right Stubborn & Ornery Losing it Just geong old Not trying More forgegul Pleasantly confused Disoriented Just doesn t listen H knows what he s doing! He just doesn t care! BUT, Couldn t It Just Be ForgeGulness or GeOng Old? There is a difference At first it may be hard to tell Then you start to no4ce pa\erns One or more of these things start to show changes Memory - Problem solving Word finding - Behavior What is it NOT NORMAL Aging Slower to think Slower to do Hesitates more More likely to look before you leap Know the person but not the name Pause to find words Reminded of the past For you, its harder NOT Normal Aging Can t think the same Can t do like before Can t get started Can t seem to move on Doesn t think it out at all Can t place the person Words won t come even later Confused about past versus now For you it s VERY DIFFERENT 3

4 Ten Early Warning Signs memory loss for recent or new informa4on repeats self frequently difficulty doing familiar, but difficult tasks managing money, medica4ons, driving problems with word finding, mis- naming, or mis- understanding geong confused about 4me or place - geong lost while driving, missing several appointments worsening judgment not thinking thing through like before difficulty problem solving or reasoning misplacing things puong them in odd places changes in mood or behavior changes in typical personality loss of ini4a4on withdraws form normal pa\erns of ac4vi4es and interests How common is Demen4a? The risk goes up drama4cally with increasing age America is aging Alzheimer s may increase by 300% over the next 50 years without medical advances Percent with Dementia <65 70 >85 It s Not ALWAYS Demen4a What else could it be? Another medical condi4on Medica4on problem interac4on - side- effect Hearing loss or vision loss - undetected Depression angry or sad Delirium acute illness or dehydra4on Severe but unrecognized pain or overuse of some pain meds Other things 4

5 Dementia does not equal Alzheimers does not equal memory problems DEMENTIA Alzheimer s Disease Young Onset Late Life Onset Vascular Dementias (Multi-infarct) Lewy Body Dementia Fronto- Temporal Lobe Dementias Other Dementias Genetic syndromes Metabolic pxs ETOH related Drugs/toxin exposure White matter diseases Mass effects Depression(?) or Other Mental conditions Infections BBB cross Parkinson s Four Truths About Dementia At least 2 parts of the brain are dying One related to memory & the one other It is chronic can t be fixed It is progressive it gets worse It is terminal it will kill, eventually 5

6 The person s brain is dying Normal Brain Alzheimers Brain Learning & Memory Center Hippocampus BIG CHANGE 6

7 Understanding Language BIG CHANGE Hearing Sound Not Changed Sensory Strip Motor Strip White MaPer Connec>ons BIG CHANGES Automatic Speech Rhythm Music Expletives PRESERVED Formal Speech & Language Center HUGE CHANGES 7

8 Execu>ve Control Center Emo4ons Behavior Judgment Reasoning Vision Center BIG CHANGES Be Aware Adapt, Grow, & Change This Is Life Its ALL about Balance & Respecting Who You Are! 8

9 Some Key Beliefs & Principles: All people need to be needed nurturing is a critical part of life worth living Dementia Steals Away Roles and Responsibilities that Make Us WHO We Are Activities can make a critical difference in the health and well-being of people with dementia IF Used Appropriately for the degree of involvement the Just Right Challenge How to Get Started Be Honest What is Going on NOW? Get someone to help you look at it Talk about what is The GOOD The BAD The UGLY! Take Some Time To Figure out WHO you are And WHO you partner is Similarities & Differences And Respect Both Partners Needs 9

10 Positive Physical Approach How can we help beper? It all starts with your approach! How you talk How you say it What you say How you respond 10

11 Use empathy & Go with the flow Reality Orientation Telling Lies How you help Sight or Visual cues Verbal or Auditory cues Touch or Tac>le cues How to Help Change? Connect Validate Recognize level of demen4a Modify the environment Cue & help to match level of demen4a Demonstrate & prac4ce Evaluate Support 11

12 GET HELP! Support for YOU Help with the person Check out op4ons home care, day care, residen4al care Check out places visit, observe, reflect Plan ahead when NOT if Act before it is a crisis Watch yourself for signs of burn- out Set limits It s a marathon! Who Matters? All of Us Each of Us Four Key Building Blocks Activities to Relax & Re-energize Activities to Feel Productive & Valued Activities for Fun & Just Because Activities to Take Care of Yourself 12

13 Key Engagement Opportunities to Consider Productive Make Me Feel Valued Leisure Having Fun meeting social & solitary preferences & active/passive options Self Care taking care of the body Managing REST recharging batteries Specifically for Caregiver of People with Demen4a You need HELP From someone who understands You need TIME Truly away physically, emo4onally and spiritually You need to try to LISTEN!!! How it used to be Let Go: How it should be How you should be 13

14 Iden4fy What you re good at and what you re not Who can help and how they can help What really ma\ers Not EVERYONE is meant to be a caregiver for someone with demen4a! How you help Sight or Visual cues Verbal or Auditory cues Touch or Tac>le cues Smell or Olfactory cues Taste or Gustatory cues Recognize the Changes that Signal Progression the GEMS Sapphires Diamonds Emeralds Ambers Rubies Pearls 14

15 Now for the GEMS Sapphires True Blue Slower BUT Fine Diamonds Repeats & Rou4nes, CuOng Emeralds Going Time Travel Where? Ambers In the moment - Sensa4ons Rubies Stop & Go No Fine Control Pearls Hidden in a Shell - Immobile Dementia can be treated With knowledge With skill building With commitment With flexibility With practice With support With compassion You will make MISTAKES! Learn to Recognize Your AH OH s! STOP what you are doing! Back OFF & Re- think! Possibly Change Something Try Again! FORGIVE Yourself! You are HUMAN! 15

16 What shouldn t we do??? Argue Tell WHOPPERS that relate to emo4ons Ignore problem behaviors Try a possible solu4on only once Give up Let them do whatever they want to Force them to do it So WHAT should we do??? Remember who has the healthy brain! 10 Minute Stress Tamers Sit quietly in calm surroundings with sos lights and pleasant scents. Aromatherapy lavender, citrus, vanilla, cinnamon, peppermint, fresh cut grass. Breathe deeply rest your mind & oxygenate Soak - in a warm bath, or just your hands or feet Read - Spiritual readings, poetry, inspira4onal readings, or one chapter of what you like Laugh and smile - Watch classic comedians, Candid Camera, America s Funniest Home Videos, look at kid or animal photos Stretch front to back, side to side, & across Garden work with plants 16

17 10 Minute Stress Tamers Beanbag heat therapy. Fill a sock with dry beans and sew or 4e closed. Heat bag and beans in a microwave for 30 seconds at a 4me. Place on 4ght muscles and massage gently; relax for ten minutes. Remember the good <mes - Record oral memories - scrapbooks, photo journals, keepsake memory picture frames. Just jot! Do a li-le on a favorite hobby. Have a cup of decaffeinated tea or coffee Play a brain game crosswords, jigsaws, jeopardy, jumbles Look through the hymnal and find a favorite hum it all the way through 10 Minute Stress Tamers Books on Tape - Rest your eyes and read Soothing sounds Music you love Music especially for stress relief Recorded sounds of nature Listen to coached relaxa<on recordings Pamper Yourself think of what you LOVE and give yourself permission to do it for 10 minutes Neck rubs or back rubs use the just right pressure Hand Massages with lo4on or without its up to you 10 Minute Stress Tamers Take a walk. Sit in the sun. Rock on the porch. Pray or read a passage from scripture Journal - Take the opportunity to tell it like it is. Cuddle and stroke a pet. Have that cup of coffee or tea with a special friend who listens well. Pay a\en4on to your personality. If you rejuvenate being alone, then seek solitude. If you rejuvenate by being with others, seek company. 17

18 BREATHE!!! Take a deep breath in BLOW it all the way out Take another breath in BLOW it out Take one final breath in AND SING IT OUT. Feel what happened to you Look at what happened to the people around you Think about how and when you might do this Dementia can be treated With knowledge With skill building With commitment With flexibility With practice With support With compassion Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC to be reused only with permission. 18