November '08 - Alzheimers Disease Awareness Month

At Mercy Health Partners, you’ll find the clinical experience and technology you’d expect from a leading-edge healthcare provider. But you’ll also experience something else: compassionate and individualized attention. We call it the Mercy Circle of Caring and you’ll experience it at every point of interaction from registration to rehabilitation.

More on the Mercy Circle of Caring

Mercy Health Partners is a leading-edge healthcare provider offering superior care, five award-winning hospitals, board certified physicians, and a wide variety of programs and services, including Senior Living communities.

What you need to know about Alzheimer’s disease

Nearly five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the country, and the most common form of dementia. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, proper treatment and support can create a better life, not only for the patient but also for the family.

Signs & Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease affecting the patient’s personality and ability to perform everyday tasks such as communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning. It can impact every aspect of their work, social and family life.

Warning signs of the disease include:

• Frequent and rapid memory loss
• Difficulty performing everyday tasks
• Forgetting of simple words, making speech and writing difficult to understand
• Disorientation of time and place
• Poor or decreased judgment (e.g., dressing inappropriately for the weather/season)
• Difficulty performing complex mental tasks
• Misplacing things or placing them in unusual places
• Rapid changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reason
• Dramatic changes in personality including suspicion and dependency
• Loss of initiative and desire to do usual activities

Risk Factors

• Heart disease – The heart and head go hand-in-hand. Without a healthy heart, proper blood flow may not be traveling to the brain.
• Inactivity – The brain needs exercise just like the rest of the body to stay healthy.
• Age – Most patients living with Alzheimer’s are age 65 and older with almost 50 percent over the age of 85.
• Unhealthy lifestyle – Smoking, alcohol intake, lack of exercise, significant weight gain and limited social activity can increase risk.
• Family history

Tips for family members

• Pay attention to and recognize signs of the disease.
• Seek a physician’s diagnosis if warning signs appear.
• Educate yourself on the disease and what your family member is experiencing.
• Build a support system for yourself and your family member.
• Know (and share) your family history.

DaySTAE Program for residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementia.

In March of 2003, Mercy Franciscan at West Park’s DaySTAE (Success Through Activities and Environment) program was developed to enhance and inspire residents through creative expression. The program not only gives the resident inspiration, a sense of purpose, and an outlet to be heard, but it also may give the family an opportunity to reconnect to their loved one.  The resident is able to age-in-place and experience a successful environment.

There is no charge for residents of West Park to attend the program.  DaySTAE was also recently implemented at Mercy St. Theresa in Mariemont.

DaySTAE Activities

• TimeSlips Program – a national storytelling program for persons with ADRD (Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia). It offers individuals unique and creative ways to express themselves without frustration or embarrassment. It provides an opportunity for meaningful interactions through the use of imagination and storytelling.
• Memories in the Making – an art program, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, offered in the early to middle stages of ADRD. Participants experience self-expression through painting and drawing and are given the ability to communicate by recreating memories on paper.
• Drumming Circles – an interactive group activity allowing participants to make connections through music. Gives an “in the moment” experience of personal spirit and power.

For more information on the DaySTAE Program, please call Amy Kruep, RN, Director of Residential Services at Mercy Franciscan at West Park: 513/451-8900.

Healthy Ideas: August '08 - National Immunization Month
Healthy Ideas: September '08 - Breathe Easy This Fall
Healthy Ideas: October '08 - Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Healthy Ideas: November '08 - Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Healthy Ideas: December '08 - Wellness & Fitness For You