As the temperatures in the midwest have remained below zero for several weeks I get an uneasy feeling.

I fear one of my residents may wander out into the bitter cold.

I came across this article in the Omaha World Herald last night at work.

Iowa Family Reunites With Alzheimer's Patient DES MOINES, Iowa --

The family of a Des Moines man who's been missing since Saturday reunites with him Thursday in Nebraska. Robert Krivolavy, 64, has Alzheimer's disease.

He somehow made a more than 1,700-mile trip alone.

On Tuesday night, he called home from a bus station in San Diego, saying he was lost.

His wife, Bobbi, booked him on a bus trip that has 37 stops between San Diego and Des Moines. She said the bus ticket was the only way she could afford to get him home.

Krivolavy apparently drove off from the motel he manages with his wife and ended up in Kansas City, Mo.

No one knows how he got to San Diego.

"Oh, he's frightened. He said he's terrified. He doesn't understand what's going on," she said.

Des Moines police said his family met him in Ogallala, Neb., to take him the rest of the way home.

 

This story, on February 15, 2007 from Hawaii

 

Missing Woman With Alzheimer's Found

Eighty-six-year-old Fortunata Ringor is back home with her family tonight, a little hungry, a little dirty, but safe. It was the best possible ending to a frightening hours-long search for the Alzheimer's patient.

Ringor's daughter-in-law, Elaine Ringor, said Fortunata had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease about three years ago.

The disease has been getting progressively worse. "She doesn't know. She doesn't know. She don't even know sometimes our names," Elaine Ringor said.

The Alzheimer's Association has a program in place called Safe Return.

How Safe Return Works

Alzheimer's Association Safe Return® is a nationwide identification, support and enrollment program that provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home.

Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If an enrollee is missing, one call immediately activates a community support network to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver.

Safe Return faxes the enrolled person's information and photo (if provided) to local law enforcement. When the person is found, a citizen or law official calls the 800-number on the identification products and Safe Return notifies listed contacts. The nearest Alzheimer's Association office provides information and support during the search and rescue efforts.

For more information visit the Alzheimer's Association's website

http://www.alz.org/

 

 

If you have elderly neighbors, relatives, or friends take a few minutes to call or stop by on these cold, snowy days.

You may save a life.

 

Nursey

"George" III

I've talked about "George" a couple times before. He lives at the facility with his wife Maxine. George has severe Alzheimer's disease.

 

About 3 weeks ago we had a nasty stomach virus spread through the facility. At highest count 21 people were suffering with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The elderly have a hard time with these types of viruses. Most are already dehydrated, or close to it. They have a hard time bouncing back from something as simple as a common cold.

 

George suffered with the virus for a week.

 

I called his family, late night on a Wednesday urging them to make and appointment to be seen by his primary physician. Thursday night I made the same call.

George was admitted to the hospital that Friday. He had lost 17 pounds. He was weak, dehydrated, very confused.

George remains in the hospital. Maxine told me last night that it isn't looking very hopeful. George is slowly slipping away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maxine is coping. She sits in her apartment with her thoughts. I try and set aside extra time for her on my med pass just to listen. She's saying goodbye...and her thoughts need to be heard. She has a wonderful family but at times she has questions, hard ones about illness and passing. I suppose it's hard for her to discuss with her children.

I think of swans. They mate for life. If they lose their mate, they float aimlessly in the water...searching.

A human life is a story told by God.

-Hans Christian Andersen-

The Loss

I mourn the loss of someone who is still alive.

I see the same smile, the same twinkle in the eyes.

Please come back to me for just an hour or two.

We have so much to catch up on, things we used to do.

I looked to you my entire life for wisdom and for praise.

Now you look to me for answers, direction, and comfort these days.

I'm angry, I resent the illness that is taking you from me.

I find it hard to accept the stranger at times, you seem to be.

I'll remain by your side, through whatever lies ahead for you.

All the sacrafices you've made for me, Dad, that's the least that I can do.

 

Alznurse929

~Night Shift Thoughts~

February 2, 2007

 

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is a degenerative cerebrovascular disease that leads to a progressive decline in memory and cognitive functioning. It occurs when the blood supply carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is interrupted by a blocked or diseased vascular system.

To be healthy and function properly, the brain cells need a good supply of blood. The blood is delivered through a network of blood vessels called the vascular system. If the vascular system within the brain becomes damaged and blood cannot reach the brain cells they will eventually die. This can lead to the onset of vascular dementia.

 

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 Vascular dementia affects different people in different ways and the speed of the progression varies from person to person. Some symptoms may be similar to those of other types of dementia.

 People with vascular dementia may particularly experience:

Problems concentrating and communicating.

Depression accompanying the dementia.

Symptoms of stroke, such as physical weakness or paralysis.

Memory problems (although this may not be the first symptom.)

A ‘stepped’ progression, with symptoms remaining at a constant level and then suddenly deteriorating.

Epileptic seizures.

Periods of acute confusion.

Other symptoms may include:

Hallucinations (seeing things that do not exist)

Delusions (believing things that are not true)

‘Wandering’ and getting lost

Physical or verbal aggression

Restlessness

Incontinence.

 There are two main types of vascular dementia: one caused by stroke and one caused by small vessel disease. For many people, however, the causes of dementia may be mixed.

Certain factors can increase a person’s risk of developing dementia.

These include:

A medical history of stroke,

high blood pressure,

 high cholesterol,

 diabetes (particularly type II),

heart problems,

or sleep apnea (where breathing stops during sleep)

A lack of physical activity,

drinking more than recommended levels of alcohol,

smoking,

eating a fatty diet,

 leaving conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes untreated.

A family history of stroke or vascular dementia.

Gender – men are slightly more likely to develop vascular dementia.

An Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Sri Lankan or African Caribbean ethnic background.

How long have I been here?

 

The walls are all white, there is just a bed.

Why is there a warm, cozy place in my head?

Pictures surround me, a lifetime of joys.

Those people look familiar, who are those boys?

 A nurse comes in directs me here or there.

They all look alike and they don't seem to care.

How long have I been here? Where is my wife?

I can only remember scattered bits and pieces of my life.

Could someone take the time, a moment or two?

 I'm confused, worried, scared and not sure what to do.

How long have I been here, I'm supposed to go home.

The panic sets in, I begin to roam.

They call them behaviors, I need to be heard.

 I try to explain but I can't find the words.

How long have I been here? Do I have to stay?

Everything I love has been taken away.

I hear the word dementia over and over again,

I guess that's the name of the Hell that I'm in.

 

 

By:

alznurse929

 ~~Night Shift Thoughts~~

January 19, 2007