Comments on: Living With Alzheimer’s: A Spark of Self & Humanity http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/ Tips for Brain Health and Successful Aging Fri, 07 May 2010 16:28:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Communication, Connection, Contribution to the Community, & Ye Olde Cognitive Skills « Brain Fitness News http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-29 Communication, Connection, Contribution to the Community, & Ye Olde Cognitive Skills « Brain Fitness News Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:38:55 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-29 [...] why I find stories like Josephine’s so compelling; her art installations are a means of communicating and interacting with the world, a [...] [...] why I find stories like Josephine’s so compelling; her art installations are a means of communicating and interacting with the world, a [...]

]]> By: Edward Jones http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-14 Edward Jones Wed, 20 May 2009 23:53:26 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-14 Sadly, the time when I could have benefitted from the gift of Dakim's product or caregiving info has passed. Thanks all the same. I checked out Dakim's website and it seems they are doing something important. What I find pitiful, though, is that our elders don't receive stimulation they need from society and loved ones. Are they all just stuck in rooms watching TV brains atrophying away? That's why I like what Tori is saying because it is basically telling people to get up and live and take this into their own hands. The Dakim concept is still a good one and MUCH needed by our society with misplaced values. Our elders are still useful and wouldn't mind hearing what Tori might have to say about that as she evolves this blog. I wish Dakim luck as there are many who desperately need what they offer. Sadly, the time when I could have benefitted from the gift of Dakim’s product or caregiving info has passed.

Thanks all the same. I checked out Dakim’s website and it seems they are doing something important. What I find pitiful, though, is that our elders don’t receive stimulation they need from society and loved ones. Are they all just stuck in rooms watching TV brains atrophying away? That’s why I like what Tori is saying because it is basically telling people to get up and live and take this into their own hands.

The Dakim concept is still a good one and MUCH needed by our society with misplaced values. Our elders are still useful and wouldn’t mind hearing what Tori might have to say about that as she evolves this blog.

I wish Dakim luck as there are many who desperately need what they offer.

]]> By: Charles Roberson http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-10 Charles Roberson Tue, 19 May 2009 13:14:33 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-10 Hi Edward, As Tori mentioned, Dakim is a developer of brain fitness products. Our mission is to help senior's preserve brain health and fight the threat of Alzheimer's....We believe strongly in the notion of building a cognitive reserve to combat the onset of dementia. We partner with senior living providers and also offer a home unit version of our technology to consumers. Another blog we sponsor that you might be interested in....http://brainfitnesscaregiver.wordpress.com/ Great Blog Tori! Hi Edward,

As Tori mentioned, Dakim is a developer of brain fitness products. Our mission is to help senior’s preserve brain health and fight the threat of Alzheimer’s….We believe strongly in the notion of building a cognitive reserve to combat the onset of dementia. We partner with senior living providers and also offer a home unit version of our technology to consumers.

Another blog we sponsor that you might be interested in….http://brainfitnesscaregiver.wordpress.com/

Great Blog Tori!

]]> By: Tori Deaux http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-9 Tori Deaux Mon, 18 May 2009 21:28:43 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-9 Edward, I hadn't heard of Gloria Jean... thank you for sharing the link. Somewhere around here I have the link to a whole website featuring the art of Alzheimers and Dementia patients.... wonder if I can turn it up? And as far as I'm concerned, you're absolutely on the mark, with your well chosen remarks about inspiration and changing perspective. BTW, I've also heard from Annie, the daughter mentioned above, and I'm looking forward to seeing more about Josephine's work : ) And<a href="http://www.dakim.com" rel="nofollow"> Dakim?</a> They're a really top-of-the-line brain fitness company, and the top provider to senior living providers - so they have a vested interest in improving the lives of patients. There are some pretty cool samples of their brain-training games on the website, too. Edward, I hadn’t heard of Gloria Jean… thank you for sharing the link. Somewhere around here I have the link to a whole website featuring the art of Alzheimers and Dementia patients…. wonder if I can turn it up? And as far as I’m concerned, you’re absolutely on the mark, with your well chosen remarks about inspiration and changing perspective.

BTW, I’ve also heard from Annie, the daughter mentioned above, and I’m looking forward to seeing more about Josephine’s work : )

And Dakim? They’re a really top-of-the-line brain fitness company, and the top provider to senior living providers – so they have a vested interest in improving the lives of patients. There are some pretty cool samples of their brain-training games on the website, too.

]]> By: Edward Jones http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-7 Edward Jones Fri, 15 May 2009 00:24:49 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-7 Yes! You guys nailed it on the head! It is the land of Alzheimer's! It's a transition into a different state of being with different perceptions and different ways of interacting. Indeed, we should do whatever we can to avoid it (and thanks for starting up this blog, Tori and whoever Dakim is) and fight it once we have it, but we should not fear it and shut down. We should continue to explore our world with those changing perspectives and continue to create and give back. Have you guys heard of the story of Gloria Jean? http://www.gloriajean.org/main/004_Gloria%27s_Art.cfm#Gloa She got into art as a result of therapy for Alzheimer's and really blossomed -- her work got some critical acclaim. Sadly she passed away from Alzheimer's a while ago. Let's inspire all those inflicted with Alzheimer's to continue to live and not give up. Let's change everyone's perspective of the disease so that a diagnosis is not totally devastating to their continued lives. Wonderful observations, ladies. My commendations to you both. Yes! You guys nailed it on the head! It is the land of Alzheimer’s! It’s a transition into a different state of being with different perceptions and different ways of interacting. Indeed, we should do whatever we can to avoid it (and thanks for starting up this blog, Tori and whoever Dakim is) and fight it once we have it, but we should not fear it and shut down. We should continue to explore our world with those changing perspectives and continue to create and give back.

Have you guys heard of the story of Gloria Jean? http://www.gloriajean.org/main/004_Gloria%27s_Art.cfm#Gloa She got into art as a result of therapy for Alzheimer’s and really blossomed — her work got some critical acclaim. Sadly she passed away from Alzheimer’s a while ago.

Let’s inspire all those inflicted with Alzheimer’s to continue to live and not give up. Let’s change everyone’s perspective of the disease so that a diagnosis is not totally devastating to their continued lives.

Wonderful observations, ladies. My commendations to you both.

]]> By: Tori Deaux http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-6 Tori Deaux Thu, 14 May 2009 18:07:42 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-6 Hi Christine - I love this remark from you! <blockquote> </i>... it is a journey that we are invited into where there is a land of Alzheimer’s complete with language, perspective and intense emotions. Caregivers are invited, sometimes gently and sometimes harshly to come visit and enjoy the new world that is being offered.</blockquote></i> A dear friend of mine used very similar words, once, when speaking of working with the mentally ill. Her father had been a psychiatrist in those now-shuttered institutions, and she'd grown up wandering the halls, talking to the patients. With her father's help, she discovered how to talk to them in their own worlds, to to speak their language, and even how to translate what they were telling her to their families and doctors. Her father helped lead the charge towards treating institutionalized patients with dignity and humanity - I'd love to see a similar revolution happen now, in nursing and retirement homes. Hi Christine – I love this remark from you!

… it is a journey that we are invited into where there is a land of Alzheimer’s complete with language, perspective and intense emotions. Caregivers are invited, sometimes gently and sometimes harshly to come visit and enjoy the new world that is being offered.

A dear friend of mine used very similar words, once, when speaking of working with the mentally ill. Her father had been a psychiatrist in those now-shuttered institutions, and she’d grown up wandering the halls, talking to the patients. With her father’s help, she discovered how to talk to them in their own worlds, to to speak their language, and even how to translate what they were telling her to their families and doctors. Her father helped lead the charge towards treating institutionalized patients with dignity and humanity – I’d love to see a similar revolution happen now, in nursing and retirement homes.

]]> By: Christine Sotmary http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/living-with-alzheimers-a-spark-of-self-humanity/#comment-5 Christine Sotmary Thu, 14 May 2009 09:08:33 +0000 http://brainfitnessnow.wordpress.com/?p=154#comment-5 I was amazed at the guy who got up and sang that really LONG song. He reminded me of my husband who could still play his guitar well into his disease and then switched to scat singing in its later stages. I wrote a memoir with similar themes to your post. Now I am thinking it is a journey that we are invited into where there is a land of Alzheimer's complete with language, perspective and intense emotions. Caregivers are invited, sometimes gently and sometimes harshly to come visit and enjoy the new world that is being offered. I was amazed at the guy who got up and sang that really LONG song. He reminded me of my husband who could still play his guitar well into his disease and then switched to scat singing in its later stages. I wrote a memoir with similar themes to your post. Now I am thinking it is a journey that we are invited into where there is a land of Alzheimer’s complete with language, perspective and intense emotions. Caregivers are invited, sometimes gently and sometimes harshly to come visit and enjoy the new world that is being offered.

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