Dementia and John Mackey

Godspeed to John Mackey, one of the greats of the old Baltimore Colts. Residents of Stadium Place, the urban retirement community developed by GEDCO on the site of the former Memorial Stadium, reminisced about watching John Mackey and Johnny Unitas during the heyday of the Baltimore Colts. We tip our hats to the memory of John Mackey and other Baltimore Colts who have passed away.

John Mackey suffered from dementia, which afflicts many older adults, including those that never played football. People start to lose their memory and have difficulty conversing and eating. They may also become angry and belligerent. The Green House Residences at Stadium Place, which will open in Spring, 2012, will provide care for older adults who need long-term nursing care, including those with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementia.

According to the Alzheimer's Association:

Dementia is a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities
severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by changes in
the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia,
accounting for 50 to 70 percent of cases.

There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the signs, please see a doctor. Early diagnosis gives you a chance to seek treatment and plan for the future. If you have questions, call us anytime: 877.877-IS IT ALZ (877.474.8259).

Struggling with Alzheimer's Disease

Many families struggle with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias. It is not just getting old that causes dementia. The mind just isn't working properly. While scientists work to find a cure, families need to better understand the disease and how to help their loved ones.

ChangingAging.org compiled some noteworthy resources, including the Alzheimer's Association.

They also recommend The Myth of Alzheimers:

"Perhaps the most profound website challenging the conventions of Alzheimer’s disease is TheMythofAlzheimers.com — “What you aren’t being told about today’s most dreaded diagnosis.”

The Myth of Alzheimer’s is a bold and direct challenge to the multi-billion dollar juggernaut that is the status quo of Alzheimer’s thinking, marketing and research. It’s an alternative approach seeking to humanize the way we think about brain aging and strengthen the care and solidarity provided to people affected by memory loss."

Dementia and the overuse of medication

While Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias lead to many challenges, there is no cure-all, and drugs are frequently misused. The prevalence for people with dementia is much greater for those 85 years and older. Families with loved ones with dementia are faced with much greater caregiving responsibilities. No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there's no one approach to caregiving. Caregiving responsibilities after a diagnosis can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning.

Community resources include the Alzheimer’s Association, hospital-based support groups, and various government resources. While there are no “cures” for Alzheimer’s disease, there are a number of medicines that might mitigate the effects of the disease. However, becoming more aware of someone’s needs, and trying to communicate with them wherever they are, is just as important. There are a number of instances where people received medicines meant for another disease or symptom. Many people become disoriented because there are given too many medicines.

Many elders in nursing homes and community-based settings are over-medicated. People being treated with dementia are given even more drugs, even though they are not very effective (many anti-psychotics only work in 1 in 5 people). Medication mostly sedates people, as opposed to treating their symptoms. A more person-centered approach would allow staff to spend time getting to know the elders. Many have some recognition of music, or art, or certain words related to their life experiences. Caregivers and nurses can work closely to draw people out, and they can become more communicative and less agitated.

Jane Verity runs an amazing program in Australia called the Spark of Life program, where staff spends 1 hour per day with people with dementia trying to connect to people in their secret gardens. View a You-tube video about this program, where staff meet individuals' social, emotional, and spiritual needs. A healthy spirit improves daily life. They use music and art and costumes to engage people with dementia, and work with doctors, nurses and families to reduce multi-meds. Many people “awoke” from year-long slumbers and started talking and participating more.