Preventing Alzheimer's

Because I am paranoid, a worrywort and know that my chances of developing Alzheimer's is a possibility, I read everything I can get my hands/eyes on. So far, the best synopsis I've come across is on Dr. Andrew Weil's Website:

"To help prevent the form of dementia known as Alzheimer’s Disease, do the following:

• Get regular physical activity, 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week. It increases the flow of blood to the brain and can lower the likelihood of Alzheimer's by 30 to 50 percent.
• Eat omega-3s. Oily fish (like wild Alaskan salmon, sardines and herring), walnuts, fortified eggs and freshly ground flaxseeds all provide omega-3 fatty acids, which are linked with reducing inflammation.
• Take supplements and vitamins. Vitamins E and C are good choices, and B vitamins can help lower blood levels of homocysteine, a toxic amino acid linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's.
• Stay mentally active. Read newspapers and books, dance, do crossword puzzles, play musical instruments, participate in ongoing education, learn a new language. Courtesy of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging"

The only thing I don't do on a regular basis is physical activity... I've been trying to run at least three times a week, but it's hard with kids stuff and work and outside activities. I guess I'm just going to have to make the time to exercise. One thing I don't want in my lifetime is to be stuck in a wheelchair all day eating pureed food.

Mystery Meal #536

I just can't get over pureed food. It's just not right. It tastes the same as "normal" un-pureed food but the visual presentation is terrible. I'm a picky food snob.

I was all prepared for Grandma to not eat the other night because mom said she ate a real good lunch, which always means that Grandma won't eat dinner. I brought a couple of mom-baked cookies with me just in case she didn't want to touch her dinner. I always default to cookies, because even if she won't eat, I feel that at least she ate SOMETHING. She needs calories.

Well to my surprise she inhaled her dinner of ground up hot dog, pureed tomatoes, whipped cucumbers and blended navy bean soup. What the dessert was I don't know, I smelled it and it had a sweet cinnamon aroma, but not fruity. I was too afraid to taste that one.

I would kill for a burger at Oogies in Streator, IL. Grandma would always take us grandkids there for a cheeseburger, fries and Root Beer. There was also a diner in Ransom that made great burgers, the greasy way. Greasier the better. Unfortunately, Oogies is closed and another restaurant has taken it's place. Shame. Ransom now has one bar that serves food, but it's not the same. Nothing will ever be the same.

The First Born Daughter

My mom, Barbara, first child of Dolores and Glenn McCann, was born on this day in 1938. The world was on the cusp WWII and America was at the tail end of the depression.

Glenn and Dolores would have four more children over the next 10 years. At one point, Grandma was talking an awful lot about "getting the girls" ready and scolding Larry about something. My uncle Larry sure must have been a troublemaker. Sometimes I wasn't sure if she was talking about her kids or her brothers and sisters (she was one of nine). I think she kind of blurred them altogether after awhile.

My mom is the closest one to grandma and tucks her in just about every night. I don't make it out as often as I want to, but mom is always there, so I can get updates often. My Aunt Carol is the next closest, and then My Aunt Rosemary comes to do grandma's hair every Friday. Uncle Larry still lives in Ransom, IL, hometown of Glenn and Dolores. I'm glad someone still lives there because I have many good memories of that place and want to go back there soon. I'm sure grandma will be buried there. Aunt Ruth/Sharon (some call her Ruth, some call her Sharon) lives the furthest away in Phoenix, AZ. On grandma's birthday she called on A. Carol's cell phone and the phone was going around the room for over an hour. I hope A. Carol has free weekend minutes.

I read other blogs by people who are caring for their loved ones with Alzheimers. I feel very fortunate to have grandma in a good place with caring people. Things could be much worse. She does get bumps and bruises from time to time, that's unavoidable, but everyone there knows her and loves her even when she's onery.

Fibbing 101

Although Grandma doesn't ask about Grandpa anymore, or even want to talk about him, there was a point in time if she were talking about him or asking where he was, I would often lie and say "I don't know," or "I'm sure he's chatting with someone else right now - you know how he is!"

She would be fine with that.

Grandpa died in 1991, and she was there through it all. Found him slumped over a chair in the bedroom. She was in the kitchen and he went to change his clothes or something, and it happened in an instant. And she had to wait almost an hour for the ambulance to arrive. It's a good thing that she has forgotten that, because it was a horrible memory for her.

Since she has started talking about things and reliving moments in her life, I have never minded going along with her. It seems so much easier to talk about myself in third person or pretend that I'm one of her daughters or sisters, rather than repeat myself time and again: "I'm your granddaughter, my name is Holly, I'm Barbara's daughter. Barbara is your first born, and you have five children... etc."

I think Alzheimer's patients need kindness more than honesty. Those that are at Hillcrest with Grandma really can go on about nothing, and if you just keep nodding your head and smiling, it makes them feel more comfortable at least.

Preparation Zero

I was telling some one the other day that you can read all you want about Alzheimer's, you can talk to doctors, try and get insight about the disease, it's symptoms, causes, preventative measures, etc. However, nothing prepares you emotionally. You can try to look at things logically, take notes of reactions, and measure out the Alzheimer's stage by what the symptoms are that day. Two months ago I was worried that Grandma was having trouble swallowing (and she was) and what that meant for her eating habits and what was going to be done. I was a wreck emotionally, but rationally I was telling myself that this is how Alzheimers goes and that there would be a finality (eventually).

Now that "finality" seems to be pushed off a little, but it's still looming. And none of us want that day to come, but we know it will.