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The Long and Winding Road…

~ An Alzheimer's Journey and Beyond

The Long and Winding Road…

Category Archives: The Early Years

Alzheimer’s: Accepting a New Reality

15 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Caregivers, Expectations, Grieving, Guilt and Regrets, Helpful Resources, Inspiration, Life After Caregiving, Mom, Quotes, Ruminations, Saying Goodbye, The Early Years

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

alzheimers, alzheimers acceptance, alzheimers denial, dementia

I read a lot about Alzheimer’s and dementia. A lot. Still, every now and then I come across something that grabs hold of me and won’t let go, because it reads exactly – and I mean exactly – like my own experience. Despite the fact that I tell people all the time, “we’re in this together” and “what you’re feeling is normal,” I sometimes forget those things apply to me, too!

Tonight, I read one of the most poignant essays I’ve ever seen discussing a topic that’s very close to my heart. In fact, it’s the subject of my contribution (Learning Acceptance) to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living With Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.

In his piece for Maria Shriver’s blog, Dr. Daniel C. Potts writes about reaching a point of acceptance – realizing that your loved one as you once knew them is gone, but their core remains very much intact. Always. Even dementia can’t strip them of their essence. It simply cannot.  Continue reading →

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Hearing Loss & Dementia: Is There a Correlation?

08 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Caregivers, Helpful Resources, Mom, Signs and Symptoms, The Early Years

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

alzheimers, dementia, hearing loss

Early on in our journey, Mom’s PCP suggested we see an audiologist to rule out hearing loss. As it turned out, she passed the hearing test with flying colors, but that isn’t always the case. Consider how hearing problems can result in social withdrawal, which may, in turn, exacerbate cognitive decline. I’m pleased to share this guest post by Melanie Lewis of Hearing Direct.
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There are various causes that contribute to hearing loss. Many people are aware of the corollary links between noise exposure and hearing damage. Both the intensity level (noise above 85dB(A) is considered ‘harmful’) and the length of exposure time can put one’s hearing at risk.

Factors affecting the transmission of sound through the outer or middle ear are also common causes of conductive (and often temporary) hearing loss – this is largely seen in blockages of the ear canal due to wax or other foreign bodies, susceptibility to outer or middle ear infections, Eustachian tube dysfunction or previous ear surgery. Notwithstanding these examples however the most common type of hearing loss and perhaps surprisingly so, is in fact sensorineural in nature and due to natural deterioration brought about by age. Continue reading →

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From Lonna Whiting: ‘D’ Word x 100

11 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by Ann Napoletan in Caregivers, Expectations, Guilt and Regrets, Life After Caregiving, Reblog, Ruminations, Signs and Symptoms, The Early Years

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

alzheimers, caregiving, dementia

This post from Lonna Whiting is one of the most poignant pieces I’ve seen. So many of these are things I’ve felt or experienced – plenty I’m not proud of. But, it’s raw, unfiltered reality. It’s confirmation that only someone who has experienced this disease can truly understand. Incredibly sad, yet oddly comforting. In time, if we’re lucky, we reach a point of acceptance; we love and enjoy the time we have left with our loved ones despite the fact they aren’t who they once were. But at the end of the day, we still HATE this disease more than words can say… Thank you for your courage and honesty, Lonna.

Visit Lonna’s blog at http://lonnawhiting.wordpress.com

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Marilyn, BA (before Alzheimer's)

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