Saturday, November 10, 2007

How to Avoid Medication Errors

It is important to know the medications that your loved one is taking and why they are geing given. Of course, this also applies to medications that you take. Medication errors are the most common form of health care mistakes.

Ask about the purpose of the medication. Ask for written information about it, including its brand name and generic name. Also ask about any side effects.

If you don't recognize a medication, verify that it is being prescribed for your loved one (or you).

If you or your loved one is given an IV, ask the nurse how long it should take for the liquid to run out. Tell the nurse if it doesn't seem to be dripping properly (either too fast or too slow).

Whenever you or your loved one receives a new medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist about any allergies or negative reactions to medications in the past.

If taking multiple medications, ask the doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to take those medications together. This holds true for vitamins, herbal supplements and over the counter drugs too.

Make sure you read the handwriting on any prescriptions written by the doctor, If you can't read it, the pharmacist may not be able to either.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Why Do People With Dementia Wander?

People with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias wander due to a variety of reasons. If a person is increasingly forgetful, they may start an activity and forget what they were doing and go out to seek to remember. In the middle to later stages of Alzheimer's Disease, a person will regress to an earlier age and go out in search of something from their past, such as a house or relative from childhood.

A person with dementia often experiences hyperactivity & restlessness due to changes within the brain. The hyperactivity will cause a person to wander aimlessly to burn off the extra energy they are experiencing.

It isn't unusual for a person with dementia to become anxious to changes in their surroundings, such as a move to an adult day center or assisted living facility.

When a person with dementia has a lifelong habit such as taking a daily walk, they may become lost after making a turn off of their own street.

How can a caregiver prevent wandering?

Keep a diary. This may pick up on certain events that trigger wandering.

Consider making an area of the garden secure so they can wander safely.

Avoid leaving things in sight that may remind them of wandering, such as hats or coats.

Alert neighbors and caregivers about their wandering.

Ensure they always carry identification for example, an identity bracelet with contact telephone number. The Alzheimer's Association's Safe Return Program can assist when a person with dementia is lost or wanders. Safe Return web link: http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_medicalert_safereturn.asp

Keep a recent photograph preferably in electronic form, to help police if they get lost.

Keep a list of contacts of people who you can called upon quickly to search if the patient becomes lost.

Create visual barriers across exits with mirrors or curtains. This may deter them from leaving.

If a person cannot be dissuaded from leaving, accompany them. It may then be possible to divert them and return home.

Consider door alarms which alert you to doors being opened. The Alzheimer's Store's door alarm link: http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=ageless&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=518154323&Count2=435294747&CategoryID=2&Target=products.asp

Lock doors. Sometimes the safest thing to do is lock the door and in some cases, relocate door locks. Placing locks above eye level, or down low on the door at ankle level. Ensure doors can still be opened by the caregiver in case of emergency.

Avoid using medication to stop wandering. It may increase confusion and cause other problems such as incontinence.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Tips for Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer's Disease

People with Alzheimer's disease have a progessive neurological disease. Arguing with them does no good!


"Problem behaviors" are problems for caregivers, but are forms of communication or reactions to stress for the person with Alzheimer's. Ask yourself what occurred to cause the behaviors. People with Alzheimer's Disease respond to physical discomfort, conditions of the environment such as strange noises, or changes in routines.


Physical discomfort - Behavior may be provoked by pain, fever, infections, the need to go to the bathroom, or other discomforts. Evaluate the person and offer relief.


Environmental factors - Behavior may be provoked by a new environment, noise, stimulating light, crowding, or an uncomfortable temperature. Modify the environment, removing the cause. Promote routine and try to keep change to a minimum.


Tasks expected by others - Behavior may be provoked by tasks that are too complicated or by caregivers who crowd or expect too much. Break tasks down into simple steps, give simple directions, and approach quietly and reasonably. And, again, never argue!

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Migraines, Restless Leg Syndrome and Depression May Be Associated

Migraines may be associated with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), according to results of a study conducted in Germany. The cause may be with a chemical imbalance of dopamine in the brain. The occurence of Restless Leg Syndrome increases to a peak at age 65 years and then decreases. Family history is seen in 50% of patients with Restless Leg Syndrom and family history is also prevalent for patients with migraine. Patients with migraine are three times more likely to have depression. Depression has also been associated with Restless Leg Syndrome.

In this study, patients with migraine and RLS were older and had longer length to each migraine episode. They also had a higher score on depression scales. The authors concluded that there was an association between RLS and migraine and a possible co-association with depression.

Older persons with depression rarely seek treatment for the illness. Unrecognized and untreated depression may result in suicide if untreated. The highest rate of suicide in the US is among older white men.

Symptoms in older persons may differ somewhat from symptoms in other populations. Depression in older people often appears as memory problems, confusion, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, inability to sleep, irritability, and, in some cases, delusions and hallucinations. Older depressed individuals often have severe feelings of sadness, but these feelings frequently are not acknowledged or openly shown. Sometimes, when asked if they are "depressed", the answer from persons suffering from depression is "no".

More older adults are apt to seek treatment for physical ailments than they are with symptoms of depression alone. Restless leg syndrom and migraines may be the reason an individual will seek medical treatment.

As a caregiver, it is helpful to point out the symptoms of depression, if seen, to assist the doctor in prescribing treatment for the entire list of symptoms of migraines, RLS, and depression. Treatment protocols often include a combination of drugs to treat coexisting conditions.

Source : Reuters Health Information

Sunday, November 04, 2007

A View of Early Alzheimer's Disease

Sometimes Azheimer's disease is diagnosed after someone has unexpected difficulty with some aspect of a job that had previously been routine. Changes in memory and other changes in cognition can be detected early. Alzheimer's disease can occur in adults as early as age 60.

It is quite possible for the person with Alzheimer's disease to be involved in their own care when the diagnosis is made early. While there is no cure currently for Alzheimer's disease, cholinesterase inhibitors is a class of drugs used to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

This video attached provides a picture of early Alzheimer's disease entitled Mind Matters: Life with Alzheimer's Disease. The video comes courtesy of Healthology. Please visit http://healthology/main/video.aspx?focus_handle=alzheimers-disease&content_id=1734&brand_name=vid_health