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by Dan Kuhn, A.C.S.W
(Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center)

Those who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder are most fortunate if they enjoy the sustained support of others through-out the long course of the disease. Even the closest relationships may be tested to the limits in such difficult circumstances. A common refrain among experienced caregivers is. “You certainly find out who your friends are!” This familiar remark has a couple of different meanings.

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by: Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC)
Duke University Medical Center

“My husband used to get up often at night and was very confused. I finally got him to rest in his recliner in front of the TV and he calmed down and fell asleep. He seems to feel more secure there.”

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Follow these steps if a person with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia drives or wanders away:

• Try to remain calm
• Thoroughly search the house and surrounding area (yard, garage, storage buildings)

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Think about your favorite movie. Chances are the main character, the hero in that movie, probably faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable.

What makes a hero is facing that insurmountable challenge and finding a way to do something, anything to meet it.

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by Priscilla Pittman, MSW, MA
Alzheimer’s Arkansas Programs and Services

Swallowing is a complex motor function and, therefore, may be affected by some chronic illnesses. The process begins unconsciously as the amount of saliva increases in the mouth when we see food. Then, the food is taken into the mouth where it is chewed and moved from side to side for chewing, tasting and shaping by the tongue.  When the tongue pushes the food to the back of the mouth, the food touches the tonsil region and a swallow is initiated setting into motion the movement of the food through the throat and into the esophagus.  The Mayo Clinic advises us that the swallow requires approximately 50 sets of muscles and nerves.

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