Caregivers Unite

Teepa Snow, Dementia Expert

 Gulf Coast Dementia Conference is being held April 18, 2014 at the DePaul Center at Providence Hospital. Touching Hearts Senior Care, and Mercy Life of Alabama  are currently the main sponsors of the first ever conference in Lower Alabama.

Renowned Dementia expert, Teepa Snow, will be the instructor and provide professionals with CEUs. This is a conference you do not want to miss. Teepa will speak candidly to the audience regarding the ABC’s of Dementia, Understanding the Different Dementias and why do they do that? She will also discuss communication skills and challenging behaviors.

This is a free conference and seats are more than half full, now is the time to register.

You can register online or call Gina Germany at her office 251-445-4204.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Coalition of South Alabama

April 2014

The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Coalition of 

South Alabama and our partners invite you to attend 

their community meeting on 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 

Five Rivers Resource Center– Blakely Hall 

30945 Five Rivers Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL 36526 

10:00 am—11:30 am 

10:00 a.m. Greetings – Julie McGee, Director, Area Agency on Aging

Discussion of Survey

10:15 a.m. Agency Announcements –Coalition Members

10:30 a.m. Senior Resource Guide information and 2014 Senior Expo

Gay Watson, Outreach Coordinator

10:45 a.m. Caregiver College Announcement,

Della Sanchez, AL Cares Coordinator

11:30 a.m. Adjourn

Area Agency on Aging – 251-706-4650

Della Sanchez, LGSW, AL Cares Coordinator

We lost a friend today.  The halls are too quiet without the loud voice of the one who spoke for us all when she’d yell, ”Shut up!”  at the irritating cacophony of beeps and call alarms alerting, that are part of daily life in a nursing home.

Hazel was a ready source of entertainment and expressed love to anyone whom she deemed worthy.  I was a willing recipient.  We spent many an afternoon in the west wing day room, surrounded by family and friends, enjoying the banter between Sheila and Hazel, while listening to the comedic comments of Steve Harvey as he hosted Family Feud.

I would stay in her proximity even to the chagrin on my mother.  Hazel knew me as “a nice girl” that she “loved very much.” She would confide to anyone who would listen as I walked away from her that she loved me and I loved her, too. Not only did I enjoy being around Hazel, but grew to know and love her family as well.  They told me that this Hazel was quite unlike her  “old” self.  Before succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, she was a quiet person – nothing like the incessant dancer, unpredictable talker and open expresser of love that developed.

As it is with Alzheimer’s disease, time changes things.   Hazel’s contributions began to slow and her interaction waned.  She began to have fewer “good” days and more “bad” days.   We watched her fade before our eyes.  I visited her at her bedside as her granddaughter kept vigil.  “I’ll Fly Away” was the song that flowed from my lips to her ears.  She listened to my voice as she had many times before.  By the next day, her daughter had arrived to see her off.  After considering what kind of music Hazel liked, we broke out in singing “You’re a Grand Old Flag”.  Uncanny, we both knew all the words and moved on to “God Bless America”.  Hazel’s son watched in amusement.  Hazel seemed to enjoy the attention and we enjoyed the camaraderie.

Then she was gone – but only out of sight.  She arrived at her final destination March 13^th 2014, in the morning hours, before her family was able to get there.  She slipped off while no one was looking.  A quiet exit for someone who had been so out spoken while I knew her.

Farewell dear friend.  I will miss your laugh, your smile, and the endless string of words that only you could weave.  You made life better on the west wing.

I love you, Hazel.

E. A. Roberts Alzheimer’s Center hosts their monthly support group on the second Thursday of each month.  In the June meeting, Dana Adair will speak on “Recognizing Health Changes in the Dementia Patient.”   Come at 10 a.m. and join the conversation.

Complimentary care will be provided during the meeting.   Please call 435-6950 for more information.

The center is located at 169 Mobile Infirmary Boulevard in Mobile, AL  36607.

Plan to attend for senior information and resources or to promote your service.  Click below for the details of the event or for forms needed to obtain a table.

2014 Mobile Senior Lifestyle Expo      (2) Sponsor-booth contract Senior Expo 2014

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Abba Shrine Center

Please contact Gay Watson for information! 251 706-4671

The “Yellow Dot” program is the first program of its kind in the state of Alabama. It is designed to assist Alabama citizens and first responders in the event of an automobile crash or other medical emergency involving the participant’s vehicle. The program can help save lives during the critical “golden hour” by improving communication at a time when accident victims may be unable to communicate for themselves.

Carol Merkel is working with the Mobile County Sheriff’s office to promote this  program.  She is available to speak to groups about the  “Yellow Dot” program and can be reached at 251-861-3333.

A doctor who makes house calls?  Yes.  Check out Dr. Spriggs‘ website and learn all about the services he and his team can provide in Mobile, Baldwin, and Washington counties.

Click on Validation Technique for a helpful article that offers understanding of the dementia patient that can make interacting with them easier and satisfying.

The Alzheimer’s Association has come to our region and is ready to make a difference.  Peter Cowley, Associate Director in our area since August 2012, addressed the Mobile Senior Coalition meeting today that was held at the Gardens of Daphne Assisted Living Facility.  He spoke about the association and its many resources.  A Walk to End Alzheimer’s is in the planning stages.  For more information, log on to alz.org and search for the local chapter.

The Long Goodbye Alzheimer’s Support Group meets Tuesday, August 15 at noon in the Bishop’s Meeting Room at Dauphin Way Methodist Church.  The cost of lunch is $5.00.  If you plan to eat, RSVP by calling the church at 251-471-1511 by Friday, August 11, 2017.