Alzheimer's Expert Carol Bradley Bursack shares Alzheimer's management news and commentary at OurAlzheimers.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/93011/systems-people-ad Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:06:16 -0500 Carol Bradley Bursack Wandering is a huge issue for many caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. The biggest problem may be that one never knows when the urge to wander will hit the person with the disease. Even if the care receiver has never wandered before, when will the first time be?   One thing about dementia is that it does not make the person with the disease less "intelligent." They just think differently. Often, when there is enough will behind... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/93011/systems-people-ad http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/92151/scholars-alzheimer Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:17:45 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack Brilliant people get Alzheimer's and other dementias. Three rather public figures that come to mind are recent Nobel prize winner, physicist Charles K. Kao, retired psychologist, professor and Alzheimer's activist Richard Taylor and the husband of retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Most of us can name a few lesser known figures, though to us they are far more important. My dad's dementia was much like Alzheimer's, however it... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/92151/scholars-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/91237/elders-frustrating Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:06:18 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack Most dentists stress the importance of dental care for elders. Realism for caregivers comes into play here, as many of our elders get so they can't be transported and lifted into a dental chair for major work. Some will fight even having their mouth swabbed out by a family member. This can become a huge issue for already guilt-ridden caregivers. We want to do more for their dental health, but what? How?   My Dad had to get dentures in his... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/91237/elders-frustrating http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/90372/importance-person Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:37:24 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack After my dad had surgery to correct increasing fluid build up behind scar tissue from a World War II brain injury, he came out of the surgery totally demented. Whether the dementia came from a combination of his age and the scar tissue, anesthetic or something else, we didn't know. All we knew was that he came out of surgery with a voice in his head and very little ability to discern the difference between what was a happening in this head and... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/90372/importance-person http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/89358/stunning-alzheimer Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:10:27 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack Be With Me Today is a DVD that every person who interacts with someone who has Alzheimer's disease should own. Richard Taylor was diagnosed with dementia, probably of the Alzheimer's type, when he was 58 years old. Now 66, Richard speaks to the public about living with the disease. This DVD version allows all of us to hear and see Richard as he challenges Alzheimer's outsiders to learn more about the needs of those who have the... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/89358/stunning-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/88378/brainpower-workout Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:39:09 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack People often ask what they can do to preserve their brains. While no one can predict who will get Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, there are certain steps recommended by experts often enough to have some sticking power. We can't change our genetic background but we can change our diet. We can't change our couch potato past but we can start to exercise. We can't change how we've let our minds stagnate but we can start to exercise them... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/88378/brainpower-workout http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/87605/people-communicate Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:10:38 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack When human beings loses their ability to communicate verbally, whether through stroke, Alzheimer's or some other disease, the frustration of not being able to articulate one's feelings can create anger and difficult behavior.   I saw my uncle struggle with aphasia after his last major stroke. This man, who had been a voracious reader, speaker and crossword puzzle whiz, could no longer put the right name on an object. He spent ten minutes... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/87605/people-communicate http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/86704/prefer-inheritance Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:59:48 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack When it comes to caring for aging parents, it's a rare family that doesn't find itself, at least occasionally, in disagreement over the type and expense of care the elders should have. If there ever was a time to bring up old sibling rivalries and pecking orders, it's during this decision making time.   Most of us like to give people the benefit of a doubt when these disagreements get heated. Jane wants Mom to have in-home care with some... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/86704/prefer-inheritance http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/85801/medications-elders Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:54:00 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack After my dad's brain surgery left him demented, the doctors put him on the anti-psychotic drug Haldol. He was in the hospital and we were still being told that nothing went wrong from the surgery and he would be just fine. The fact that he had a voice in his head and was not at all the same as before was never admitted.   However, the psychiatrist did see fit to put him on this drug. At first, I couldn't figure out why Dad was insisting... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/85801/medications-elders http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/85043/clinics-caregivers Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:47:36 -0400 Carol Bradley Bursack "But I have to go to the bathroom," Dad said as he squirmed anxiously in his wheelchair. "You're wearing a pad, Dad," I said. "You can just go. There's no way for me to take you to the bathroom." "You want me to wet my pants? No! I can't. Take me to the bathroom," he insisted.   Dad and I were in the middle of one of our long waits to see the dermatologist. We did this often to keep his skin cancers at bay. I'd pick him up at the... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/62/85043/clinics-caregivers