I believe in prayer, and I believe your prayers made a difference.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
When Dotty died she just stopped ticking. Her jaw never dropped. Not even her lips. She did sound like a perculator, but she never winced, cringed, or evidenced any sign of pain.As she was dying I put my cheek on her cheek and held her. I whispered in her ear and told her to go into the light. I said more, but for now that is between Dotty and me.
After a bit, I turned my head and looked up at the ceiling just in case Dotty was up there.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Dotty Looked Beautiful in Death
Friday, May 25, 2012
Dorothy Olive DeMarco, 1916 - 2012
"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest."~ Thomas Moore
Dorothy O. DeMarco
Dorothy O. DeMarco born June 29, 1916 died at 5 AM, May 25, 2012.She is survived by her two sons F. William and Robert DeMarco, her daughter Joanne Totaro, her three grandchildren Stasia, Kristen, and Chad, and two great grandchildren Ryan and Kaitlyn.
Dorothy was a good old girl.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Dotty is Still With, 7:13 AM, You Who I'm Awake You Know
Was Alzheimer's an automatic death sentence? No, it was not.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Right now Dotty is still with us. I'm going to spare you some of the details, but Dotty has stopped urinating.This comes as no surprise as the amount of liquid intake yesterday was at the minimum.
It seems to me as if Dotty's body is shutting down in an orderly, yet slow, progression. Her spirit has yet to soar out of her body.
Yesterday can best be described as hair raising. None of this was caused by Dotty.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Donepezil Aricept Price Falls by 90 Percent
Donepezil is marketed under the brand name Aricept by its developer Eisai (TSE) and partner Pfizer (PFE).
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
When you go into the pharmacy looking for the lowest price generic Aricept available you want to ask for Donepezil. This will take all of the guess work out of the equation.You can now buy a one year supply of Donepezil for $109.00.
This time last year you might have expected to pay $3,000.00 or more for a one year supply. Imagine.
Remarkable.
Dotty is Still With Us, 5:08 AM, Dotty Continues to Amaze Me
I will discuss crisis care with Hospice by the Sea today. If I get the assurance that I get to make the veto call on the drugs; and that, the crisis care nurses will be instructed by Hospice about our wishes before they come in, I'll accept the crisis care.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
It is 5:08 AM, Wednesday, May, 23, 2012, Dotty is still with us. Dotty continues to amaze me.I fell asleep for a couple of hours. I think I was dead out (no pun). My head and body are parallel to Dotty. She is in a hospital bed and I am in her bed. Our heads are about five feet apart, on a direct straight line.
I feel like a cat. I wake up and it seems like my ear shoots up into the air, and turns to listen to Dotty. Just like a cat.
She is breathing in a perfect rhythm. I can't believe it. I listen for a while. Perfect. Perfect cadence. Music to my ears.
What the heck.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Dotty is not agitated and is not acting crazy. Occasionally, she might call out mom, mom.
By Bob DeMarco
Alzheimer's Reading Room
Good morning, afternoon, evening or night, depending on where you are.
Dotty Dotty is still with us. She seems to be comfortable. However, she is not moving at all. She does have a cough. It is sporadic, and we have some medication for the cough.
Yesterday, she only ate a few teaspoons of chicken broth and a bit of water melon. I continue to get water and Boost into her. She is still peeing quite a bit and the liquid is definitely moving through her.
Her urine was okay late last night. I am getting ready to change her shortly. This has been a real chore. Nevertheless it gets done. I'll update how this goes later today.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Obama Administration Presents National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease | Alzheimer's Reading Room
“This is a national plan—not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors.”
Alzheimer's Reading Room
The plan, presented today at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, was developed with input from experts in aging and Alzheimer’s disease issues and calls for a comprehensive, collaborative approach across federal, state, private and non-profit organizations.More than 3,600 people or organizations submitted comments on the draft plan.
I would be interested in your comment on the HHS’ new website, www.alzheimers.gov . The website offers resources and support to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their friends and family.
You can comment in the Add New Comment box below this article.
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Obama Administration Presents National Plan to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released an ambitious national plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease.The plan was called for in the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) which President Obama signed into law in January 2011.
The National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease sets forth five goals, including the development of effective prevention and treatment approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias by 2025.
In February 2012, the administration announced that it would take immediate action to implement parts of the plan, including making additional funding available in fiscal year 2012 to support research, provider education and public awareness.
Today, the Secretary announced additional specific actions, including the funding of two major clinical trials, jumpstarted by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) infusion of additional FY 2012 funds directed at Alzheimer’s disease; the development of new high-quality, up-to-date training and information for our nation’s clinicians; and a new public education campaign and website to help families and caregivers find the services and support they need.
To help accelerate this urgent work, the President’s proposed FY 2013 budget provides a $100 million increase for efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease. These funds will support additional research ($80 million), improve public awareness of the disease ($4.2 million), support provider education programs ($4.0 million), invest in caregiver support ($10.5 million), and improve data collection ($1.3 million).
“These actions are the cornerstones of an historic effort to fight Alzheimer’s disease,” Secretary Sebelius said. “This is a national plan—not a federal one, because reducing the burden of Alzheimer’s will require the active engagement of both the public and private sectors.”The plan, presented today at the Alzheimer’s Research Summit 2012: Path to Treatment and Prevention, was developed with input from experts in aging and Alzheimer’s disease issues and calls for a comprehensive, collaborative approach across federal, state, private and non-profit organizations. More than 3,600 people or organizations submitted comments on the draft plan.As many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and that number is likely to double in the coming years. At the same time, millions of American families struggle with the physical, emotional and financial costs of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
The initiatives announced today include:
Research -- The funding of new research projects by the NIH will focus on key areas in which emerging technologies and new approaches in clinical testing now allow for a more comprehensive assessment of the disease. This research holds considerable promise for developing new and targeted approaches to prevention and treatment. Specifically, two major clinical trials are being funded. One is a $7.9 million effort to test an insulin nasal spray for treating Alzheimer’s disease. A second study, toward which NIH is contributing $16 million, is the first prevention trial in people at the highest risk for the disease.
Tools for Clinicians -- The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $2 million in funding through its geriatric education centers to provide high-quality training for doctors, nurses, and other health care providers on recognizing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and how to manage the disease.
Easier access to information to support caregivers -- HHS’ new website, www.alzheimers.gov, offers resources and support to those facing Alzheimer’s disease and their friends and family. The site is a gateway to reliable, comprehensive information from federal, state, and private organizations on a range of topics.
Visitors to the site will find plain language information and tools to identify local resources that can help with the challenges of daily living, emotional needs, and financial issues related to dementia. Video interviews with real family caregivers explain why information is key to successful caregiving, in their own words.
Awareness campaign -- The first new television advertisement encouraging caregivers to seek information at the new website was debuted. This media campaign will be launched this summer, reaching family members and patients in need of information on Alzheimer’s disease.
Today’s announcement demonstrates the Obama administration’s continued commitment to taking action in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2013, the National Family Caregiver Support Program will continue to provide essential services to family caregivers, including those helping loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. This program will enable family caregivers to receive essential respite services, providing them a short break from caregiving duties, along with other essential services, such as counseling, education and support groups.
For more information on the national plan to address Alzheimer’s disease, visit: www.alzheimers.gov.
__________________________National Alzheimer’s Project Act http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/
National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/napa/NatlPlan.shtml
Alzheimers.gov http://www.alzheimers.gov
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Are Alzheimers Caregivers are the Chosen?
If you are the Chosen One you will be reborn, you will be reborn as an Alzheimer's caregiver. When the fog clears, you'll assume your new role. For most of us, this will be the greatest challenge of our lives. We rise to the occasion. How do you explain our ability to rise up, out, and above ourselves? There must be an explanation.
Read this article on the Alzheimer's Reading Room
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