A Visit from A Stanger -True Story of an Alzheimer's Patient
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Alzheimer's Disease Can Strike Anyone - Here is my Story about Alzheimer Disease and a Stranger
The knock at the door came about 7.45pm . . .A bit late for friends to be dropping by, but not unreasonable.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the door to find a total stranger. An Alzheimer's patient. Despite her dementia, she knew her name was Catherine, she was about 80 years old and walked with a limp. I had no idea how she had gotten here, but she was lost. "Can you help me?" We have a local map on the wall so I invited her in. After a brief look, she said "Oh, I am in Wanaka, how did I get here, I thought we were in Dunedin."
Here you will find the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, general information on dementia and Alzheimer disease, links to book and other Alzheimer resources and an opportunity to donate to the Alzheimer Association along with the rest of my story from that evening in August 2009.
My Visit with an Stranger with Alzheimer's Disease
The continuation of my story
I was at a loss, I had no car as my husband was out, but even if I did, where would I take her. You see Dunedin is 3.5 hours away. Catherine seemed perfectly content, and happy with a cup of tea and a bit of conversation. She wanted me to ring her daughter, but instead I quietly rang the police. They were very kind and rang around to locate where she lived before they came and took her home.While we waited, Catherine repeated the same conversations, and sadly could not remember things from even 10 minutes earlier. When I said, "Catherine, I think I will join you in a cup of tea." She replied "A cup of tea sounds delightful, yes that would be nice." Then she turned her head and added "Oh, it looks like I already have one." Catherine, as it turns out has Alzheimer's disease.
What You Will Find Here
a Table of Contents
- 10 Signs of Alzheimer's
- More on Alzheimer's
- Two Great Pages on Alzheimer's from Lensmaster Spirituality
- Still Want More?
- Has Alzheimer's Effected Your Life?
- You Can Donate On-Line to The Alzheimer Association
- People Blog About Alzheimer's Disease
- What Are People Tweeting About Alzheimer's Disease
- Bookmark This Lens
- Add Your Comments Here
- Please Rate This Lens!
- More From the Author
10 Signs of Alzheimer's
Here are the 10 Warning Signs:
1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
8. Decreased or poor judgment
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities
10. Changes in mood and personality
More information on each of these warning signs is available at: Alzheimer's Association 10 Signs of Alzheimers or watch this video:
Alzheimer's Association Education Video
Do you know the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's Disease? Are you aware of the plight of caregivers -- the friends and loved ones who care for Alzheimer's patients? These topics and more are covered in this presentation created by J-NEX Media for the Alzhemer's Association. For more information, please go to www.alzla.org.
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More on Alzheimer's
There is so much information out there on Alzheimer's, it seems unnecessary to repeat it here, but rather to direct you to some of the articles I read after Catherine was taken home.
I started with Wikipedia:
'Alzheimers disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) or simply Alzheimer's', is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Generally, it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimers can occur much earlier. As of September 2009, this number is reported to be 35 million-plus worldwide.http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/us_med_more_alzheimer_s.html The prevalence of Alzheimer's is thought to reach approximately 107 million people by 2050.
Although the course of Alzheimer's disease is unique for every individual, there are many common symptoms.
The earliest observable symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be 'age-related' concerns, or manifestations of stress. In the early stages, the most commonly recognised symptom is memory loss, su...
Two Great Pages on Alzheimer's from Lensmaster Spirituality
No reason to re-invent the wheel. Lensmaster Spirituality has two great pages on Alzheimers. Just click on either blurb below to read the article.-
Tips for dealing with alzheimer's
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Dementia comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. My main advice is: Take your cue from the patient Let them determine how much they can hear and want to hear. This lens is organized by question. Questions I had, and questions readers have asked. F...
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Dealing with Alzheimer's - my personal experiences
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This lens is a tribute to a strong, intelligent woman who struggles with an unforgiving disease - and to her kids (my uncles and mother) who fight to keep her life as fulfilling as possible. The lens is written in chronological order: it's my experi...
Still Want More?
Inside Alzheimer's: How to Hear and Honor Connections with a Person who has Dementia
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/14/2009) 
A Caregiver's Guide to Alzheimer's Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/14/2009)
Alzheimer's from the Inside Out
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/14/2009)
The Alzheimer's Action Plan: What You Need to Know--and What You Can Do--about Memory Problems, from Prevention to Early Intervention and Care
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/14/2009)
Has Alzheimer's Effected Your Life?
You Can Donate On-Line to The Alzheimer Association
People Blog About Alzheimer's Disease
- FuturePundit: Slower Mouse Aging Delays Alzheimer's Disease
- "There's something about being youthful that protects us from Alzheimer's disease," said Andrew Dillin of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies. "People say that if you live long enough, you get Alzheimer's. But if that were true, ...
- Encyclopedia of Alzheimer's Disease With Directories of Research ...
- Brand: Average Rating 5 reviews The first and largest section of this encyclopedia offers entries on such topics as disease pathology (genetic influences,
- Natural Treatment For Alzheimer's Disease | Natural Remedies cures ...
- Alzheimer's Disease is a form of dementia that gradually gets worse and worse over time. Alzheimer's can affect the memory, the behavior, and the thought - Natural cures, Ayurveda and Herbal Remedies. Natural Treatments, Home Remedies ...
- Alzheimer's disease symptoms, Alzheimer's disease hereditary ...
- Get information on alzheimer's disease symptoms, alzheimer's disease hereditary, alzheimer's disease facts, alzheimer's disease, alzheimer's disease brain at SimpleHealthGuide.
What Are People Tweeting About Alzheimer's Disease
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- kmcurr
- My birthday... - Has been wonderful so far. Thanks, in many part, to my boyfriend. Alzheimers runs in my... http://tumblr.com/xgb4osn47
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- sonjahegman
- So sad, yet so true. Thanks for the giggle. RT @joewinnard It's christmas day everyday with alzheimers!
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- Synamon_Sugar
- @AshleyThizzdale Exactly. I'm tryin to die of old age & alzheimers lol but these days its like damn u really never know
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- wakeup1442
- @keishalexy Aluminum causes Alzheimers, Reynolds controls the research so of course claims it doesn't, but it does.
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- Blaziek
- RT @tajdolina: ... Knock Knock. Who's there? Alzheimers. Alzheimers who? Knock knock...
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- tajdolina
- ... Knock Knock. Who's there? Alzheimers. Alzheimers who? Knock knock...
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- gpsstuff
- Alzheimers GPS (ggl): Missing Montreal woman not part of ID program - The Gazette (Montreal) http://bit.ly/4DhqMn Full http://bit.ly/6XMq6q
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Bookmark This Lens
Add Your Comments Here
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- Haylie Jordan Haylie Jordan Nov 29, 2009 @ 11:41 pm
- Thanks so much for the information here.I have had personal experience with Alzheimer's victims with 2 aunts suffering and my husband's grandmother.Truly heartbreaking and devastating disease!Appreciate your insight.
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- Ramkitten Ramkitten Sep 23, 2009 @ 12:32 am
- Just this past weekend, at a Search & Rescue conference, I took a class on Alzheimers and Dementia in general--how to search for and deal with people who suffer from these diseases. It was an amazing, moving class, and I learned SO much, especially from all of the role-playing we did. I feel like, now, if something happened to me like it did you with Catherine, I'd be better able to deal with it. As a child, I used to go to work with my mom on occasion, and she worked with Dementia patients--mostly elderly--so I did get used to it to some extent, but I'd never really learned how to interact with them until this recent class. I think everyone should take such a class if they're able, since it's becoming so prevalent in our aging society.
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- Attorney Smith Attorney Smith Sep 19, 2009 @ 2:16 am
- Thanks for this great information.
Attorneysmax
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- Attorney Smith Attorney Smith Sep 19, 2009 @ 2:13 am
- You've done a great job on this lens! Thanks for back link.
http://www.attorneysmax.com/
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- strayspay strayspay Sep 3, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
- Sad story but Very Good Lens! Lots of good information.
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- lollyj lollyj Sep 1, 2009 @ 8:05 am
- Wonderful lens on an awful disease. We've all been touched by alzheimer's in one way or another. Exceptionally helpful and well-constructed.
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- Sylvestermouse Sylvestermouse Aug 25, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
- Alzheimers is an awful disease! I am so glad you were there for Catherine to keep her safe for a time.
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- seashell2 seashell2 Aug 25, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
- An amazing story... Alzheimers affects so many families and individuals! Thanks for sharing this!
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- lou16 lou16 Aug 23, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
- What a great lens. I have a similar story courtesy of a friend, she had a lady who came to her house, walked right in and was very concerned at who they (my friend's family) were and what they were doing in her house! It was a small town and with just a couple of questions they were able to call the lady's daughter....she had lived in their house years ago when she was first married.
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- lou16 lou16 Aug 23, 2009 @ 7:12 pm
- What a great lens. I have a similar story courtesy of a friend, she had a lady who came to her house, walked right in and was very concerned at who they (my friend's family) were and what they were doing in her house! It was a small town and with just a couple of questions they were able to call the lady's daughter....she had lived in their house years ago when she was first married.
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- jmsp206 jmsp206 Aug 19, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
- Great lens! My mother had alzeimers in her later years and sadly that it why she had to be in a nursing home.
She made her way to the local coffee shop without the home knowing anything about it.She had found her way out though the side gate that was left unlocked.'Off for a work' she must have thought.
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- puzzlemaker puzzlemaker Aug 18, 2009 @ 6:53 am
- What an interesting incident but also sad. Makes me wonder about how Catherine got there and if she lived with someone who took care of her. My friend's father had Alzheimers and would drive 100's of miles away from home for no reason yet would insist he was where he was supposed to be. 5*'s
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- aj2008 aj2008 Aug 17, 2009 @ 4:33 am
- Catherine is so lucky to have found you and that you helped her. A very good lens about a frightening condition.
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- OhMe OhMe Aug 16, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
- There is so much information available now about Alzheimers Disease. When our mother was diagnosed at the young age of 56 in 1968, there was nothing available to read to help understand this horrible disease. Your lens, A Visit From A Stranger - True Story of an Alzheimer's Patient, will provide resources to readers searching for information.
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- GrowWear GrowWear Aug 16, 2009 @ 1:45 am
- One of the many sad diseases I wish we had a cure for. Thanks for sharing.
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- stargazer00 stargazer00 Aug 14, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
- What a sad, sad disease. I hope they can find a cure soon.
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- missbat missbat Aug 14, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
- Alzheimers is terrifying. Not just for the person suffering it but their family and friends. I'm glad you were able to help Catherine out. You've done a great job on this lens!
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- sandyspider sandyspider Aug 14, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
- Good thing that you were there for Catherine. What an experience. Nice work!
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- spirituality spirituality Aug 14, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
- :) thanks for featuring my lenses about my personal experience with Alzheimer's. That lady was lucky to find you so friendly. *****
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- Janiece Janiece Aug 14, 2009 @ 11:39 am
- Like Shajo, I too am glad that Catherine found someone as kind as you to help her. Was Dunedin a place she'd live earlier in her life and she just got confused?
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- LoKackl LoKackl Aug 14, 2009 @ 8:13 am
- Sounds like you responded in a very appropriate, kind way to what might - for "Catherine" - have been a disaster. So far my only touch w/this terrible scourge was the mother of a friend of mine many years ago. It still makes me shudder to think of stories she told me. Thanks for your work to bring your own perspective! 5* lensrr--blood pressure reading.
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- Michey Michey Aug 14, 2009 @ 7:09 am
- This is a great topic as so many people are trapped in this disease. Recently I read an article about avoiding Alzheimer with a specific diet. I don't think it is so simple. But, thanks Rhonda, any info which can educate people is a huge plus.
Fav. 5*
Regards
Michey
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- shajo shajo Aug 14, 2009 @ 6:56 am
- Great lens! You were so gracious to Katherine, I'm happy she found someone like you to help her out.
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- Joan4 Joan4 Aug 14, 2009 @ 4:35 am
- Our mother had early Alzheimers from the age of 58. What a nightmare- for the family and the patient. Hopefully progress will be made in battling this horrendous disease! Excellent lens -- and of course, I can't help but wonder if the reason for Catherine's visit was to inspire you to educate others about this sad disease. Blessed by a SquidAngel!
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Lensmaster Pukeko has been a member since May 17 2009, has rated 754 lenses, favorited 714, and has created 106 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Best of Make Me Laugh - Top 10 Funniest Zazzle Designs of 2009". See all my lenses
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