Mountain They Call Dementia

Norrms, as he’s affectionately known, has been living with dementia for over seven years. First diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and then later with Lewy body dementia, his words inspire and help caregivers see more deeply what it’s like to live with dementia. 

Guest article by Norman (Norrms) Mc Namara

I had just been diagnosed with dementia aged just 50 years old, this was seven, nearly eight years ago now, and there I stood, at the bottom of the mountain they call “Dementia” As I looked up I couldn't even see the top of it as it was covered in cloud and mist, it seemed so very high and impossible to climb, then, I took my first step.

As I ascended the mountain, the first thing I noticed was the bleakness of everything, the emptiness and loneliness that surrounded me. As I looked back I could still see my many friends and family but they seemed to be diminishing in the distance, getting smaller and smaller, as if my friends were disappearing one by one, very strange. It went really quiet and all I could hear were my own thoughts, alone in my head, with absolutely no idea which path to take, or where to go, all I knew was it was all uphill from here. Whist I climbed I looked around for help, but there was nobody there, I sought a place of refuge, but couldn’t find one, and the only notice board I came across on the mountainside was written many years ago and now faded by years of weathering, as if they was some kind of help and advice, but it was all mixed up, the rain had melted it all into one huge mess, and I couldn’t just see it.

The incline seemed to get steeper at every step, and there were times i could have just sat down and given up, I came so close to doing this on many occasions i am ashamed to say, the relentless winds of change around me were starting to affect my walking abilities and my thinking, it would have been so easy to just give up, but then, on the horizon I saw two paths leading in totally separate directions, and walked heavily step by step towards them. I arrived at the crossroads, exhausted and tired and have to admit i sat there for quite a while deliberating on which path to take. It took so long to decide, both paths looked the same, and yet, one path was slightly steeper than the other. The logical side of me saw the easier path as a better bet, but, as many who know me logical thinking was never one of my strong points!!

So once again I took tentative steps up the much steeper path , not knowing where i was going, and certainly not knowing where I would end up, but one thing I did know was, I wanted to put a stop to the emptiness and loneliness I felt, I wanted to know as much about this mountain they called ” DEMENTIA ” as I could, its pitfalls, the way it worked, the many sides of the mountain face, some which are visible, some which are not, and expose the ones that are not. I wanted to know as much as possible, because if I was about to attempt to climb this mountain, right to the TOP and be victorious, I needed to know as much about it as possible!!

As I climbed this mountain called Dementia I soon realized there wasn’t that much information about the mountain, no signs telling me where to go, no maps with directions, and just around the other side I could see others like me, trying to climb the mountain but not getting very far because they had no idea where they were going either. Soon, I caught up with the others and asked then where they were going? 

Thing is, they weren’t to sure themselves, but soon after we found ourselves all climbing together, helping each other. Holding on tighter to each other and if one of us fell, or slipped backward, we started to make a human chain to make sure we didn’t lose anybody. Friendships were formed, relationships built, and a new way of climbing was formulated meaning we all started up a new path, not as quite steep as the other one but just as long for some of us. Before long I had forgotten about the friends I had lost at the beginning of my climb and marveled in the new friendships I had made. There were still times when I felt like giving up and sliding back down the mountain to the bottom as we lost some friends along the way, the Mountain called Dementia, took its toll on some and they paid the ultimate price.

After a while, we found that there were new medicines in the fields on the way up and it made us think a little clearer , act a little better, walk a little steadier, but the thing is, we didn’t know if it would help us reach that all elusive top of the mountain !!! we would all sit there, around the camp fire at night, devising better ways to make our Journey up the mountain easier, and how to make it easier for others, talking, communicating and best of all , working together to make sure as many of us survived as possible. Then, one day BASE CAMP was in sight.

We pushed and pushed harder and harder, finding new paths and new ways to help each other, yes, there were many obstacles in our way, we had rock falls, and times when we got on each other’s nerves but together we were strong, together we marched up this mountain quicker, until that wonderful day we reached base camp. Once there we were greeted by others, friends and family members who we thought had disappeared, apparently the family members were there all the time, tracking us slowly, making sure we didn’t fall backwards or back down the mountain, we just couldn’t see them.

It’s taken a while to reach Base camp, and I have lost so many friends along the way because of the Mountain they call “Dementia” but so many have made it this far with me, so many have survived the climb so far, and I believe this is because we have climbed this Mountain TOGETHER. Who knows? Maybe someone was filming this as we climbed, and maybe, one day, in the not too distant future, people will be able to watch the climb so far, that would be good wouldn’t it??

But until then, very soon we will set off from base camp and continue the climb, the top still looks such a long way off, but who knows what we can achieve if we all climb together, if we all climb this.

“MOUNTAIN THEY CALL DEMENTIA.”

The Truth Behind 'Old People Smell'

By Dr. Charlene Brannon

 

Many people are familiar with it: the grassy or greasy odor that permeates elder care facilities, grandparents' homes and other similar places. Commonly referred to as "old people smell," this odor is called "Nonenal," and it is widely misunderstood in the United States. 

According to a study published by the "Journal of Investigative Dermatology" in 2011, an increase of Nonenal is associated with aging. Found frequently in subjects aged 40 and older, but not in those under 40 years of age, Nonenal was the only body odor component with a significant change in the detection frequency with older subjects. 

Despite these findings, many people think that Nonenal is the result of poor bathing habits. Others believe that the smell, which is difficult to detect on oneself but lingers on pillowcases, shirt collars and other such fabrics, is completely impossible to combat. However, neither of these assumptions has any basis in fact; it is time to illuminate the truth about Nonenal. 

What causes old people smell?

Nonenal production is a natural by-product of the aging process. Caused by the deterioration of the skin's antioxidant defenses, Nonenal production usually begins around age 40 in both men and women, and may be exacerbated by hormonal changes such as menopause. 

As the skin grows weaker, its natural oils become oxidized more quickly; this is caused by fatty acids, which are secreted by the sebaceous glands and react to the oxygen in the air to form Nonenal. Because it isn't water soluble, Nonenal can remain on the skin despite washing, even remaining after intense scrubbing. Therefore, the smell caused by Nonenal persists, even in extremely clean environments. 

How do you get rid of old people smell?

Reducing Nonenal odor can be accomplished by following a healthy lifestyle: exercising regularly, avoiding stress, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, eating a clean diet and getting enough rest. 

Certain ingredients can also help combat Nonenal, such as persimmon extract and Japanese green tea. Conventional soaps in the U.S. use deodorants to eliminate odors such as ammonia (caused by urine), trimethylamine and sulfide oxygen (caused by feces and urine), acetic acid (caused by sweat) and isovaleric acid (caused by feet). However, due to lack of understanding about aging odor in the United States, brands have yet to incorporate ingredients to address this issue. 

The truth about "old people smell" is: it's a natural part of the aging process, and no one experiencing it should feel ashamed. 

Instead, we should continue to promote dialogue about it, and ensure that anyone dealing with Nonenal is equipped with the information they need to adopt healthy habits and care for their skin effectively. Then "old people smell" can, and will, be a thing of the past.

---

Dr. Charlene Brannon is the Product Development Manager for Mirai Clinical, a company devoted to developing ground-breaking, naturally safe body and skin care products. Dr. Brannon was a tenured professor at the University of Washington for 25 years, before joining the Mirai Clinical team.

10 Scams Targeting Seniors and Tips to Protect Your Loved One

  Posted by Dreu Adams on Oct 9, 2014 4:30:00 PM

Elderly adults who live alone may be targeted by scams attempting to gain access to their finances. Elder financial exploitation becomes even more common if they are experiencing the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. If you are caring for an elderly adult, at some point you may find that your loved one is the victim of financial mistreatment. In fact, financial abuse happens to about one in nine elderly adults. Sadly, only about one in 44 cases is ever brought to authorities. Since nearly 90% of abusers are caregivers or family members, you may find yourself in a tough personal position while doing what is best for your loved one. As a caregiver, it is important to be aware of some of the financial scams that can occur and some ideas to keep your loved one safe.

• Healthcare/Medicare/Health Insurance Fraud- These scams can be perpetrated by healthcare professionals as well as others. It is important not to give a medical provider complete authorization to bill for services without review or understanding. Tell your loved one to keep his or her Medicare number safe and treat it as a social security number. Always have your loved one or yourself review billing statements to be sure they are correct.
• Funeral and Cemetery Scams- If your loved one is interested in making some advanced arrangements, he or she may visit funeral homes or cemeteries and end up making expensive purchases. It is easy for a funeral home to inflate prices or use the emotional vulnerability of the topic to encourage an elderly customer to spend unwisely. It is a good idea to accompany your loved one on trips to funeral homes and to discuss purchases before they are made. Typically, funeral homes are required to have a price list available so the cost of each item is visible. Also, you may want to sit down with your loved one before these trips and make a list or an outline of required items and services to avoid being pressured into extra spending.

• Counterfeit Prescription Drugs- Most commonly, this internet scam occurs when an elderly person goes online to look for “bargains” on drugs. In turn, the drugs received may not be what they were advertised to be and actually may be harmful. Make sure to research any online pharmacy before purchasing drugs through it.

• Telemarketing Scams - These scams will occur mainly via phone and will pressure your loved one to send money or give out financial information like a bank account number or credit card. Remind your loved one not to give out financial information over the phone and not to send money to unfamiliar people or places. As a safeguard, you may want to keep financial information such as credit cards and social security cards in a secure location in case your loved one becomes confused and forgets your advice. It is also a good idea to ask for written information about any charity or business that calls, like the specific location and/or business license number. Review additional tips for avoiding telemarketing fraud from the FBI.

• Fraudulent Anti-Aging Products- This scam will make unfounded promises to seniors about the abilities of anti-aging beauty products. Usually, these beauty products will be quite expensive and the buyer will almost always be encouraged to buy more than one product. Have your loved one take some time before purchasing anything that seems to have too many unrealistic qualities. Ask for the product name and offer to do a bit of research about it before your loved one decides to purchase. Many times, this is how you or your loved one can find out if the product was just a scam.

• Homeowner/Reverse Mortgage Scams- With this scam, your loved one may be told that money is owed or a large portion of his or her mortgage can be paid off. Or, there may be pressure to take out a large reverse mortgage. If you are concerned your loved one may be vulnerable to this type of trickery, encourage him or her to write down important information in any meeting and not to agree to anything until you have gone over information together to be sure it is not a scam. It is also a very good idea to remind your loved one never to give out any important financial information over the phone such as credit card numbers or social security number.
• Internet Fraud- If your loved one has access to a computer and the internet, it is likely that he or she will encounter an internet scam; common internet scams include an email that seems to be from a friend that is requesting money or a supposed business offering to sell something at an inflated rate. Remind your loved one to purchase items through reliable sources. You can also give the advice to give money to friends in person or as a check in the mail to a known address.

• Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams- These scams typically arrive in the mail and encourage recipients to either mail back money to enter or tells the recipient that he or she has already won and just needs to mail in money to cover the tax or other fees in order to redeem. It is important that you educate your loved one that these types of ploys exist before it is too late. If early dementia or Alzheimer's prohibit understanding, you may want to think about taking more control of the mail your loved one receives by forwarding the mail to a P.O. box and sorting through the junk mail before returning the rest.
• Investment Schemes- In investment schemes, elderly victims will usually invest in an unlicensed or fake business - typically a pyramid scheme. People are hooked by promises of large financial returns after a certain period of time. If these promises seem too good to be true, they probably are.

• The Grandparent Scam- In this scenario, the elderly victim is called and told that a grandchild has gone to jail and needs money to be bailed out. Have your loved one ask to speak to the grandchild if such a call is received and request relevant information such as the caller’s name and address. You also may want to remind your loved one that in the event of a grandchild’s arrest, the grandchild would place his or her own phone call.

While it is unfortunate that there are people who take advantage of seniors in our communities, it is important that caregivers are ready and prepared to help loved ones be careful and avoid scams. The scenarios above are some of the more “typical” scams, but there are many creative crooks out there – use common sense to help guide you and your loved one.

What is In-Home Care?

In-Home Care Options and How They Help

By Barbara Kate Repa, Caring.com Senior Editor 

What it does
In-home care is the term that broadly defines the various types of care and services delivered by individuals or agencies to those with mobility limitations or other frailties that make it difficult for them to leave home.
In-home care generally includes help from the following:

• Elder companions, who primarily provide friendly companionship and supervision
• Personal care assistants, who help with some chores and daily grooming
• Live-in care providers, who ensure a constant monitoring presence

How it helps
In whatever capacity the extra care is needed -- from periodic social visits to help with daily medication management to around-the-clock monitoring -- in-home care can help accomplish the goal of allowing a person to stay at home rather than move to a facility. For many people, staying at home among their possessions and in a familiar community is a primal urge and plays a big role in assuring a good quality of life.

What it costs
In-home care ranges in cost from free help from volunteers who provide assistance with visits and chores to live-in care that can run several thousand dollars or more a month for constant monitoring.