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Show a, xasw uu Sunday, uctoDer -- 90's disease Alzheimer's Centers fill unique needs By LISA PERUVIAN Associated Press Writer GRAND RAProS, Mich. (AP) Every so often, aides at the Alzheimer's Center of Western Michigan replace the snapshots that hang next to the doorway of each bedroom, gentle reminders to help guide residents. Instead of substituting updated portraits, the aides tack up photo- graphs portraying the graying men and women in their youth. It is a clear sign of the devastating effects of the disease, which first steals its victim's short-ter- memory. m "They remember themselves not as they are, but as they were," administrator Lynne Byls-m- a said. She stands in front of a room whose occupant is identified by a photograph of himself as a handsome World War II soldier. It is the same symptom that wipes out knowledge of children Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Twen- ty years ago we hadn't heard of it. Today it's a household word. ''1' "What you want is a place that AD is a progressive degenerative Z , fFi" can be flexible that's not going disease that attacks the brain and to take a cookie-cuttresults in impaired memory, thinkapproach," -. said Deborah Beitler, director of ing, and behavior. It affects apAmericans 4 state policy and chapter advocacy million proximately of the Chicago-base- d Alzheimer's and is the fourth leading cause of Association. death in adults in the U.S. In Utah, But as more facilities advertise AD affects more than 25,000 people. ' as Alzheimer specialists, patient It is estimated that by the year 2000 the number of victims will advocates worry about potential abuses. have increased to between 8 and 10 million. This growth potential has Nobody knows how many such homes exist because there are no labelled AD "The Disease of the Century." licensing standards governing AD usually has a gradual onset them, as there are with nursing with symptoms often lasting ten, homes, according to the Alzhefifteen or even twenty years before imer's Association. death. Problems remembering re"Pretty much anyone can put cent events and difficulty performout a sign and call themselves an Alzheimer's center," said Ann ing familiar tasks are early symptoms. Steslicki, executive director of the MichiThe chance of developing the association's disease increases with age. People gan chapter. 60 years and older have a one in The Alzheimer's Center in ten chance of acquiring the disGrand Rapids is licensed by the ease. Those who are 85 years and state as an adult foster care older have a one in two chance. ' 1 . Nevertheless, AD can affect young, V, Oh Vv.iHliV er people as well. Dr. Alois Alzheimer (for whom the disease was named) researched AD and identified the disease in a 27 year-ol- d looking woman. Early onset AD (that I which affects people 60 years or younger) is not uncommon and has a genetic link. disAD is a AP Laserphoto home. That means it can operate ease which robs an individual of without skilled nursing personnel the ability to think, reason, rememGrace Niles, a resident of the Alzheimer's Center of Western Michigan, uses a photograph but cannot treat patients requirber, or function in a normal manoutside of her room to help find her way back to it. The photos are periodically replaced ing extensive medical care. ner. It does not affect one gender short-termemories. Sufferers of the disease, most of with younger versions of the residents as they lose their more than another. It does not whom are over 65, sometimes of and amount stress tremendous and appear in one race or es the hand pants. on is ical nurse during linger for decades as the disease Beia into said population more than anothchild," is "She turning particularly vulnerable," There are memory therapy progresses from forgetfulness to day. to er. tler of the Alzheimer's AssociaLeitz acknowledges. "It's hard sessions, daily exercise routines loss of speech and bodily funcWith the progression of the disthink of the day when I'll walk in tion. "There definitely is that fear and field 4 trips. million An estimated tions. the victim's need for assistease me." on the consumers' part and it's and she won't recognize Americans have Alzheimer's. Studies are under way to deterance increases, eventually rendera one." justified A private room at the center Until an accreditation system is mine whether such activities help for ing the person completely Janet Lewis, a supervisor costs $2,500 a month. Insurance created for Alzheimer's homes, to delay the most crippling stages of Sothe dependent. Most often it is a Department Michigan the Alzheimer's Association urges of the disease. rarely pays for such long-terspouse or relative who tends to this adult foster care cial Services' caution for families seeking care care. per day task. said the said very difficult Kentwood of departLeitz division, licensing Shirley The modern, for a relative with the disease. building than 75 more of the In addition, in ment limited is her policing group retire- she's impressed with the care is part of a association The on the guidance provides billion dollars spent being homes because the department mother receives but is ment village. to consumers about what to look has no Alzheimer's 80 each AD of victims care year, of the benefits experts. 'nsure about the There is a fenced-i- n yard with a for. is cost carried of by that percent "As long as they don't advertise Halized program. concrete path, and buzzers on the famihes themselves. homes nursing care, they can call themWhile adult foster-car- e so much more is 'This place alert outside each door leading What are the causes? Is there a she low supervision selves whatever like," the in have they relatively yard," than fencing having nurse's aides as residents come Worldwide there are many cure? vilretirement said. that "I they standards, many Leitz said. appreciate and go. research centers homes more citizen projects attempting to to do as much as Meanwhile, nursing lages and senior Pale carpeting in the spacious encourage her solve the mystery of AD. Accordhave all or beds at aside once not are because are adding herself that regulated setting can she by dining room is circled by a bright ing to reserachers at Massachu also begun advertising as Alzheunlearned she won't wings designed for Alzheimer's red border, which residents are something is setts General Hospital, the best . officials imer's say. patients. it units, ever learn again." encouraged to walk to relieve answer is that "...there is no single out home some In Leitz 53,800 that 1987, "We know people nursing color-code- d However, sometimes when anxiety. The halls are cause ..." for this terrible illness, there are going to be primarily beds, or 3.3 percent of the nationvisits, she finds her mother wearto help residents find their way. but progress is being made. To will set 1.6 and of were wide total motivated prey of million, her regular by profit ing r ajamas on top Staffing ratios are five residents a date, an absolute diagnosis can aside for Alzheimer's patients. on families who are under - clothes or several layers of blous per nurse's aide. A licensed practonly be made upon examination of brain tissue, usually at autopsy. There are no known cures or preventative measures. Families can help victims by learing all about the disease, by providing quality of life through the use of activities and good wan from to them deterrent keep ratios. Have staff members been owners. health care, and by being actively Full-tim- e According to the group, relatives Alaway? dering supervision work to with Medical care. If the patient is specially trained should review the facility's reputainvolved with their local chapter of recommended. is in the later stages of the disease or zheimer's residents? A staff ratio Alzheimer's Association. the tion in the community and inspect nutrition. Recreation, therapy, of four or five patients to one staff in need of extensive medical treatthe following: ? Are there programs ment, does the facility have skilled member is usually sufficient. Licensing. What sort of license Safety. Are residents allowed what and the nursing personnel? Are medical does facility have, outside by themselves? If so, 24 to hours? call on go personnel are the state standards for that? is there fencing or some sort of Staff training, the out about find to facility's Try tf"""1-"-"1- er M west-centr- childhood memories intact. "It's like a living death," Byls-m- a said. "Sometimes, we have to remove the mirrors in their rooms because they no longer recognize the person looking back at them and it's upsetting to them." The center, which opened in April and accommodates 20 residents, represents a trend in facilities that advertise as being designed for Alzheimer's patients. Many experts say traditional nursing homes, often plagued by space and staff shortages, are inappropriate for Alzheimer's patients, especially those who are physically fit. The memory loss is accompanied by increased irritability and a tendency to wander. There have been accusations of Alzheimer's patients being strapped down or It is widely believed that such over-sedate- d. patients fare better in more intimate, homelike settings with specially trained staffs, safety precautions and more individual attention. fib al ' "Sometimes, we have to remove the mirrors in their rooms because they no back longer recognize the person at them and it's upsetting to them.' and grandchildren, but leaves faee nALD, Wovo, Ulan, lT'fWffci'r f v"!l m socio-econom- m ur one-sto- ry tree-shad- ed Choose the facility specif icaSSy for Alzheimer's By The Associated Press When choosing a facility for an a nursing Alzheimer's patient officials home or a group home with the Alzheimer's Association recommend that you call a local chapter or your community's agen cy on aging for specific guidelines. staff-to-patie- nt Church magazine gives ideas for monitoring television Is television a terrible influence on your family? "It doesn't have to be, if you learn to manage television viewing habits," says an article written by Jeanene R. Flake in the October 1990 Ensign, a monthly publication of The Church of Jesus Saints. Christ of Latter-da- y 1. Practice selective viewing. Avoid turning on the set just to see what's on. Have program choices in mind before you sit down to watch. Consult a television schedule and reviews that can help you assess the nature and content of a program. When the program is over, turn the set off. 2. limit the amount of time your family spends watching television. For one week, chart how much time each family member spends watching TV and how much each nerson SDends on other activities. Then, as a family, analyze the results. Discuss your concerns and the possible need for changes. During this time specify how much time per day you will watch as well as times when the family before may not turn on the set breakfast, before homework, or on weeknights, for example. Help each child develop a list of activities to do instead of watching TV. 3. Turn off the TV when pro- grams are objectionable. Teach your children to distinguish between what you consider to be appropriate and inappropriate programs. If a show is objectionable, turn it off, then discuss with your children why the TV was turned with your children. Many people tliink of TV only as an entertainment medium something with not which to relax or escape something to think about. But research reveals that instructing children while they are watching TV has a great effect, particularly between the ages of six and twelve. Questions asked and answered during programs have a greater impact on them than questions discussed before or after. 5. Help children learn critical viewing skills. Use TV as an educational tool. You might teach them, for example, to explore the range of possible alternatives to conflict. Discuss problems, possible actions, and the consequences of actions, then which would be the best solution, and why. 6. Discuss values. TV explores all types of subjects. Discuss the actions of characters, or the program's subject. This helps you find out how your children feel about certain issues, and gives you a chance to teach them values. 7. Combat violence. Encourage children to watch programs in which characters help and care for each other. Studies have shown that this type of program influences children positively. FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Watch and discuss programs J A-- hl NaturalSport's off. 4. START DECORATING NOW $ new ActiveWear X 4 Collection llntroducing Triloba! 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