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Show www.thespectrum.com — The Spectrum DISEASE e Continued from pg. 8 ST. GEORGE Alzheimer’s disease is being well cared for. Begin to plan for the future. This may include getting financial and legal doc- based on their own experiences. Online support uments in order, investigatgroups make it possible for ing long-term care options, caregivers to receive supand determining what serport without having to leave vices are covered by health home. insurance and Medicare. Study your day to see if _ One of the hardest things you can develop a routine aloved one with Alzheimer's that makes things go more might not be able to handle smoothly. If there are times very well is not being able of day when your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is to drive any longer. Here is a test you can take or ask less confused or more coop- . yourself. erative, plan your routine Is_ the person with to make the most of those Alzheimer’s safe when you moments. Keep in mind are riding with them? Do that the way the person they see all road signs, traffunctions may change from day to day, so try to be flex- fic lights, etc? Are their ible and adapt your routine © reflexes normal or slower than it used to be? as needed. . Consider using adult Alzheimer’s & Driving day care or respite servicMaking the decision that es to ease the day-to-day demands of caregiving. a loved one with Alzheimer’s These services allow you to disease is no longer safe to drive is difficult, and it have a break while knowing that the person with needs to be communicated _ Family life. NEIGHBORHOODS carefully and_ sensitively. Even though the person may be upset by the loss of independence, safety. must be a priority. WARNING! This is one of the most difficult and painful things you will have to do. Driving represents freedom and independence. It is horrible to take these rights away from someone. Even more so if you have depended on the person to be in the drivers seat when you are with him or her. Here are some helpful tips to approach the problem: Look for clues that safe driving is no longer possible, including getting lost in familiar places, driving too fast or too slow, disregarding traffic signs, or getting angry or confused. _ Be sensitive to the person's feelings about losing the ability to drive, but be firm in your request that he or she no longer do so. Be consistent — don't allow the person to drive on “good days” but forbid it on “bad days.” Ask the doctor to help. The person may view the doctor as an “authority” and be willing to stop driving. The doctor also can contact the Department of Motor Vehicles and request that the person be re-evaluated. If necessary, take the car keys. If just having keys is important to the person, substitute a different set of eys. If all else fails, disable the car or move it to a location where the person cannot see it or gain access to it. For a list of originations or local support groups you can contact: Jahshua Edwards Community Sales Manager of Emerald Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care Community; (435) 867-0055 or 955 S. Regency Road, Cedar City 84720. For the week of November 28, 2008 COOK | e Continued from pg. 8 — 17 of Business Administration at Dixie State College. He hopes to become an accoun- tant. will teach the eight weeks Shirley Watts, head of the of basic cooking and nutrition. David Vaught will start Disability Resource Center at Dixie State, said, “Rulon the course off by teaching is newly deaf and working a hands-on class on howvery attentively at compento plant an herb garden. sating for this setback. [He] Participants will learn how is a very strong candidate to harvest and use these to receive this scholarship’ herbs in cooking towards He and his family have been the end of the course. Starting in March, Ceil diligently learning American Sign Language since h Stevenson, Red Rock Center's Older Blind Specialist, will became deaf. Andrew said, “I am deaf, offer Emergency Preparedness classes for people with but so far it has not been a problem in my education disabilities. 2 and it doesn't seem like it Stevenson said, “consumever will be” - ers will also learn how to put Linda Lohrengal, a fortogether and manage a 72hour kit. And students will mer Red Rock Center board member, and the new board be given the chance to order an item to put in their kit: created a small scholarship of $300 that the winning stuevery week” dent can use for anything As part of the expansion needed. This year, through celebration Red Rock Center generous community donafor Independence pretions, that scholarship has sented a $500 scholarship to Rulon Andrew, a student risen to $500. Simplified. We know how challenging it can be to keep a family organized. There are calendars, activity schedules, shopping ~ and to-do lists, and a million other things. That’s why we created Cozi—the new way busy families stay organized. And unlike the bulletin board, Cozi works with any computer or mobile phone, so you can use it anywhere. Farnily life. Simplified. |