Sunday, October 26, 2008

Good Afternoon on this beautiful Sunday from Phoenix, Ax.,
Just a couple of reminders in the Phoenix, area. The Morbid Manor Charity Haunted House - Oct. 29 to 31 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at 5755 N 51st Ave in Glendale. Also from Alzheimer's Association the Memory Walk on Nov. 1st at the Wesley Bolin Plaza at 7:30 am.

I will be at The South Mountain/Laveen Village's Festival Inc. & Wal Mart 37th Annual Community Craft, Health, Safety and Information Fair. It is Saturday, November 1 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Parade staging will be at 305 E. Baseline Road at 8am.

If you check out Alzheimer's Weekly: the thought of the week states:
God did not create us to see through each other, but to see each other through.

Hope you have a great week.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An Imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs.
www.mariefostino.com

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Here is a little bit from my book: December 15, 2002

Just got back from running 3 miles. I had no idea how stiff my legs got from living in the hospital last week. Even thought I was working and kickboxing, I sat around more than usual. I woke up with aches on the right side of my body including my shoulder, arm, and leg. now I think it must be from using the belt I put around Dad's waist to help him walk. I didn't know I used so much muscle to do this.
Now we have a monitor in Dad's room so we can hear him get up or move around. I heard him get up and ran into his room. I put on his pants and shoes for him, while he cried, because he insists that he can do this himself.
I was told that Dad is not to lean down until his hip heals. Now he's telling me that there is a cut on the side of his hip and points it out. He keeps taking off the dressing and I keep putting it back on. I make him repeat after me, "My hip has to heal. My hip has to heal."
He has no clue that he was in the hospital last week, so I haven't taken off his white bracelets yet. This way I can prove to him that he was in the hospital and that is why his hip has to heal.
Now he wants to get up and I tell him he has to use his walker. Like a stubborn child, he puts his hands on his hips, and asks why. I repeat everything about his new hip and the doctor's orders. Then, surprisingly, he gets up, picks up the walker and walks pretty steadily down the hall. He is picking up the walker instead of rolling it and we pass the belt that I've been using to help him walk. He asks me, "What is this?"
I can't believe how well he is using the walker. Then he gets into his favorite chair and puts his hand on his head. He gets a very sad look and asks, "Where is my hair?"
Now this is bad. We can't find it. Dad is bald and wears a wig. Now Jimmy and Gina and I are searching the house for it and finally find it with his necklace and his rings. His eyes sparkled as he put on his wig, necklace and rings. I had to leave and cry some joyful tears to see him so happy.

Hope you enjoyed this entry.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press an imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs.
www.mariefostino.com

Sunday, October 19, 2008

The thought of the week from Alzheimer's Weekly,

Remember there is no such thing as a small act of kindness.
Every act creats a ripple with no logical end.
Scott Adams!

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs
www.mariefostino.com

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Good Evening,
On page 53 of my book I have it titled 'SAD THINGS ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S'

He sits in a chair, confused, not sure what he is suppose to do.

When you come into a room, he says "Hi" just as though this is the first time he's ever seen you

Sometimes he pretends that he knows you but you know it's an act...

He takes the phone and calls the same number over and over again.

He writes a phone number on a sheet of paper over and over again.

He is forever asking, "When can he go home?"

He forgets how to dial the phone.

He can no longer do simple tasks he's done all his life like make coffee.

He doesn't know or recognize relatives.

He can still tell time, but gets a.m. and p.m. mixed up.

He still thinks he has a regular job.

He wants to know when he gets paid and when he can clock off for the night.

He repeats himself over and over again.

When you think he finally understands something, five minutes later you must start all over again.

He often wants to argue and refuses to listen.

Today was a hard day, as I was at the Memory Walk in the West Vally in Sun City, Az. As I listened to the entertainment and had the sign around my neck about the one I was walking for I couldn't help but cry. It is funny how you can put some feelings away for a while, hoping that the pain is gone. But when it is quiet and you think about the past, the pain comes back. I truly miss my father in law. Not the last two years as much as the man he was before the disease took him from me. It is a wonderful feeling that there is people out there fighting to get rid of this terrible disease. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An imprint of J. A. Rock & co., Pubs
www.mariefostino.com


Friday, October 17, 2008

Hello everyone,
What wonderful weather we have been having here in Phoenix, Az. And what wonderful weather to have a memory walk. Just want to remind you, that Saturday, October 18, 2008 is the West Vally Memory Walk, here in Phoenix. It is at the Beardsley Recreation Center. If you haven't registered to walk you can still do it Saturday morning. It is sponsored by Alzheimer's Association to help end Alzheimer's Disease.

Up coming events also to raise money for Alzheimer's in Phoenix:

Morbid Manor Charity Haunted House - Oct 29 to 31 - 6:30 to 9:30 pm
5755 N 51st Ave in Glendale

Memory Walk - November 1, 2008 Phoenix, Wesley Bolin Plaza 7:30 am

Maybe I will see you Saturday at the Memory Walk
Till Next Time,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press an imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs
www.mariefostino.com

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Going through the Alzheimer sites today, I read a wonderful saying. 'You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you'. by John Wooden. I read this on Alzheimer'sWeekly.com And isn't it the truth!!! So remember 'Be An Angle and do random acts of kindness.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press an imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs
www.mariefostino.com

Friday, October 10, 2008

Hey Everyone,
Here is the deal. There are two Alzheimer's Association Memory Walks coming up in the Phoenix area. One is at Sun City West 10-18-08 Berdsley Recreation Center. The Second one in Phoenix 11-1-08 Wesley Bolin Plaza. Please contact the Desert Southwest Chapter Office for more information. There address is 1028 E McDowell Rd. Phoenix, Az 85006--Phone # 602-528-0546.

Also The South Mountain/Laveen Village's Festival Inc & Wal Mart Proudly Presents the 37th, Annual South Mountain/Laveen Village Community Craft, Health, Safety and Information Fair. "It Takes a Village" Saturday, November 1st, 2008 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. I will be there with my books.

Hope all is well. Talk to you soon.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press An imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs.
www.mariefostino.com

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Good afternoon,
We seem to forget so easily how lucky we have it. I just had a patient who is only 26 yrs old and was shot in the back and is a quad. He breaths by a ventilator, with a trachea, and his arms and legs are contracted. Just remember that whether you are taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's or a disability, that to the world you may be but one person but to one person you may be the world. May God Bless You.
Hope that if you are dealing with a family member with Alzheimer's that you are going to a support group for a little extra help. Remember that you are not alone. If you read my book, I would love to get some feed back on what you thought. There is some activities coming up for the awareness of Alzheimer's. It is the Alzheimer's Memory Walk.
In Sun City West - 10-18-08- Berdsley Recreation Center and Phoenix - 11-01-08 - Wesley Bolin Plaza. If you go on Alzheimer's Association you can read more information. Or call Desert Southwest Chapter Office. 602-528-0545.
Have a great day. Talk to you soon.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Press an imprint of James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
www.mariefostino.com

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Good Morning,
I want to thank every one who has gotten my book, Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal. I hope that it has helped you out, with an understanding of what to expect. Thank you also to the ones who put reviews on the different sites, like Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble.com. This is such a good way for others to see what your input was on the book and how it helped you. I hope you understand Alzheimer's cannot be cured by putting your loved on at a mental health treatment program. That they have no control of what is happening to them. There brain is just shorting out. There is a lot of information on Alzheimer's out there, and Alzheimer's Care Centers. If you get diagnosed early there is medicine to help slow the process. It takes a lot of love, devotion and faith to care for your loved one with this disease. I took care of dad at home. I did use Alzheimer Care Facilities if we did go out of town for a little respite time. Alzheimer's Association and Alzheimer's Society are two good websites to look for on line for some great information. I miss my father in law. But I miss the old father in law before Alzheimer's took over his brain. I love to go through my pictures of the happy times we had growing up with him. And I keep his memory alive with those times, not the last couple of years. My heart goes out to you. I know you miss your loved one. Just remember that when they get mad at you, or don't have any idea who you are, it is not them. Show them you love them and hang on to the good memories.
Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
Seaboard Presss An imprint of James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
www.mariefostion.com

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Good day everyone,
What a wonderful day that was given from God today. Hope this finds you smiling. Sitting here jamming to the oldies. Have you noticed that while you have your loved one with
Alzheimer's around, a lot of family members and friends sort of are to busy to come around. Don't be upset with them. It is hard for them to see your family member that way. They want to keep the old memories. The comfortable memories. There is no pain that way. They don't realize that you really need them right now.

Hope you are taking advantage of the great sites on the Internet. Like Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Weekly, The Caregivers Voice, Our Alzheimer's.com, Alzheimer's Society, and ADEAR.

Well let's celebrate another day of living. Let's celebrate another day of LIFE!!

Sincerely,
Marie Fostino
Alzheimer's A Caretakers Journal
By Seaboard Press an imprint of J. A. Rock & Co., Pubs.
www.mariefostino.com