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Alzheimer's - Dementia
It doesn't look like a communicable disease, but it's one frequent illness that is getting more frequent!
The Baycrest Center in Toronto has found that bilingual people generally postpone the onset of Alzheimer's by a number of years! Great. Let's be part of this benefit. Since you're reading this, you too can learn something new--another way to postpone Alzheimer's. Every day we can wrestle and beat this brain scourge, the better!
Just bear with the following thought processes:
Bible syllables for the transliteration of the English name Dementia:
DE - De-mas; De-metrius;
MEN- MENe-MENe;
TI > SHI/SHE sound of - SHE-ba;
A - A-dam; A-pollo
Please find references yourself if you need this.
"Stengthen that which is at the point of death." Revelation 3:2
Osnaži malo onih što su ti preostali jer tek što ne umru. - Croatian
Stärke das, was sterben will. - German
Rafferma il resto delle cose che stanno per morire. - Italian
Reanima os que restam, e que estão a ponto de morrer. - Portuguese
Yes, strengthen - the brain cells that are being strangled!
I can't remember really seeing the rest of the verse much before:
Wake up ....
for I have NOT found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
- Probudi se! ...
Djela ti nisu dobra u Božjim očima. - Croatian
- Wach auf ...
denn ich habe deine Werke NICHT völlig erfunden vor Gott. - German
- Sii vigilante ...
perché non ho trovato le tue opere compiute davanti al mio Dio. - Italian
- Portanto desperta! ...
Porque as tuas obras não satisfazem a exigência do meu Deus. - Portuguese
So don't doze or sleep away the day, only to doze or sundown at night.
Let's know the difference between a "power nap" and unhealthy sleeping.
Find the purpose that will complete what God wants from you and your charges before passing to glory.
Wake up physically, in mind and spiritually.
There was a story in Guideposts or the Billy Graham magazine of a woman confined to a bed in a nursing home. She prayed for her roommates and made it her purpose to get help when needed for them. (Relieving thirst, hunger, pain, boredom...she did it to the least...she found her purpose for that time and place.)
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People with Dementia need an advocate, a counsellor to say and do what is necessary. The best counsellor and advocate is Jesus Christ who can shine through in us. That includes supporting any spark of knowledge, wit and safe independence. It is reassuring to hear in social settings:
I will always remind you (2,2+) of these things. - 2 Peter 1:12
Je ne cesserai de vous rappeler ces choses. - French
Ich will euch immer wieder an all dies erinnern. - German
Non tralascerò di ricordarvi del continuo queste cose. - Italian
(like medications, appointments, the time of your favorite activities ...)
I think it is right to refresh your (2,2+) memory 2 Peter 1:13
J''estime juste de vous tenir en éveil par mes rappels. - French
Ich halte es für meine Pflicht, euch immer wieder daran zu erinnern. - German
Saro qui sento il dovere di tenervi svegli con questi ricordi. - Italian
(like knowledge known before, like memories of great life events ...)
I will make every effort to see that (after my departure) you (2,2+) will always be able to remember these things. - 2 Peter 1:15
Chci k tomu využít každou příležitost (, a proto vám píši,) abyste se mohli k mým radám vracet i po mé smrti. - Czech
Je prendrai grand soin que (, même après mon départ,) vous vous rappeliez toujours ces choses. - French
Ich sorge dafür, dass ihr euch das alles (auch nach meinem Tod) in Erinnerung rufen könnt.
Ma farò in modo che (, anche dopo la mia dipartita,) voi possiate sempre ricordarvi di queste cose. - Italian
(like making lists, keeping a calendar, making an album of favorite foods or an album of routine activities ...)
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Making a choice becomes harder with Alzheimer's.
Making choices engages the brain.
It isn't good to say, "I'll choose what you think," because all responsiblility for self is given away needlessly.
If you agree, it's much better to say, "I thought about it, I'll choose what you think because ____."
The "What is it you want?" question among all the choices available on earth becomes:
What is it you want? A or B (a choice backed up by using many senses)
example: Jacket A and B are presented to hear the words, to see and to touch the items for the choice.
What is it you want? (check intensity of translation)
- 1 Kings 1:16 (woman speaking to a man);
- Nehemiah 2:4 (man speaking to man)
Que désires-tu? - French (neutral translation)
Kisa ou vle? - Haitian
Che (cosa) vuoi? - Italian
¿Qué quieres? - Spanish (neutral translation)
The translations OFTEN feature the frustration of caregivers!
They do use much stronger wordings like:
- What do you demand?
or more general:
- What's the matter with you?
Just check what the translations mean with the reaction you get. If it's important, use a "sweet" voice and learn the best translation by asking those in the know.
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When living with dementia, the follwing MANNA question that we all get every day, becomes harder to answer!
What is it? - Exodus 16:15
Hvad er det? - Danish
Qu'est-ce que c'est? - French
Was ist das? - German
Sa sa ye sa? - Haitian
Che cos'è? - Italian
что это? - Russian
¿Qué es esto? - Spanish
Cái chi vậy? - Vietnamese
Retrieval of known words becomes harder. A pen may be described as "a writing thing" or "you know, it's pointed".
This universal question of Adam and toddlers becomes MOST important.
Just pointing and getting served is not enough in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
What do they say? Use it or loose it!
We remember best when there is emotional content:
Here is the wording for an item made/given with love.
From the same verse - Exodus 16:15:
It is the
a)_____(name the thing)
b)_____(name the person) has given you
(to c)_____/eat/action purpose).
Dies ist a)_____, das euch b)____ zur/zum c)_____ gegeben hat. - German
Yes...someone loves "you", even if you are a forgetter.
Names and knowledge of close people can escape the forgetter.
We may be asked:
Or we may ask the forgetter:
Who are you? Acts 22:8 (18 refs in OT/NT)
Tko si ti? - Croatian
Qui es-tu? - French
Wer bist du? - German
Sin-0 ikaw? - Hiligaynon
Hver ert þú? - Icelandic
Chi sei? - Italian
Cine esti? - Romanian
¿Quién eres? - Spanish
Wewe ni nani? - Swahili
Sino ka? - Tagalog
The answer may be an exploratory question as the answers may vary from day to day:
Who do you (2,2+) think I am? - Acts 13:25
Qui pensez-vous que je suis? - French
Ich bin nicht der, auf den ihr wartet. - German
>>Bin ich nicht der, auf den ihr wartet?
(Aren't I the one you are waiting for?)
Chi pensate voi che io sia? - Italian
¿Quién suponen ustedes que soy? - Spanish
The forgetter may even forget his or her idenity.
A simple answer instead of a philosophical one will suffice:
Who am I? - Exodus 3:11 (plus other refs)
Qui suis-je? - French
Wer bin ich? - German
Quem sou eu? - Portuguese
Кто я? - Russian
¿Quién soy yo? - Spanish
Tôi là ai? - Vietnamese
We can play games, especially in the early stages of dementia:
Riddle and Joke games: What is round and white and has a yellow ball in it?
Word games: such as Scrabble, Pictionary, Name that tune,...
Stragegy and Number games: Memory, Skip-bo, Yahtze, Malefiz, Chinese Checkers, Rummy games with tiles instead of cards for those who can't hold them efficiently, Old Maid, Go Fish ...
"Favorite", "Opinion" and "Personal" Games: What's your favorite ___/music/game/food/? ; The Proust Questionnaire; Using "Conversation Starters" at meals etc., Signing anything, like art work or gift cards for knowing self
Creative tasks: Making items that are useful and fun. Ex: Knitting for a bazar or family. (Keeps brain cells and fingers nimble), Choosing the color for a gift
Own creativity or "Following a set of instructions" with creativity.
We can fill blank books, with sayings written in beautiful penmanship, if this handwriting skill has been kept and is not lost yet.
We can encourage excercise and walking. Get that oxygen to the brain!! Vary the destinations. Have a goal for the walk, like picking up bread, buying a gift card etc.
When finishing some challenging activity we all want to hear PRAISE! What a wonderful way to flood the brain with contentment!
Some sensing children perceive the needs of Alzheimer's people quickly. If given the opportunity, many would LOVE to play these games in a compassionate way. Especially with favorite aunts, uncles or grandparents!
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Here are some famous words uttered by the apostle Paul regarding memory! "I don't remember."
We all have trouble remembering some things ... so it doesn't mean that Paul had Alzheimer's. Counter-indications for this diagnosis for him are that he was writing comprehensible books that are included in the Bible. He also made a point of being inclusive. He has one of the most extensive varied list of people in the Bible ... named in his letters. So I can deduce that this man probably remembered all the people he met by name, just like a salesman we know. Wow. S.B. remembered my nephew's name about 15 years after meeting him, even though he sports a different last name.
I don't remember. - 1 Corinthians 1:16
Ik kan me niet herinneren. - Dutch
Non so. - Italian
No recuerdo. - Spanish
I don't remember./(Beyond that I don't remember)
Ich weiß es nicht./(Weiter weiß ich nicht.)- German
Je ne (le) sais pas. - French
No so (se ...)/Don't know (if ...) - Italian
When we don't remember,
is it because a fact is not important to us?
Are our minds too cluttered?
Do we just grow older?
or
Don't we don't see our purpose?
Is there some other reason?
Here's one little game of caregivers ask of "forgetters":
I can't/don't remember the name of that ___/tree over there, can you? (reinforcing tapping any special knowledge)
The answer may come much later, but the "forgetter" has something to work on.
Let's change that horrible "I don't know" wording by taking out the NOT.
I remember./(Beyond that, I "know". aka I know what's next.)- adapted previous verse.
Ik kan me herinneren. - Dutch
Je (le) sais. - French
Ich weiß es./Ich weiß weiter! - German
So. - Italian
Recuerdo. - Spanish
Yes. EUREKA. The idea and the words are found "in my brain" after all.
There are coping strategies...memory books and tricks that can help us remember names, lists, etc.
Let's also pray about memories that are best forgotten, best with forgiveness. Like memories of abuse, war, major conflict or anything personally horrible ...
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We can pray as long as we are able, unless Alzheimer's progresses into the later stages:
In you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame.
- Psalm 25:2
- Mein Gott, auf dich vertraue ich:
laß mich nicht zu Schanden werden. - German
- En toi, mon Dieu, j'ai mis ma confiance.
Ne permets pas que je sois dans la honte. - French
- Mi Dios, en ti confío;
no permitas que sea yo humillado. - Spanish
We can fill in the blank with a NAME and pray:
In you I trust, O my God.
Do not let ____/my mother/my father/my friend etc.
be put to shame.
- adapted Psalm 25:2
There is a faith answer right in the next verse:
No one whose hope is in you/God
will EVER be put to shame. - Psalm 25:3
Auch werden alle, die auf dich/Gott hoffen,
nicht beschämt werden. - German
a) Tous ceux qui espèrent en toi/Dieu
ne seront point confondus. - French
b) Tous ceux qui espèrent en toi/Dieu
ne connaîtront jamais la honte. - French
Great. At least the "French" won't be shamed, confounded or confused! Ha! So there!
I think I'll apply to be honorary "French".
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Pray for better than management of Alzheimer's. Pray for a cure. Pray regarding research, such as at the Baycrest Center, Toronto. Pray against brain toxins. Pray about healthful food. Let's remember. Let's learn something new.
Thank God for the "nun" study.
"Wrestle" with God and pray:
Re: caregivers
Re: extra care and the cost, including community services
Re: medications and their cost
Re: salvation of people affected by Alzheimer's
Re: the cared for feeling of those with Alzheimer's
Re: end of life issues
Re: the Alzheimer demographic worldwide
As the geriatric doctor says:
You can do things NOW. You can do something about Alzheimer's now.
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Pray for those who have Alzheimer's. Pray for those who get this diagnosis.
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Let's search for the fragrance of LIFE in any of these situations. Let's laugh, find activities we all enjoy, and LIVE.
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Jesus loves us, yes, I know, for the Bible tells us so.
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In Memory of: Ted M., Auguste G. and Sofie M.
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