Hi,

I have been reading everything I can on Alzheimers since my Mom's disease has progressed and find I have more questions daily.

3 quick questions:

-My Mom keeps asking about our wonderful dog who died about 25 years ago. I don't think my Mom and Dad need the additional stress of a puppy and I have heard about therapy dogs (which I hear are different from service dogs). Any ideas on how these visiting pet programs work or how to access one in Northern NJ?

-I visit my folks 3-4 days a week (and like others, feel guilty when I am not there). Recently my Mom bursts into tears when I tell her that I have to go home after my 3 or 4 day visit. Dad (who I believe is still in denial) says she is "faking". She seems happy otherwise and I am thrilled that I can still make her laugh occassionally!

-I try to read information on clinical trials and potential new therapies. Anything promising news with aplhpalipoeic acid or is it just another antioxidant/free radical scavenger?

Thanks for any help or direction. The Alzheimers Organization has truly been a God send and source of great info and support! (Once I reach a level of expertise on AD and the growing stats, I hope to leverage my 25 years in pharamceuticals to help lobby for more funding for research and support for this dreadful disease).

Many, many thanks!

quote:

My Mom keeps asking about our wonderful dog who died about 25 years ago. I don't think my Mom and Dad need the additional stress of a puppy and I have heard about therapy dogs (which I hear are different from service dogs). Any ideas on how these visiting pet programs work or how to access one in Northern NJ?

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quote:

I visit my folks 3-4 days a week (and like others, feel guilty when I am not there). Recently my Mom bursts into tears when I tell her that I have to go home after my 3 or 4 day visit. Dad (who I believe is still in denial) says she is "faking". She seems happy otherwise and I am thrilled that I can still make her laugh occassionally!

I don't think she is faking. I think she is reacting as a child would when a parent leaves for an extened time. Try to reassure her and make her feel safe until you return. She must feel that way when you are with her.

Sorry about your Mom,,,and I never jump on the bandwagon about any new and supposed new discovery for warding off AD. Plain fact of the matter is,,,they still,after all these years,,,don't know the cause of it,,just constantly learning and hoping ,,but its all still in the learning stages for the scientist and Dr.'s. Aricept and Namenda are no wonder drugs,,they may help some for a short time,,while not doing a thing for others. I do know that B12 'SHOTS',and folic acid are an important to people with Ad,,,but other than that,,,its usually big gun drugs that they use to try to help keep them calm and such.

Some folks are lucky that a particular drug may help them with violence,,sundowning,that type of thing,,,but most of the meds prescribed are usually anti depressants and anxiety drugs,,such sleeping aids like Ambien doesn't make the AD person rest,,,it makes them sort of act like a wired drunk,,with slurred speech,,and seeing things that aren't there,,,yet,,no sleep.

The visiting pet program is almost exclusively for nursing homes and ADC and senior centers,,,I've never heard of them making "house calls".

But you could surely call your local senior center and inquire about the program to see if there's a special day a month that someone comes out with the pet to the center,,,or call your local humane society to see where they would be bringing the pet for visitation with the seniors. Good luck to you ,,,and I would just remind Mom that the dog she talks about is gone,,maybe show her some pictures of the time when the dog was still a living part of the family. Peace to you and yours.

Thanks Twice Blessed for the link to Thearpy Dogs International! I left an email for them to ask if they ever do home visits (vs just visiting health care facilities). Appreciate the info greatly!

Thanks Raven for your valuable feedback. I agree with your comments on the currently available therapies for AD but I remain optimist. I spent my career as a pharmacists in the pharmaceutical industry and had become a specialist in HIV; I can recall when no one understood HIV and when the first drugs became available. While HIV still doesn't have a cure, patients are living long (many 20 year srvivers)and mostly healthy lives. I continue to hope that more funding is devoted to Alzheimers. The Buisness Week article provided interesting stats on the level of investment for HIV research vs Alzheimners (AD affects more than 4x as many patients in the US but receives less than a quarter of the funding). I completely agree with you about the other drugs (for sleep and agitation); fortunately my Mom's physician has the same therapeutic philosophy that I do which is to use what is needed but not to overmedicate a patient. Mom is only on Aricept and Namenda which have helped a little and we are fortunate that she sleeps through the night and her agitation is usually demonstrated through tissue shredding. She hasn't (yet) displayed any signs of aggression (thank God)and I pray that it remains that way. I can't wait to see some major breakthroughs in understanding and treating/preventing Alzheimers. Thanks again!