Dementia Resilience with Jill Lorentz

My guest this week, July 9, 2017, was Jen Romnes from Ontario, Canada. Jen has written two books: Entangled 1 Caught Between Choices and Entangled 2 Betrayed From Within. Jen Romnes has beat the odds more than once. Entangled’s pandemic themes have led her to present for international, national, and local audiences. Through her successful creative art business Muralfx, she has brought art to life that her clients have only dreamed of. Jen is happily married, enriching her home with her two daughters and a fluffy cat. Jen is working on changing laws to protect lose who are victimized by domestic abuse, and the rights of those who are living with Alzheimer’s. Her work has expanded the ability for next of kin to have the right to visit their loved ones at nursing homes, and to offer assistance in being allowed to be part of their care. Visit Jen at www.jenromnes.com Entangled 1 & 2 for sale on Amazon or Freisen Bookstore

This week July 2, 2017, my guests were Phil & Kylie Booth of SAGE Functional Aging. They do a wonderful job of Person Centered Care for people with any type of dementia, at home or in a care community setting. Listen for their outstanding ideas for ways to engage those who need them most. This story about how Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy works for various types of Dementia's.

On June 25, 2017, I opened the show addressing a recent report regarding ways to stay healthy according to DR. John Torrez from ABC news and Dr. Barry Peterson Of Mayo Clinic. Both Doc’s were a bit critical of some computerized apps that focus on speed rather than memory and they were concerned they are not helpful in the long run. I then inserted some 5-10 ideas of my own to help you retain your memory by playing little games, and trying to remember phone numbers and email addresses. The second and third segments on the show are addressing early and late mid stage. I describe real issues surrounding the decline in impairment, and how it affects both the person with diagnosis and their caregivers. I also try to keep my suggestions for the caregivers lighthearted so we don’t get overwhelmed!

This week June 18, 2017, my guest was Sharon Stokes, Owner of I AM STILL HERE! Sharon facilitates a dyad, support groups for the person with diagnosis and across the hall in a nearby room is a support group or the primary caregiver. We have a wonderful conversation about what the people with diagnosis need in terms of understanding from their care partner and the world. We also discuss the beautiful way they share their feelings and empathy towards each other.

https://www.cruisin1430.com/media/audio-channel/dementia-resilience-61117

This week’s show (May 28, 2017) focused on BATHING WITHOUT A BATTLE and I have a wonderful plan for all of you! I also talked about the rising number of people with ALZHEIMER’S grew 54% more than experts expected from 1999 – 2014. the report was just released. It also rose 55% in the 1st quarter of 2017. I go over statistics that will blow your mind and hopefully scare you in to participating in trying to find a cure!

The show on May 14, 2017 is dedicated to those living with Frontal Temporal disease, one of the dementia’s that does not come initially or if ever with memory loss, unless it is a mixed diagnosis. My brother Dave was diagnosed with this disease in 2009 through Mayo Clinic. We talk about our families’ journey and how he is living well and with RESILIENCE with this disease.

2017 This week the show is about strategies to communicate better with a person with Alzheimer’s. We look at innovative ways to keep that person and the friend/family member from getting overwhelmed. Jill offers ways for the person with AD to stay viable and help to chart their own course so they are not remembered as the disease, but rather as the person they were.

This week 4.30.17, I talked about Music Therapy with people who barley speak, speak with “word salad” or are mainly nonverbal, and how we are able to connect the communication process. In addition, we talk about entering the Alzheimer’s World and as caregivers, accepting a new reality of a changed communication journey. A very candid conversation asking caregivers to own that they must live in the Alzheimer’s world, not their own perception of reality.

Today’s show was very personal and special for me. My guests were Heather Goldberg and her mom Suzanne, who is 67 and recently diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s. Their personal journey is heart warming and informative. They discuss learning there was outside discovery of early warning signs, adjusting to a new life which includes a loss of job, driver’s license and even her home; yet rounding the corner with peace of mind, activities, and being able to speak freely about this disease with resilience. We discuss the new living arrangement, the love her family is showering on her, and what still frustrates her.

This show’s guest was Niki Gewirtz, Executive Director at Belleview Heights, Alzheimer’s Special Care Center who discusses Person Centered Care and its beneficial effect on those living with different types of dementia.