Long-term care for Alzheimer's

There may come a time when it is too difficult for you to care for your loved one at home. As the disease progresses, your job will become increasingly difficult — despite a variety of community services — to the point where long-term residential care may be the most responsible option.

Making the decision

As you come to terms with residential care, you may grapple with feelings of guilt that you're abandoning the person. You may assume incorrectly that people who wind up in nursing homes were discarded by their families. But the truth is just the opposite. Most families exhaust every other option before resorting to this type of arrangement, and, contrary to popular belief, most families do stay connected to the individual and visit often. You can also draw comfort in knowing that there are an increasing number of good programs that specialize in care and treatment of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Better understanding for Alzheimer's patient care

There has been a shift in the general philosophy of caring for people with dementia. In the past, the general consensus was that they should be continually oriented to reality. For instance, if a person talked about visiting a sister who had died, the caregiver would remind the person what year it was and that the relative wasn't alive. Experts recommended responses like "No, I'm not your daughter, I'm your nurse."


Experts now believe that these efforts are futile and only frustrate the individual. Today, the preferred approach is to validate the person's feelings. For instance, responses like "You must really love her" to a man who talks about his dead wife, rather than, "She died 8 years ago," fosters emotional well-being. Repeated validation may also curb some behavior problems associated with frustration.


Resurrecting the patients remove frustration


There is also more of an attempt to resurrect what's left of the person's "self." In high-quality programs, caregivers try to understand each person's past interests and plan activities accordingly. If, for example, a person loved to dance, he or she may still derive considerable enjoyment from music and dance activities at a center.


In one case involving someone who had been a newspaper reporter most of his life, his caregivers set up a makeshift newsroom with a typewriter and assigned him the task of writing a newsletter for the center. He was able to enjoy this until typing became too frustrating. Although his caregivers eventually removed the typewriter, they still reinforced the idea that he was working in a newsroom. In another case, a caregiver arranged for several former stamp collectors in the assisted-living facility to see a stamp exhibit that was in town. Despite their disease, the caregiver said they seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience.


Real facts


Over half of all individuals living in nursing homes have Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.


Evaluating a home for Alzheimer's patient


Keep in mind that not all specialized Alzheimer's care is equal. When you visit a home, try to determine what makes it unique.For up to date information on the wide variety of options available and how to evaluate them because the Alzheimer's patient may live for as long as 4 to 8 years and during that time the patient will gets worse in a regressive state, contact the Mary Joseph Foundation.


Please remember these


When you visit a facility, ask plenty of questions, such as these:

• How is the program geared specifically for people with Alzheimer's disease?
  
• Are the caregivers trained in the treatment of Alzheimer's?
  
• Is it a homelike environment?
  
• Are residents engaged in meaningful activities?
  
• Does the facility incorporates design features that can be helpful to those with Alzheimer's, such as enhanced lighting, color-coded hallways, and plenty of walking room?
  
• Is the environment safe? How secure is it for people who wander?
  
• How would an upset resident be handled?
  
• How many people live there? What's the ratio of staff members to residents?
  
• Can medical care be given on site if needed? Who provides it? Skilled nurses? Visiting physicians?
  
• What personal items can the resident bring?
  
• Are skilled professionals — including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants — on duty at all times?
  
• How long and often may family members visit?
  
• What's the cost? Does the facility requires you to pay privately?
  
• If the patient needs to change to Medicaid funding after a few years, will he or she be able to remain at the facility?
  
• Under what circumstances would a resident be required to leave?

Remember the average cost today of long-term care is between $46,860 a year for an assisted-living facility and $92,095 a year for a private room in a nursing home, you'll have to investigate payment options.
Remember we are here to help.

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Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit organization for Alzheimer's disease.

Some famous people who died from Alzheimer’s disease

In Alzheimer’s disease, memory for old events are preserved till the advanced stages of the disease. In the early stages, the ability to learn new things are impaired. Since the common man assumes that memory for old events are more important, some individuals who have Alzheimer's disease is not brought to the doctor in the early stages of the disease.

Even if a individual with changes in intellectual capability is taken to a doctor, general physicians with limited experience in treating Alzheimer’s disease will rarely make a specific diagnosis of this disease. Although awareness is increasing, many misconceptions prevail among medical practitioners.

Some famous people who died from Alzheimer’s disease Adcock, Joe baseball player Astor Brooke was an American philanthropist and socialite Albertson, Mabel actress Andrews, Dana actor Balanchine, George dancer, choreographer Bing, Rudolph opera impresario Brooks, James artist Burrows, Abe author Chen, Joyce chef Copeland, Aaron composer DeKooning, Willem artist Dorsey, Thomas, A father of gospel music Fears, Tom hall of fame professional football player and coach Feraud, Louis prominent fashion designer Francis, Arlene actress Frankovich, Mike movie producer French, John Douglas physician Estelle Getty actress Goldwater, Barry Arizona Senator Heston Charlton actor Hayworth, Rita actress Henriquez, Raul Silva Roman Catholic cardinal, human rights advocate Joseph Mary Mary Joseph Foundation Klutznick, Philip real estate developer, adviser to five U.S. Presidents Leroy, Mervyn director - 1987 Lord, Jack actor MacDonald, Ross author Meredith, Burgess actor Murdoch, Iris author O’Brien, Edmond actor O’Connell, Arthur actor Owen, Marv baseball player Picon, Molly actress Preminger, Otto director Quackenbush, Bill hall of fame professional hockey player Reagan, Ronald former President of USA Ritz, Harry performer Robinson, Sugar Ray boxer Rockwell, Norman artist Scott, Simon actor Shulman, Irving screenwriter Schwartz, Betty first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track events Swift, Kay composer Van Vogt, Alfred science fiction writer White, E.B. author Wilson, Harold British Prime Minister Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit international organization

Charlton Heston 1924-2008

Mary Joseph Foundation extends its deepest sympathies to the Heston family on the passing of Charlton Heston on Saturday, April 5. In 2002, Mr. Heston courageously announced to the public that he was suffering with symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.
Currently there are over 8 million Americans living with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease and that number is expected to grow to as many as 30 to 35 million by 2050. Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and growing.
Researchers are close to developing accurate ways to diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s, but current Alzheimer's funding is nowhere near enough. Significantly increased federal funding for Alzheimer's research, education and care is imperative to reach the goal of a world without Alzheimer’s.

Estelle Getty Born: July 25, 1924 in New York City, New York Occupation: Actor: ... She played Sophia on Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992...We at the Mary Joseph Foundation are sorry to hear about Estelle Getty condition, for sometime now she had developed and been living with dementia and later coming down with Alzheimer's.

Brooke Astor (March 30, 1902 – August 13, 2007) was an American philanthropist and socialite who was the chairwoman of the Vincent Astor Foundation, in 2000 Brooke Astor was diagnosis by her doctor of having Alzheimer's disease...On August 13, 2007 she died from Alzheimer's.

Although there is no cure as yet for Alzheimer’s disease, a lot can be done to make the individuals with Alzheimer's disease more comfortable.

Learn more about Alzheimer:

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Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit organization for Alzheimer's disease.

Register with the Federal government and incorporated in the state of New Jersey.

Regressive state

On 08/12/09 at the Clara Mass Hospital during a conference when ask about Alzheimer's by Tom Thode from the observer newspaper Mr. Joseph president of the Mary Joseph Foundation reply, Alzheimer's is a thief it first robs the individual or individuals of everything then kill them slowly. Alzheimer's put the individual or individuals in a regressive state in other word it takes the individuals from an adult to a child in a regressive state in speech and behavior in this state the individuals cannot do anything for themselves, the individuals have to depend completely on their caregivers to feed and clean them, while they may be also in pain and cannot say.

When ask, what causes Alzheimer's he stated no one fully know but we can see inside the brain of individuals and the damage Alzheimer's disease causes.

In several cases I observed about 81 percent develop dementia/Alzheimer's. Loneliness seem to play a big role in triggering the disease more rapidly than usual...Looking at three individuals Mr. Carl Thomas. Tracy Richard and Ann Thompson, in each case shortly after these individuals had left alone to live on their own dementia came on rapidly then after a short time full blown Alzheimer's. Could it be the love, closeness and comfort they had with their wife, husband and children before which may causes the disease to be suppress.

What is Alzheimer's?Alzheimer's is a progressive, degenerative disorder that affects the brain, it damages the brain cells responsible for intellectual functioning in the brain, including memory, intelligence, judgment and speech ... Alzheimer's lead to the loss of mental and physical functions.

Today a rare and aggressive form of Alzheimer's can happens in some people in their 30's and 40's.

Individuals with Alzheimer's loose their ability to perform the basic tasks that are part of every day life and up requiring constant care and supervision.

Alzheimer's statistics

* Over 8 million people in the United States and well over 30 million world wide suffer from Alzheimer's.

*Every 22 second someone some where in the world gets Alzheimer's disease.

*The average course of the disease from the time it is diagnosed to death is about 4 to 7 years.

Remember anyone can get Alzheimer's, many individuals who get Alzheimer's disease in the third world countries do not have anyone to take care of them so many ends on the street and in homes for the insane and crazy individuals only to get mistreated by other people.

Alzheimer's cost

The national tab for caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease is estimated at well over $100 billion annually, and by 2050 it will be over $ 450 billion annually.

Alzheimer's disease costs U.S. businesses more than $80 billion annually, stemming from lost productivity and absenteeism by primary caregivers, and insurance costs.

The annual cost of caring for one individual with Alzheimer's disease in America ranges from nearly $18,800 to more than $43,000 today depending on the stage of the disease.

Alzheimer's find out more

Individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's account for about half of all Americans afflicted with the disease.

Until recently, doctors assumed there wasn't much to be done once a person was diagnosed with Alzheimer's patients were sent home with kind words, drugs that had a mild impact on symptoms and perhaps some advice on how to deal with the inescapable changes in their brains and the inevitable changes in their lives.

Now for example, the studies in mice engineered to carry the human gene for Alzheimer's, one, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, showed that the simple act of learning could have a profound impact on the buildup of the distorted proteins that cause memory loss in both humans and mice afflicted with the disease, Scientists form that mouse that had periodically been forced to learn to navigate a maze ended with fewer plaques and tangles of protein than intellectually idle ones.

So far, there's no proof that mental exercises can stave off Alzheimer's, but growing evidence suggests that it might be possible to slow down the disease impact. This doesn't necessarily mean that the mental activity prevents Alzheimer's. It's always possible that the people with the healthiest brains were able to stay more mentally active. Still Scientists say, the research does suggest that mental activity might help slows the symptoms.

Today Scientists are saying information stored in episodic memory is like the narrative of a short story. This kind of memory depends on the hippocampus, a part of the brain hit hardest by Alzheimer's. The brain regions involved in another kind of memory ... procedural memory... are less affected by the disease. Procedural memory is what allows us to learn a difference subject or language.

Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses, it robs the individuals of their memories and changes how they both think and behave. It's ultimately fatal.

Experts in the field of dementia/Alzheimer's had a meeting in Washington, DC 09/16/07 on dementia/Alzheimer's disease and its coming destructive progressive behavior to so many worldwide...It is very critical for Scientists Dr. Thomas Hall stated from W.H.O to find a cure or maintain it. More than 30 million people today have this brain wasting disease and this number will quadruple, to over 130 million by 2050. By 2050 1 in 78 persons worldwide especially those in the third world countries who will see a rapid increase in Alzheimer's disease. The problem today in most cases is Alzheimer's disease is very difficult to detect until it has progressed from mild memory loss to clear impairment. Patients eventually lose all ability to care for themselves.

Who may get Alzheimer's

Experts now said those who most often are anxious or depressed were 40 to 50 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, a form of memory loss that is often a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. Not only are these individuals losing cognition, but they are showing many of the changes in the brain that associated with Alzheimer's disease.

In early studies, some Scientists found people who are more prone to distress are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than their more carefree counterparts.

People with mild cognitive impairment have some trouble remembering things, but they do not have significant disability.Not all people with this problem develops Alzheimer's disease, a much more serious impairment, about 20 percent do, according to several scientific reports.

Questions ask by most people

1. How can we tell if memory loss is caused by Alzheimer's disease?
2. Are there any symptoms I should watch for and report?
3. What should I expect if it is Alzheimer's disease?
4. When should I come back for another visit?
5. Where can I go for more information?
6. If the memory loss is caused by Alzheimer's disease, which treatment is most appropriate?

Here are some of the symptoms

• Short-term memory loss, like repeating the same question several times.
• Trouble remembering easy words, like saying "that thing I write with" instead of "pen or pencil ."
• Not wanting to do things you usually enjoy doing such as cooking.
• Making bad judgments, like turning the heat up too high, leaving the stove, walking out into the pouring rain without an umbrella, forgetting where you put your keys, to eat, or giving lots of money to a stranger for no reason, getting lost.
• Extreme personality changes, mood swings and getting upset easily.
• Confusing things and people from the past with things and people from the present.

The latest test, and research suggests that chronic stress may harm parts of the brain responsible for responding to stress ... an area that is also associated with memory.

Studies have shown that while these medications such as Namenda and Aricept don't stop or slow down the disease, they can tune up the brain but they cannot stop Alzheimer's disease. There are no cure for Alzheimer's disease today on the market any where in the world.

We at the Mary Joseph Foundation are working with several organizations and doing everything possible to help find a cure for this deadly disease while at the same time we are helping patients who have Alzheimer's disease by giving them rooming, loving care, foods, vitamins, Memory Companion and removing them from the street who are homeless and from mental disturb homes and care for them. Our services are FREE.

Our mission

The Mary Joseph Foundation is interested in building relationships with more companies here in America to help increase awareness of dementia/Alzheimer's disease, our organization generates funds to further our mission.

We are eager to work with you and your company to explore how the Mary Joseph Foundation can best support your business goals and objectives. There are several ways we can work together include cause-marketing programs, product royalty promotions, ads and special events here in America and abroad.

Our mission is to eliminate dementia/Alzheimer's disease and to provide the best care and support to those living with Alzheimer's disease here in America and around the world.

Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit international organization.
Register with the Federal government and incorporated in the state of New Jersey.

Progressive memory loss.

 

This is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Initially, only short-term memory is impaired, and the person merely seems forgetful. But because short-term memory is essential for absorbing new information, the impairment soon interferes with the ability to interact socially and perform one's work. Long-term memory may be retained longer, often in great detail, but it becomes fragmented as the disease progresses. Toward the final stage, people with Alzheimer's may be unable to recall their own names.

The cerebral cortex

The third level of the brain is the cerebral cortex, commonly called the "gray matter." The cerebral hemispheres contain two specialized regions, one dedicated to voluntary movement and one to processing sensory information. But most of the gray matter is the association cortex, which becomes progressively larger as animals move up the evolutionary ladder. The association cortex is the region of conscious thought: It is where you store memory and language skills, process information, and carry out creative thinking.

Inside the brain In Alzheimer's disease, brain cells die and neuronal connections wither in all parts of the brain, but especially in the hippocampus and the amygdala — important parts of the limbic system that coordinate memory storage and recall — and the cerebral cortex, the seat of higher-level thinking, memory, and language.

A micro view of the brain

Up close, the brain is a web of interconnecting cells called neurons. How these cells communicate and what happens when these cells die form the basis of our understanding of brain disease.

How brain cells communicate

The neuron is the brain's basic unit for processing information. The human brain contains an incredible number of neurons — about 100 billion, give or take 10 billion. The neuron is a unique cell in activity and appearance. It generates both electrical and chemical signals, making it able to communicate quickly with distant neurons. Instead of the compact shape typical of other cells in the body, the neuron is like an oak tree with giant branches stretched out. Each neuron has a body containing a nucleus, one long fiber called an axon, and many shorter branching fibers called dendrites.

The neuron is both a receiver and a transmitter. When a neuron receives a signal, it generates an electrical impulse. This impulse travels through the neuron and down the axon to its end (the axon terminal). The signal is then passed on to other neurons. Viewed under a microscope, neurons look like a dense forest of trees whose branches are so closely intertwined that they appear to touch. But when the details are highlighted with a silver stain, it is clear that each cell is separated from its neighbors by tiny gaps called synapses. Because the electrical signal cannot bridge this space, some other mechanism is required for a neuron to communicate with its neighbors. This is where the neuron's chemical signal comes in.

Stored in the axon terminal are chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The electrical impulse opens tiny pores in the axon terminal, allowing a supply of neurotransmitters to flood into the synapse. The chemical then attaches to receptors on a neighboring neuron. What happens next depends on whether the neurotransmitter has an exciting or inhibiting effect on the neuron.

How nerve cells communicate Electrical signal travels down axon of neuron. Chemical neurotransmitter is released. Neurotransmitter binds to receptor site. Signal continues into new neuron. Reuptake occurs; neurotransmitter is transported back into the cell that released it.

An excitatory neurotransmitter passes the message on by creating an electrical impulse in the cell that receives it, and the process of electrical-to-chemical signaling is repeated. But if an impulse were to be transmitted to every neuron in the brain, the result would be chaos; much like a power surge can cause a short circuit, neurons firing all at once would cause a prolonged epileptic seizure. To safeguard against this happening, inhibitory neurotransmitters suppress communication to neighboring neurons.

Of the more than 20 chemical messengers discovered thus far, a few are fairly well understood. Several of them are involved in memory, including acetylcholine, serotonin, and dopamine. Many of these neurotransmitters have additional functions; for example, serotonin helps regulate sleep and sensory perception, while dopamine helps regulate movement.

As biological processes go, the speed of thought is rapid (although slow compared with a computer). Electrical impulses in some neurons reach speeds of nearly 200 mph, and transmission from cell to cell takes about a thousandth of a second. In addition, one nerve cell may have more than 1,000 synapses and, with a single impulse, can transmit simultaneously to all its neighbors.

Plaques and tangles The brains of Alzheimer's patients contain neurofibrillary tangles inside neurons and clumps of fibers called neuritic plaques outside of neurons. A set of enzymes, called secretases, in the neurons cause plaques to form. The secretases snip pieces from a large amyloid precursor protein (APP), leaving behind fragments of amyloid proteins that snarl and clump with the debris of dying neurons (pieces of dendrites). In contrast to the neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles form within neurons and are composed of aggregates of a different protein known as tau.

Beta-amyloid is a peptide composed of approximately 40 amino acids. Research has shed light on the chemical process responsible for the formation and deposit of this sticky, starchlike protein in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. This understanding has prompted pharmaceutical companies to start manufacturing drugs to block the formation of amyloid deposits (see "Amyloid production blockers").

These tangles and plaques, first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1907, have been the main focus of research for decades, and for good reason: The worse the mental deterioration, the more amyloid and tangles are found in brain tissue. The prevailing view among neurologists used to be that these deposits caused the mental changes in Alzheimer's disease.

However, tangles and plaques are not unique to this condition. Some are found in other dementing disorders, and a few are scattered about in the brains of healthy middle-aged and elderly people. Some neuroscientists have wondered if these occasional deposits might explain the mild forgetfulness associated with normal aging, but studies have cast doubt on this theory.

Studies now indicate that dementia in Alzheimer's patients is caused by the shrinkage and death of neurons and synaptic loss, not by tangles and plaques themselves. However, according to the leading hypothesis, amyloid deposits play an early role by setting in motion a cascade of biochemical events that causes the cells to shrink and die.

With advances in technology enabling them to count neurons, neuroscientists were able to make this discovery by examining brain tissue from 10 people with normal brain function who died after age 60. All the samples contained about the same number of neurons in an area of the association cortex richly supplied with nerves from the sensory region. For the first time, scientists had a standard for defining how many neurons were "normal" in the human brain. Furthermore, this finding indicated that neuron loss was not a product of normal aging.

Next, the researchers compared the normal samples with brain tissue from 10 people with Alzheimer's and discovered, on average, a 41% reduction in the number of neurons. And the longer dementia had been present, the fewer neurons were found. There was also a correlation with neurofibrillary tangles: People with the greatest neuron loss had more tangles, about 95% of which were inside the remaining neurons. However, loss of neurons was dramatically greater than the number of tangles.

The researchers offered "housekeeping" as a possible explanation for this discrepancy: Molecules that clear away dead cells in the body eventually removed the tangles. When they counted neuritic plaques, the researchers found no relationship with either neuron loss or disease duration, reinforcing the view that neuronal dysfunction and death cause dementia. Although tangles and plaques are still considered the diagnostic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, synaptic loss and neuron death correlate best with dementia.

Experts also believe that decreased levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a chemical that bridges synapses between neurons that affect memory, also contribute to the memory loss of Alzheimer's disease. In the cortex and hippocampus, where this neurotransmitter is needed for memory and learning, the acetylcholine-producing neurons (called cholinergic neurons) are normally plentiful. But of the several types of neurons that can degenerate in Alzheimer's disease, the cholinergic neurons are especially hard hit. As acetylcholine production falls in the cortex and hippocampus, dementia becomes progressively worse. By the time someone with Alzheimer's disease dies, the cortex may have lost 90% of its acetylcholine.

Other neurotransmitter abnormalities may also be present. Reduced levels of serotonin and noradrenaline have been found in some people with Alzheimer's disease. Imbalances among these and other neurotransmitters could explain why some patients experience sensory disturbances, depression, sleep problems, aggressive behavior, and mood swings.

Mary Joseph Foundation

Sandra Day O'Connor makes plea for Alzheimer's FUNDING!

WASHINGTON... Speaking out for the first time about her husband's Alzheimer's disease, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor told senators Wednesday that the disease takes a "staggering toll" on families and said, "our nation is certainly ready, and have to get deadly serious about this deadly disease."
As she referred to her "beloved husband," John, and how he is "not in very good shape," her voice cracked.

Who feel it knows it...Living with this disease has been sad and difficult for my entire family or any family," O'Connor wrote in the testimony she prepared for Wednesday's morning session. "The disease begins quietly, with memory difficulties that gradually become more serious and much more frightening with each passing year. Then, what follows is confusion ... impaired judgment ... trouble expressing even the simplest thoughts .... disorientation ... and socially inappropriate behavior." Yet Sandra Day O'Connor who was the first woman on the Supreme Court, clearly conveyed her main message to the Special Committee on Aging: that Alzheimer's disease research must be expanded to find a CURE, and it will take both public and private funding, I must say every dollar count.

Speaking from experiences In Sandra Day O'Connor's actual remarks to the committee, she did not read that text and instead highlighted the need for policymakers to focus on research of this deadly disease that currently has no cure.

Senate Special Committee Hearing on Alzheimer’s

Sandra Day O’Connor and Newt Gingrich testify
The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing to examine the tremendous burden Alzheimer’s poses not only to the estimated some 8 million Americans with the disease and their 12 million caregivers, but also to the healthcare system.


Recently, researchers identified abnormal tau protein in the entorhinal cortex before dementia was even clinically detectable. For years now most researchers targeted a different symptom, the amyloid beta plaques that gum up the spaces between the brain's neurons, causing them to die. You can now see many famous people such as Charlton Heston 1924-2008,former President Ronald Reagan and more who die from Alzheimer's disease on our web site ( my forum )

We are asking everyone for their support let us fight this disease together, I watch my mother and two of my cousins slowly past away from Alzheimer's disease.

Mary Joseph Foundation

We are trying our best to find a cure and at the same time helping individuals who have Alzheimer's disease.
There are still no CURE of any kind for Alzheimer's disease today on the world market... Dr.William Thomas.
Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit international organization for Alzheimer's disease
Register with the Federal government and incorporated in the state of New Jersey.

The loving letter to all Americans that make me cry.

 

Letter from President Ronald Reagan to the American people:
Nov. 5, 1994

My Fellow Americans,

I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.

Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we would make this news known in a public way.

In the past, Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had my cancer surgeries. We found through our open disclosures we were able to raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result, many more people underwent testing.

They were treated in early stages and able to return to normal, healthy lives. So, now we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.

At the moment I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always done. I will continue to share life’s journey with my beloved Nancy and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch with my friends and supporters.

Unfortunately, as Alzheimer’s disease progresses, the family often bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes I am confident that with your help she will face it with faith and courage.

In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honour of allowing me to serve as your President. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.

I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.

Sincerely,

Ronald Reagan

I will always LOVE you.

"My fellow Americans, I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease."
When President Ronald announced that a decade ago, it shook us. Sure, everyone dies; and not all of us leave behind the legacy of winning the Cold War. But a disease that slowly robs you of your mental faculties is a nasty way to go.
Alzheimer's was the eight-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2001 An estimated 5 million Americans and between 13 to 16 million people worldwide already suffer from the disease, and as populations age it's predicted that by 2020 more than 61 million people worldwide will be afflicted with this painful and deadly disease. Today in America there are more than 8 million people and growing who suffer from dementia/Alzheimer's. The Mary Joseph Foundation is working hard with several research organizations to see if we can find a CURE...In the mean time we will continue to take care of individuals who have dementia/Alzheimer's.

www.maryjosephfoundation.blogspot.com

www.marycharityfoundation.blogspot.com

Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit organization for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's, the cost and the pain

 

The elderly and anyone who suffer from dementia/Alzheimer's aren't able to say when something hurts or is sore, I know first hand because I experienced it with my own mother after seeing her painful suffering for eight years going from a strong healthy lady to a state of a little child then finally pasting in 1998 from this deadly and painful disease call Alzheimer's Frank Joseph president for the Mary Joseph Foundation stated while he was working for Chase Manhattan Bank he got the news in his office, it really hurt me to know someone who was so loving and kind had to suffer with so much pain. People with Alzheimer's may demonstrate their pain through behaviors like rocking or striking out, and we often dismiss these actions as symptoms of the dementia instead of pain, which is usually from a different problem. Arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, fractures, muscular contractures, bruises, abdominal pain and mouth ulcers are among the list of common ailments that go undetected. It is important for those who live or work with persons with dementia to know how to identify when an elderly person is experiencing pain - and receive treatment sooner rather than later. It is very difficult to determine the depth of pain experienced by someone with dementia.

The long, painful and slow goodbye

Alzheimer’s disease was first diagnosed just over 100 years ago, yet it remains an area of high unmet medical need with a heavy burden of care. So where are research taking companies today?

Whoever and wherever the patient, Alzheimer’s disease can leave a trail of worn out, broken-hearted relatives as they care for their loved ones on a journey that cannot be reversed

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, personality changes, disorientation and loss of language skills. It is the most common of irreversible dementia

In the absence of better therapy, this global health problem will only get worse as population age. Today in 2009 it is estimated there will be over 61 million patients with dementia by 2020.

Understanding the needs of people with Alzheimer’s

Our main gold is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; at the same time to provide and enhance care and support for all affected by this disease, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. We are working very hard so that one day there would be a world without Alzheimer’s disease, but for now your donation allows us to build homes, give medicines, food, vitamins, care and also remove individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease from the street who are homeless and are from mental homes and care for them, our services are FREE.

In the case of Alzheimer’s, however, there is an additional need. “ Alzheimer’s is a condition that affects not only the patient but also the career, the patients family and society as a whole.”

While the core symptoms are memory and cognition loss, these can lead to other symptoms and physical ailments. “If an Alzheimer’s patient has trouble remembering the names of close friends and answering questions in social situations, chances are that this will eventually result in embarrassing social situations. In turn, this will lead to a lack of confidence and withdrawal.” says Dr. Jason Thode from the world health organization on Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s Facts

• New study today shows over 30 million people worldwide now are estimated to have Alzheimer’s
• More than 50 percent of people with Alzheimer’s live in developing countries. By 2050, this will be over 74 per cent.
• Alzheimer’s can occurs at any age, even as young as thirty (30) years in some cases.
• The new numbers shows total worldwide cost of dementia care is estimated to be well over US $460.5 billion annually
• It is not possible to predict who will get Alzheimer’s- it can strike anyone irrespective of gender, caste, creed, culture or socioeconomic status
• 21 September marks Alzheimer’s Disease Day, an umbrella body for Alzheimer’s group around the world.

Brain changes precede memory loss:

In some cases the disease is very difficult to detect until it has progressed from mild memory loss to clear impairment, individuals eventually loose all ability to care for themselves and others.

The brain structure changes can be seen in clinically normal individuals, an average of two years before they are diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. In Dementia/Alzheimer’s disease cases, lesions known as (plagues and tangles) from in the brain, due to the abnormal clumping of two proteins called beta-amyloid and tau. MRI showed loss of gray matter two to three years before symptoms.

In normal older individuals, MRI of the brain reveals loss of gray matter about two to three years before symptoms of the mind cognitive impairment set in.

Dr. William Thomas said.

It hurts me very, very much that tears sometimes come to my eyes to see so much people here in America and around the world suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and the children who go without food and many times are homeless.

Mary Joseph Foundation cares and we are doing everything possible to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease, homelessness and hunger.

Mary Joseph Foundation a non-profit international organization.

Register and incorporated in the state of New Jersey.

www.maryjosephfoundation.blogspot.com