Co-op grant money used to teach patience and understanding
We all forget things that seem important. Where did I
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In recognition of November, which is national Alzheimer’s awareness month, Capital Electric Cooperative gave a grant the local Alzheimer’s Association through Operation Round Up, a voluntary program set up for co-op members. |
leave my car keys? Did I unplug the curling iron? How could I overlook that doctor’s appointment?
You might feel badly if you forget to send your granddaughter a card on her birthday.
But what if you forget you actually have a granddaughter?
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects approximately 4.5 million people in the United States. About 16,000 individuals have been diagnosed in North Dakota – and there are many other cases that go undiagnosed or unreported.
To help provide education and awareness to our local communities, Capital Electric Cooperative awarded a grant to the Alzheimer’s Association through Operation Round Up, a voluntary program set up for co-op members. Each participant agrees to round up his or her monthly electric to the nearest dollar. Those pennies are then placed in the Capital Electric Charitable Trust to be awarded to various groups and organizations.
Kristi Pfliger-Keller, western North Dakota center director of the Alzheimer’s Association, says the grant money will be used to support rural care and consultation.
“As a non-profit organization, we are always seeking opportunities that help support our mission of providing individuals with help and hope. This grant makes it financially feasible to drive to different homes and discuss the disease with families and caregivers,” she says.
She can provide family members with a variety of tools for addressing care-giving issues. Individuals affected by Alzheimer’s typically can have communication and behavior struggles. Addressing theses struggles with personalized strategies reduces stress on both the patient and the caregiver. Currently, there is no cure for the disease, and no two cases are the same.
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The Alzheimer’s Association has one office in Bismarck and one in Fargo. Kristi Pfliger-Keller, western North Dakota center director of the Alzheimer’s Association, has worked with over 300 families this past year from the surrounding communities of Bismarck and Mandan. She says she feels compassionate when working with elderly populations and builds trusting relationship with patients who see her as an advocate and friend. |
There are two forms of Alzheimer’s. Early onset happens before the age of 65, and late onset, the most common form, occurs after the age of 65. For people who have Alzheimer’s, their memories tend to slide backwards. Their short-term memory may be nonexistent, but they may be able to remember people or events from several years prior.
“You store memories in different parts of your brain, the portion of your brain that maintains recent information is the first to be affected by Alzheimer’s disease. That’s why people with Alzheimer’s sometimes don’t recognize their family members. They might not remember a wedding or a birth,” Kristi says.
Once the memory starts slipping, so do other functions. As the disease breaks down the cells inside a person’s brain, it gradually destroys the memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities.
“This is a disease that can last over an extended period of time,” Kristi says. “It never gets better and it never gets easier.”
“When a person experiences memory loss, you really have to throw reason and logic out the window. It does not work. You cannot reason with somebody who has a memory loss disorder. That’s where families get frustrated, trying to bring back that person’s sense of reality,” she says.
Kristi makes reoccurring visits as the patients’ needs change. The Alzheimer’s Association also encourages the use of support groups and respite care programs.
Diagnosing a patient can be difficult, Kristi says, because a person with Alzheimer’s looks just like “you and I.” Unfortunately, there is often a wake-up call or curious situation that often triggers the need for further examination.
“There are actually 200 different type of dementia, some of which can be caused by reactions to medication, thyroid disorders and vitamin deficiencies. While these can sometimes be reversible, Alzheimer’s cannot,” she says.
Doctors give potential patients a mini-mental exam. The test consists of questions that test different parts of the memory, such as recall and the ability to follow directions. If the patient does not pass, the doctor will examine the patient’s medical history, conduct blood screenings, and other tests to eliminate all other potential causes of the memory loss.
For family members who may be struggling to understand the disease, Kristi tells them they do not have to deal with the disease by themselves.
“Some people think Alzheimer’s can be embarrassing or scary, and don’t want to reach out for assistance. There are support groups and services out there, ready and willing to help,” she says.
Research indicates there are things people can do to reduce the likelihood of developing memory loss, Kristi says. They include:
• Controlling our body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar;
• Eating a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet;
• Eating a diet rich in dark vegetables and fruits;
• Exercising to maintain good blood flow to the brain and encourage new brain cells;
• Keeping physically active;
• Staying mentally active; and
• Remaining socially involved.
The continuous process of educating people on how to stay healthy and how to cope with Alzheimer’s disease requires money. On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, Kristi says a “tremendous” thank-you to Capital Electric for its Operation Round Up program. Without money provided by the grant and other generous donations, the Alzheimer’s Association wouldn’t be able to serve the people in our local and surrounding communities.
If you notice any of the above warning signs in yourself or in someone you love, please contact your physician. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association, call (800) 232-0851 or visit www.alzmndak.org.