Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/58270
SENIOR CORNER Understanding Alzheimers Disease and Dementia by MARTHA OWEN AND SUSAN GUY Recently, Alzheimer's disease has moved into the number six position as cause of death for senior citizens, according to the Alzheimer's Association. It is important that families comprehend what is happening to their loved one. Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning and intel- lectual reasoning due to changes in the brain caused by dis- ease. Those with dementia tend to repeat questions, become disoriented in familiar places, neglect personal hygiene or nutrition or get confused about people or time. It can be caused by many things, some of which are reversible — such as vitamin deficiencies and poor nutrition, reactions to medications or problems with the thyroid. However, some forms of dementia are irreversible, such as that caused by mini strokes or Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease occurs when nerve cells deterio- rate in the brain due to a build up of plaque and tangles, which results in the death of a large number of brain cells. Doctors are not sure why this occurs, but research is underway to determine causes and cures. According to the Alzheimer's Association, 5.4 million Americans are pres- ently living with Alzheimer's disease. It is important to remember that Alzheimer's is a medical condition and dis- If you are caring for someone in this situation, you may find it helpful to read other information available on www.care- giverstress.com. Once they understand the situation being presented, the family needs to consider the many options available. Because custodial care is not covered by typical health insurance, families are mostly responsible for providing the care. Care is costly, time-consuming and can take its toll, physically and emotionally, on the family members. The Wall Street Journal (February 18, 2012) shared an article about resources for families struggling with the care of someone suffering with Alzheimer's Disease. The focus of the article was the negative effects this devastat- ing disease can have on the caregivers and some places to obtain assistance. Recently, Home Instead Senior Care in Fayetteville, has People with Alzheimers's don't always look sick. ease of the brain. If the brain affects thoughts, feelings, personality and behav- ior, then Alzheimer's is going to affect how your loved one thinks, what he feels, who he is and what he does. The range of symptoms can be enormous. Also, people with Alzheimer's don't necessarily look sick. Although Alzheimer's disease is a physical illness, it often doesn't affect a person's appearance until the later stages of the disease. This might be confusing to you because your loved one may seem as healthy as ever, but just acting differently. started training care givers in new techniques and strate- gies to improve care for dementia patients. In the fall of 2012, the local office will offer the same instruction to fam- ily caregivers. If you are interested in participating in this training call 484-7200. These simple strategies can help people with Alzheimer's disease prolong their time at home, which is where most people want to be. "Rather than trying to force Alzheimer's patients to live in our world in the here and now," Home Instead's president Jeff Huber says, "we need to meet them in the past." MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY, Owners of Home Instead Senior Care. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com FTCC's Pathways to Second Service in Health Programs by KATHERINE PUGH Are you a military health careprovider? Each year, thousands of men and women separate from military service at Fort Bragg. Many of the soldiers who have a Military Occupation Specialty in healthcare are unable to secure employment post separation from the service due to a lack of civilian credentials and education. The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation has made funds avail- able to Fayetteville Technical Community College through a pilot program, Pathways to Second Service in Health Programs, to develop pathways for degree completion by maximizing credit for military education and expe- rience. Currently there are several bridge programs ready for enrollment: • Medic to Paramedic — This fast-track program will award a diploma in Emergency Medical Science. At the completion of the program, successful students will be eligible to apply for both state- and national-certification exams. Please contact Richard Criste, EMS department chair, at (910) 678-8515 or crister@faytechcc.edu. • Accelerated Radiography — This online program will provide ARRT registered technologists who are military trained or who attended a hospi- tal-based training program the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Radiography. Practicing technologists can meet the educational requirements to sit for the ARRT national certification exam. Please contact Anita McKnight, Radiography department chair at (910) 678- 8303 or mcknigha@faytechcc.edu • Advanced Placement to Associate Degree Nursing — This obtain an associate's degree in respiratory therapy. By obtaining the degree, an individual may take the certification exam through the National Board for Respiratory Care and become a certified respiratory therapist. Please contact John Holloman, department chair of Respiratory Therapy, at (910) 678- 8316 or hollomaj@faytechcc.edu. • Surgical Technology — The Accelerated Alternate Delivery Program in Surgical Technology was developed to assist currently practicing non-certified surgical technologists to obtain the educational background required to sit for the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA) certifying examina- tion. Surgical technologists interested in this program must fit in one of the three groups: 1) On the job trained surgical technologists who com- peted training before March 1, 2000 2) Formerly trained surgical technologists who completed their education from a non-Commission of Accreditation of the Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) accredited program in Surgical Technology 3) Military-trained surgical technologists For more information, please contact Terry Herring, department program gives the licensed practical nurse credit for education and work experience. Students will advance-place into the third semester of the program and complete three semesters. The student will earn an associate's degree in nursing. Please contact Carolyn Stovall, department chair, at (910) 678-8482 or stovallc@faytechcc.edu. • Respiratory Therapy — The advanced placement option is designed for military-trained respiratory specialists who are transitioning to civilian life to WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM FTCC offers healthcare related cours- es with military and prior military members in mind. chair, at 678-8358 or herringt@faytechcc.edu. Additional fast-track options in other health programs are being evaluated. If you have been working in a healthcare field as a member of the military and would like more information, please contact Katherine Pugh, project coordinator at FTCC, at (910) 678-0054 or pughk@faytechcc.edu. There are many possibilities for you to expedite your educational process and go back to work in the same or related field! KATHERINE PUGH, FTCC Project Coordinator Pathways to Second Service in Health Programs, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com MARCH 14-20, 2012 UCW 17