aducanumab – (a do ka nu mab) So what is this word and what does it mean? You may have seen or heard the news within the last week when they announced the world’s disappointment with the news from Biogen and Eisai (drug research companies) regarding the failure of the Alzheimer’s, hopeful drug they have…
Read MoreBlog Archives
Putnam in AFTD Newsletter
December 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Dear Friends, The Fall 2017 [Highlight this link and go to page 3 for article about Doreen] issue of the AFTD Newsletter spotlights all aspects of our mission, from spreading FTD awareness, to advancing groundbreaking scientific research, to helping members of the FTD community connect with one another. Doreen Putnam In this issue,…
Read More
Brain Fog
May 23, 2017 By 2 Comments
BRAIN FOG ~ Brain Fog is one of the realities caregivers deal with, along with experiencing fatigue, guilt, anxiety, grief, stress, “I can do it myself” syndrome and denial… etc… etc… etc. So what is brain fog and how do we see it exhibiting itself in caregivers? I recently lost my husband of 51 years,…
Read More
Verbal Abuse
July 16, 2016 By Leave a Comment
There are many family caregivers (and professional caregivers) who don’t understand what is physically happening to the brain and therefore don’t know how to communicate with their loved one. There are certain things you do and do not say to someone with Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia. Consequently this lack of understanding can lead…
Read More
FTD ~ Not Your Floral Delivery Company
September 22, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I have been a volunteer with AFTD – The Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration – for about a year now. FTD is one of the forms of dementia that I talk about when I am doing training for professional staff in nursing homes or assisted living communities, as well as college students and community leaders., etc. …
Read More
Why Am I Thankful?
August 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Our family has moved numerous times over the years due to my husband’s field of work. Each time we needed to make a decision about whether or not he/we would accept an offer, we went through this process. We found it to be very helpful, in so many ways. We developed 4 lists – pros/cons…
Read More
Removing the Car Keys
September 12, 2014 By 3 Comments
I did a recent post on my FaceBook page (DCPutnam Consulting) about this issue, but I want to look at it in more detail because it is such an important issue for caregivers. There are so many responsibilities that caregivers have to assume when they are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. However,…
Read More
PLACEMENT OPTIONS
July 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment
“Dad has Alzheimer’s and I can’t take care of him any longer, I guess I’m going to have to put him in a nursing home,” says a daughter who is the primary person caring for her Dad. There was a time when this might have been true. However, in 2014, we have options that didn’t…
Read More
FULL CIRCLE OF LIFE
May 10, 2014 By Leave a Comment
This is a beautiful piece that was sent to me on my personal FaceBook. It is applicable to all of us and I felt the need to share it with you in my blog (credits below). Beautiful words of wisdom……… and so appropriate for Mother’ Day, May 11, 2014. “My dear girl, the day…
Read More
THE DAY WE COULD NO LONGER PRETEND
March 30, 2014 By Leave a Comment
SHOCK ~ DISBELIEF ~ DENIAL ~ FEAR ~ ANGER ~ SPEECHLESS ~ FLABBERGASTED These are the responses loved ones and patients feel when they hear the dreaded words. “You have Alzheimer’s disease.” Not one of us ever wants to hear these words, yet thousands & thousands of people hear this phrase each year. “And so…
Read More