aducanumab – (a do ka nu mab) January 7, 2020 UPDATE The FDA recently allowed the researchers to continue doing the clinical trials with this drug, which is very encouraging. Look for on-going updates in the news or on this site. ******** So what is this word and what does it mean? You may have…
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Putnam in AFTD Newsletter
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 MoreBrain Fog
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 MoreVerbal Abuse
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 MoreFTD ~ Not Your Floral Delivery Company
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 MoreWhy Am I Thankful?
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 MoreRemoving the Car Keys
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 MorePLACEMENT OPTIONS
“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 MoreFULL CIRCLE OF LIFE
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 MoreTHE DAY WE COULD NO LONGER PRETEND
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…
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