Podcast: Dementia Specialist Jane Mullins Discusses Communication Strategies

Aug 02, 2023 11:01 am

Hello ,

Do I need to say how hot it's been? This is the hottest summer on record ... ever! Hopefully it will have cooled down by the time you read this newsletter.

Heat can be detrimental for most people, and deadly for some, especially those living with Alzheimer's or dementia who may not be able to communicate their discomfort, or ask for relief.

Here are some tips from the CDC and MedicineNet on cooling down during a heat wave:

People at greatest risk for heat-related illness can take the following protective actions to prevent illness or death (CDC):

Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as you can. Air-conditioning is the number one way to protect yourself against heat-related illness and death.
If your home is not air-conditioned, reduce your risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned and using air conditioning in vehicles.
Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling device during an extreme heat event.
Drink more water than usual, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
Check on friends and neighbors and have someone check on you.
Limit use of the stove and oven—it will make you and your house hotter.

Closely monitor people who depend on you for their care and ask these questions:

Are they drinking enough water?
Do they have access to air conditioning?
Do they need help keeping cool?

Ways to cool down (MedicineNet):

Fill buckets or basins and soak feet.
Wet towels and bandannas can have a cooling effect when worn on the shoulders or head.
Take cool showers or baths, and consider using a spray bottle filled with cold water for refreshing spritzes throughout the day.
Head downstairs. Since hot air rises, the upper stories of a home will be warmer than the ground floor. A basement can be a cool refuge from the midday heat.
Eliminate extra sources of heat. Incandescent light bulbs can generate unnecessary heat, as can computers or appliances left running when not needed.
Prepare meals that do not require you to use the oven or stove.

In the meantime, take your mind off the heat by exploring the AlzAuthors website, catching up on authors and resources you may have missed, or listening to podcasts you may not have gotten to yet.

💜 💜 💜

Our Latest Podcast

Are you a caregiver seeking effective dementia communication strategies? Have you heard the myths that sensory props are too complicated, creating a safe environment is impossible, and caregivers can't understand what people living with dementia are saying? Jane Mullins, PhD is here to dispel these myths, and share the truth about caring for individuals with dementia.

Start ListenIng!

💜 💜 💜

Our Most Recent Author

Ann Margaret Johns' Counting Steps: The Alzheimer's Journey of Pat in the Hat

Ann Margaret tells us:

Nothing prepared me for what life would be like caring for a person with dementia. My mother spent the last four years of her life battling Alzheimer’s disease. I spent the last four years of her life learning about dementia and caregiving. Some of what I learned was from internet research, some from books, and some from talking with medical professionals; but most of what I learned was by trial and error. It felt as if I was on a deserted island. I wished I knew just one person who understood what I was going through, but there was no such person. I was scared and alone. No one should have to experience what I experienced, so I felt compelled to help others. I took the best of what I learned and wrote Counting Steps.

💜 💜 💜

Meet the Newest Members of Our Team

Andrea joined us in November of 2021. She is one of our authors caught in the "sandwich" of caring for a parent with dementia while raising young children. Her book, Embracing What Remains, is a beautiful memoir about caring for her father who had early onset Alzheimer's. It was the first book in our collection that addressed caregiving during COVID. Andrea joined the management team in 2022 and quickly become a valued member, researching potential additions and communicating with authors. You can read her AlzAuthors post here.

💜 💜 💜

AlzAuthors is Out There!

Our management team seeks opportunities to help spread the word about our mission, helping our authors find their audience while guiding caregivers to our collection of quality resources. Guesting on podcasts is one way to reach others. If you would like a member of the team to speak to your audience please let us know. Or if you would like to feature us in a blog post or other media please reach out.

Marianne recently spoke with Tim Douglas on the "Living the Dream" podcast. The podcast features guests discussing their goals, dreams, and ideal lives while Tim helps them uncover just how they might be able to achieve all this. We're grateful for the opportunity to tell his listeners about AlzAuthors.com.

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple

Marianne says: What fun I had meeting with the lovely ladies at Authors Up: Andrea Hines, Victoria Henderson and Ruth Griffin. Authors Up is a platform for first-time and established writers to share their work. They also feature writing and publishing tips, writing challenges, contests, radio productions listeners can participate in; and much more. It was a pleasure telling them about my author journey and the creation of AlzAuthors.com. I come on at 15:00.

Listen on Apple

Listen on Facebook

💜 💜 💜

Stitcher is Soon To Shut Down

Our podcast, Untangling Alzheimer's and Dementia, is currently available on Stitcher. Unfortunately, the Stitcher app and website, including Stitcher Premium service, will end operations on August 29, 2023. At that time, the app may be opened, but listeners will no longer be able to access their show lists, downloads, preferences or listening history. Fortunately, the podcast is available on the following platforms:

For more information, please visit Stitcher’s FAQ page here.

💜 💜 💜

AlzAuthors Social Media Support

AlzAuthors is always looking for ways to connect dementia caregivers with our extensive resources. We are currently exploring ways to further our reach through social media. If you have ideas and a desire to help, reach out to us at AlzAuthors@gmail.com.

💜 💜 💜

AlzAuthors brings real books into the hands of real people in real places with Custom Caregiver Collections. These beautiful resources offer comfort and support to those on the dementia journey. Perfect for senior care communities, memory cafes, support groups and more. Order your collection today!

Learn more here

💜 💜 💜

Was this email forwarded to you?

Subscribe here

💜 💜 💜

Let's stay connected ...

Stay up-to-date with us between newsletters

Connect with us on social media!

AlzAuthors.com

Facebook: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resources

💜 💜 💜

Please Support our Mission

Our mission is to provide quality resources for those concerned with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Please help by connecting with us in at least one new way this week:

Become an AlzAuthors Donor

Subscribe to our weekly blog

Follow our podcast and leave a review

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Volunteer your time and talents

Submit Your Book, Blog, or other Resource

Buy a book (or books!) in the AlzAuthors Bookstore

Join our Amazon book club

Leave a review on Google

Share this newsletter with others on a dementia journey

Host a Facebook Fundraiser

Shop our store!