Page 4 — THE LACONIA DAILY SUN, Saturday, October 5, 2013
The Hidden Patient: The Alzheimer’s Caregiver 63% of family caregivers die before their loved one By Jennifer Harvey RN BSN CDP Jennifer Harvey RN BSN CDP Clinical Director and Co-Owner at Live Free Home Health Care is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. Following graduation she worked on a medical/Surgical floor at a hospital in Illinois before she and husband Jason relocated to New Hampshire. Jennifer spent four years with the Derryfield Medical Group in Manchester before moving to the Lakes Region and opening Live Free Home Health Care in 2006 Jennifer earned the title of Certified Dementia Care Practitioner in 2012 through the National Council of Certified Dementia Care Practitioners. Imagine waking up in the morning in an unfamiliar place, unable to remember what your name is or how you go there. You struggle in vain to figure out the reality of your situation, but your memory is completely blank. Utter confusion turns into fear and anger, and you lash out emotionally at the stranger who is standing by your bed, talking to you in soothing tones. This scenario paints a bleak picture of how an Alzheimer’s patient views the world on a regular basis. Now imagine you’re standing in front of a person you care deeply about, like a spouse or a parent, and that person is looking at you with no recognition at all. As it does nearly every day, your heart breaks a little bit more, but you push the pain aside and go on with your duties caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s. According to the Alzheimer’s Association in the “2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report, onein eight persons aged 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease. LIVE FREE HOME HEALTH CARE knows many in our local community are victims of this progressive and degenerative brain disorder, and the number of those affected will continue to grow over the next 15 years. Nearly 10 million Americans currently provide unpaid care to someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Unfortunately, 63 percent of these caregivers will die during their time providing care, with many family caregivers dying an average of two years before the Alzheimer’s patient for whom they care. With the unrelenting mental strain that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s affords, it can be one of the most difficult care provisions. Caregivers have several issues that contribute to their stress levels, such as difficulty in “letting go” of the family member affected by Alzheimer’s; feelings of guilt when considering placement or using out of home help; or fear of appearing vulnerable if help is sought. Oftentimes, the care for parents must be taken on by their adult children. Dubbed the “Sandwich Generation,” these adults have the added stress of raising children, dealing with financial burdens and limited resources, and maintaining a full-time job on top of the care.This stress and 24/7 care translates into a high incidence of spousal abuse among families who care for someone with Alzheimer’s, with the affected person being the victim or the perpetrator of the abuse. When a person with Alzheimer’s is insisting on something unattainable, it can be very difficult for a caregiver to handle. It can also be hard to deal with the person’s disorientation to reality. The person with Alzheimer’s may think the caregiver is someone other than who he or she is, perhaps thinking the caregiver is a child or a cousin, rather than a spouse or sibling. Certainly, these statistics showcase a tremendous need for chronic and long-term caregiver respite care, as respite is required more than once or twice per year to be truly beneficial. Caregivers should understand that support is needed and they need to take a break and enjoy a life of their own. Simply devoting a life entirely to taking care of someone can ruin two people’s lives. For some caregivers who do enjoy regular respite, it rejuvenates and affords them something to look forward to. Call in some caregiving reinforcements if you recognize the signs of burnout, such as: - Excessive stress and tension - Debilitating depression - Persistent anxiety, anger or guilt - Decreased overall life satisfaction - Relationship conflicts and social isolation - Lower immunity and greater need for healthcare services - Excessive use of medications, drugs or alcohol It is also important to take some preemptive steps to avoid burnout altogether. HELPGUIDE.org offers the following simple strategies that will fit into the caregiver’s most demanding days and can energize him/her against the pitfalls of excessive stress: - Schedule mini-workouts throughout the day: Regular exercise not only keeps a person fit, it releases endorphins that keep a person happy. - Take time to play: In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, loved ones should be included in short walks, board games or jigsaw puzzles. A daily dose of fun is good medicine for both caregiver and the patient. - Try something new: Caregivers should challenge themselves to learn something new while “on the job.” With just a few minutes of practice each day, then can flex mental muscles and release harmful steam. - Keep ‘em laughing: Humor is a well-known antidote to stress, sadness, illness and boredom. Caregivers should give themselves permission to chuckle at the absurdities they and their loved one experience. - Ask for help: For someone who is used to operating independently, the realities of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease can be a real eye-opener. Those with strong support systems, creative respite arrangements, and regular time away not only fare better, they also find more satisfaction in their caregiving roles. Many caregivers with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia are unaware of the options available to them, such as in-home care and respite services. There are many choices when it comes to Alzheimer’s care. Loved ones can remain safe, active and comfortable – at home. For more information about available options for Alzheimer’s care, please contact LIVE FREE HOME HEALTH CAR at 603-217-0149 or visit on the web at www.livefreehomehealthcare.com. Serving Central New Hampshire and the Lakes Region “Supporting Independence at Home”.
Gilford business owner indicted by grand jury, charged with meth making By Michael Kitch THE LACONIA DAILY SUN
GILFORD — A Country Club Road business owner was indicted by a Belknap County grand jury yesterday for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, and possession of marijuana. Steven Simoneau, 56, of 194 County Club Road was arrested and charged on May 30 after the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department along with the the N.H. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Clandestine Lab Team during a raid on his property. Affidavits from the time of his arrest and supporting the state’s request for cash bail said Simoneau’s arrest stemmed from an earlier methamphetamine bust on Academy Street in Laconia during the previous week but the details of the connection are in search warrant affidavits that were sealed by Judge Jim Carroll during his original appearance in the 4th Circuit Court, Laconia Division. According to the affidavit supporting the state’s request for cash bail, Simoneau was allegedly trying to burn evidence of a meth-making operation in a fire pit on his property behind the house he shared with his elderly mother. Yesterday’s indictments indicated that police recovered lithium and pseudo-ephedrine on Simoneau’s property. The property is the site of the Simoneau and Sons Concrete business.
In the week before the raid at Simoneau’s house, a sheriff’s deputy who was watching an apartment at 21 Academy St. saw a man, later identified as Joel Paquette, riding his bicycle away from the apartment about an hour after he had gotten there. The deputy approached Paquette who agreed to be interviewed. Paquette said Deputy E. Justin Blanchette could examine the water bottle he had on his bicycle and Blanchette allegedly found oxycodone pills and Valium pills. After he arrested Paquette, Blanchette went to return his bicycle to the apartment (at Paquette’s request) and Donald Doucet,40, opened the door and told Blanchette that Paquette’s girlfriend was inside. Blanchette entered the living room and saw materials commonly used in methamphetamine production lying in plain sight on the couch. He also saw a mirror and straw on the floor. Both Doucet and Christy Jarrell, 26, were arrested. All three are in the Belknap County House of Corrections awaiting trial for various counts of possession of narcotics and meth-making. After his arrest, Simoneau was initially held on $5,000 cash bail. After his appearance in court on a Friday, Carroll ordered him held on $2,000 cash-only bail but allowed him to go home for the weekend to care for his elderly mother. Simoneau posted the $2,000 cash on Monday.
Laconia mayor candidates debate on Ch. 9 on Sunday MANCHESTER — WMUR television (Channel 9) will feature a halfhour-long debate between the two men running for mayor of Laconia on its Close Up program on Sunday morning. The program was taped on Friday afternoon for broadcast at 10 a.m. Appearing on the program, one of several the station plans to broadcast featuring mayor candidates in New Hampshire cities, will be Kaileif Mitchell and Ed Engler. Mitchell is a teach-
ing assistant at the Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield and election moderator in Ward 5. Engler is editor and president of the The Daily Sun. Close Up is hosted by WMUR anchor Josh McElveen. He and station political director James Pindell asked the questions during the debate, which were not provided to the candidates in advance. The Laconia election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. WEIRS BEACH
LOBSTER POUND Route 3, Weirs Beach 366-2255 www.wb-lp.com
Saturday, October 12th, Noon-9pm Sunday, October 13th, Noon-5pm Live German music from “The Mad Bavarian Brass Band” ~ 12-5pm each day Saturday - “Matt Langley” and “Axis” will play from 5:30-8:30pm Authentic German food German and local seasonal beers, and also Bud Light All ages are welcome and a portion of the funds raised will be donated to the WLNH Childrens Auction
Under the large tent in the Lobster Pound lower lot