#1 Reflection
Something new I have found out about my topic is that Alzheimer’s
passes from a family member to another family memeber like a pattern.
There is two genes that can cause Alzheimer’s to occur. Those two genes
are risk genes and determenisitic genes. There are some rare genes that
directly cause Alzheimer’s . There is many genes that cause or increases
the risk of Alzheimer’s. The Amyloid precursor protein was the first gene
found that had mutation with Alzheimer’s. The Presenilin-1 was the
second gene found to cause inhereted Alzheimer’s. The Apolipoprotein E-
e4 was the first gene found that increases risks to cause Alzheimer’s.
This facts I found on the article I read intersted me alot. I haven’t changed
my topic because the topic Alzheimer’s really intersts me since I don’t
know a lot about it. In my next steps I hope to find out how Alzheimer’s
has a positive outcome in people and our society. I also want to find out
how Alzheimer’s brings families together. My collaboration is going well.
Since it’s only me and another person, the work get split up equally.
passes from a family member to another family memeber like a pattern.
There is two genes that can cause Alzheimer’s to occur. Those two genes
are risk genes and determenisitic genes. There are some rare genes that
directly cause Alzheimer’s . There is many genes that cause or increases
the risk of Alzheimer’s. The Amyloid precursor protein was the first gene
found that had mutation with Alzheimer’s. The Presenilin-1 was the
second gene found to cause inhereted Alzheimer’s. The Apolipoprotein E-
e4 was the first gene found that increases risks to cause Alzheimer’s.
This facts I found on the article I read intersted me alot. I haven’t changed
my topic because the topic Alzheimer’s really intersts me since I don’t
know a lot about it. In my next steps I hope to find out how Alzheimer’s
has a positive outcome in people and our society. I also want to find out
how Alzheimer’s brings families together. My collaboration is going well.
Since it’s only me and another person, the work get split up equally.
Reflection #2
Since the last time I wrote about my research, my partner and I had to change our topic. Instead of it being about the cure to Alzheimer’s disease, the topic is about the caregivers for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease and how they feel. The reason we had to change is because our mentor, Ms. Park, thought it would be best to switch topics so that our project could be more interesting. My partner and I decided to do an interview. We will be interviewing my dad’s aunt who is a caretaker to her husband, who has Alzheimer’s. We decided to do an interview because we want to see the perspective of how it feels to be a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer’s disease. What was easy about this process was making the interview questions and what was difficult about this process was having to change our topic. Because we changed our topic, we needed to find more articles and research more. Some things we need to do is research more about the caregivers who are helping someone who has Alzheimer's. We need to successfully do well on our ISD and our SLR. My collaboration with my partner has been going well. We both have the same ideas on what we want to do.
Interview:
1) There is a technique called, ‘The Soft Lie’ (explain the soft lie). Do you believe this is right or wrong? If yes, then explain. If no, then explain why not?
2) Was there any point where you thought of taking your husband to homecare? If yes, why? If no, why not?
3) How has the forgetfulness of their father affected the relationship between him and his children?
4) Do you ever lie to your husband to prevent an accident from occurring?
5) Have you and your kids had any arguments that had to do with making a decision for your husband? If yes, then explain an event that occurred. If no, explain why an event hasn’t occurred?
Generalizations
In relationships, everything is related in some way:
- When someone with Alzheimer’s goes through another stage level, the caretaker stresses even more because it’s even more stress.
- Caregivers have stress, go through depression, or some are just angry that their loved one is forgetting certain things since taking care of them gets more challenging over time.
- According to, “Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers” states, “As the disease advances, your loved one’s needs will increase and your responsibilities will become more challenging.” Caretakers get overwhelmed when the capabilities of Alzheimer’s patients lessen. They get exhausted as caregiving demands increase.
- Also, according to “Tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers” explains,“But that will not only hurt yourself, but also hurt the person you’re trying to care for.” If the caregivers don’t take care of themselves, they won’t be able to provide the best level of care.
Relationships are powerful.
- Alzheimer’s is a powerful disease. The caretakers sometimes have to give their loved one options on what he or she specifically wants which is known as the soft lie. For example, to help them remember their favorite color, the caretaker says, “Which one is your favorite color, Purple, Red, or Blue.” Most likely, the person with Alzheimer’s will choose Blue, the last option, because by then that is the only color they remember hearing. So, when the caregiver is giving his or her loved one an option, they will most likely pick the last one, because by that time that is the only option they remember.
- When the patients/loved ones memory begins to decrease, caretakers start using hard lying. If the patient loses something, it’s better to say that a family member borrowed it instead of saying he himself lost it. According to the article, “Ethical Issues in Diagnosing and Treating Alzheimer’s disease” states, “Worse, the patient may then incorporate what the family member said into a persecutory delusion.” Patients/ loved ones could get delusions of the situations that occur. They could repeatedly say it was there fault and get sad.
Relationships change over time.
- People with Alzheimer's have different stages. There are 7 stages. Throughout these stages, the caregivers also have to go through the same pain that the person with Alzheimer’s has. Some caretakers go through depression and some have anger because of the situation.
- As the stages begin to worsen, the caregivers capability to take care of them becomes even more impactful. Alz.Org states that as stages begin to become even more ill, the caretakers get angry with the Alzheimer’s patient that he or she can’t do the things they used to be able to do. They have anxiety about thinking if they could face another day or days in the future of taking care of them.
- In the beginning stages, the caretakers have simple tasks, but after the stages advance, the more help and dedication the caretakers have to give. Alzheimer's association says, “Individuals with advanced alzheimer’s and other dementias commonly develop difficulty with eating and drinking, even with assistance, in the final stages of the disease process.” The caretakers at this point may get angry and say the patient/loved one is just being stubborn and that he/she can eat by himself
- The caretakers need to set some rules for the person with Alzheimer’s so that they won’t get confused and so that it can help them remember where certain things are.
- Caretakers need to make sure that the patient takes a certain medication and they need to follow the directions so that it won’t affect the Alzheimer’s patient.
- As stated in the article, “Electronic Tracking” states, “This requires a regular reevaluation of safety measures” Alzheimer’s patients may be getting tracked to avoid them getting lost or injured. Alzheimer’s Association states, “It is estimated that up to 60 percent of individuals will wander during the course of the disease… 50 percent will suffer serious injury or even death if not found within 24 hours.” The caretakers have to make sure that the patients/loved ones have the tracking device at all times to prevent them from getting lost. Many say this is taking the patient's liberty and privacy away.
Relationships are everywhere.
- The Alzheimer’s patient will have an impact on all of his or her relationships everywhere, from the caretaker at home to the nurses at the hospital, children, grandchildren, former co-workers, etc… Relationships are everywhere, so when a person with Alzheimer’s starts losing his or her memory, the impact of those relationships is great.
- Some caretakers cannot handle the stress with having to deal with the person that has Alzheimer’s. So, they come to a conclusion where they send that person to a home. In that specific home, there is 24 hour daycare and they wouldn’t have to stress anymore. These homes are everywhere and is willing to help someone with Alzheimer’s.
ISd Link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lyMc9M8AW-uDocY2jYPpiprUkQnKxNO6lQ4v0Ld4gTE