Alzheimer’s Family
Resource Kit
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For Families Who Want More Choices and More Control |
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"This is an invaluable resource… I wish all my patients would read this."
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– Jeffrey Harb, MD |
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Resource Kit Includes:
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Alzheimer's with Dignity
- A Family Guide To Understanding Comfort
Care and Allowing a Natural Death
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Alzheimer's with Dignity DVD
- Your Family, Your Choices
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Alzheimer's Power Tools
- A Resource Handbook to construct a
Dignified care plan for Your Loved-one
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Looking for Answer About Alzheimer's Disease, Dementia and End of Life Care? |
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As a caregiver or family member struggling with the issues and complicated about
Alzheimer’s, you need answers to your question: |
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Is this really Alzheimers? |
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Not all dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Distinguishing between the different types
of dementia is useful because the natural progression, prognosis, and response to
medications may be different for each. |
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Continue Reading
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Can't Some of These Medicines Be Stopped? |
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You may be wasting thousand dollars on unnecessary medication.
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Continue Reading
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Should We Let the Doctors Put in a Feeding Tube? |
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It is natural for hunger drive to diminish as Alzheimer's progresses. Saying no
to feeding tubes and using a “Feed for Comfort Only” approach is a compassionate
choice for families in this difficult situation.
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Continue Reading
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Is It Time for Hospice Care? |
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Enrolling in a hospice program is a great way to access the best quality care and
have Medicare pay for it. If your loved one is eating less, losing weight, or having
frequent medical complications, the time for hospice may be now.
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Continue Reading
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As a doctor I have witnessed many families grappling with difficult questions and
not getting clear answers. For this reason I have put together a package of resources
to help better inform families and empower them to make these difficult decisions.
- Michael Bordofsky, M.D.
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The Grim Reality
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Many families feel they have no control and no choice as they watch their loved
one slip deeper into advanced stage Alzheimer’s. They do not see a quality
existence – they may describe the process as “agonizing”, “degrading”,
or undignified. If given a choice, many would opt to let their family member pass
away sooner, rather than experience a slow, drawn out deterioration from Alzheimer’s. |
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But is there a choice?
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Most people with Alzheimer’s will be treated for several life threatening
medical problems over the course of their decline for Alzheimer’s. These may
include infections such as pneumonia or kidney infections, episodes of dehydration,
strokes, or heart attacks. If a family does not express a strong opinion to the
contrary, treatment for these conditions will be provided with little discussion.
But for the family who is hoping to avoid a lingering death, declining any treatment
that will prolong life is fully appropriate and within their rights. |
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Allowing a Natural Death Without Lingering is
an approach to decision making and care in which life prolonging treatments are
discontinued or declined. Natural processes such as loss of appetite, infections,
and progressive weakness are allowed to continue without instituting measures to
reverse these processes. Pain medicine and other comfort measures as well as good
emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to the patient and family are made
top priorities.
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For more information about choices in Alzheimer’s sign up for our free email
newsletter by entering your email address here |
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Links |
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