Presenter:  Dr. George Perry, PhD

It's not often that we get to sit down with someone who is actually conducting Alzheimer's research. We were privileged to have an opportunity to sit down with Dr. George Perry, UTSA Dean of College of Sciences and Professor of Biology, Semmes Foundation Distinguished Chair in Neurobiology and talk about the Alzheimer's research he is doing. 

These are just a few of the questions he answered during our interview: 

• Do we know what causes Alzheimer's disease?
• What are the correlations between diet, exercise and other lifestyle choices play who is a potential to develop Alzheimer's?
• What is the possibility of finding a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease?
• What affects do the current medications have on the disease? 
• What kind of research is currently being done at UTSA?
• What is the process of approval for a drug?
• Why do you think early detection of Alzheimer's is critical?
• What screening tools are used to detect Alzheimer's disease?
• Do you see progress being done to reverse Alzheimer's disease?
  
  

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An up close and personal story of caring from a caregiver's perspective -  Dawn Hamilton was motivated to share her experiences of caring for her husband who suffered from Lewy Body Dementia in hopes of helping others who are experiencing this difficult disease. She shares actual footage of her husband John's painful hallucinations, her thoughts and feelings about the difficulties she faced convincing doctors that something was not right, her advice about what she learned along the way, and how laughter helped them get through some of the difficult days.

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Presenter: Linda Sendaula

Linda openly admits that when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease she was in denial and unable to come to terms with what the diagnosis would mean for her and her family. Her husband was the one who researched and learned all he could about Alzheimer's and what his life would look like living with this disease. At her husband's insistence - Linda finally agreed to discuss the horror of the disease and talk about how they would handle his care as the disease progressed.

In this short video Linda shares her story of how she moved from a reluctant caregiver for her husband to being a "professional" Alzheimer's volunteer. 

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Presenter: Linda Sendaula

Linda Sendaula cared for her husband who had Alzheimer's for seven years. She went from being a reluctant caregiver to being a "professional" Alzheimer's volunteer. In this video series, she shares some of the knowledge that she learned along the way in hopes of helping others who are traveling this journey.

In this short video, Linda tells us what surprised her the most as she cared for her husband and watched the progression of this disease. 

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Presenter: Linda Sendaula

Linda Sendaula spent seven years as the primary caregiver for her husband who suffered with Alzheimer's. She went from being a reluctant caregiver to finding her voice as a caregiver through the difficult journey to becoming a "professional" Alzheimer's volunteer. She is now committed to helping others through the struggles and frustrations of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. 

In this short video Linda answers the following questions: 

• What advice would you give caregivers to help them cope with the guilt and frustration involved with caregiving?
• How did your children react to your husband's Alzheimer's diagnosis?

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Presenter: Linda Sendaula

As primary caregiver for her husband who suffered from Alzheimer's, Linda Sendaula encountered many obstacles in her seven years as a caregiver. From juggling a full time job and her caregiving duties, the stigma associated with Alzheimer's, and even questioning her faith. Through her experience as caregiver, she was able to "find her voice" and she is committed to helping others who are walking this same caregiving path. She has gone from being a reluctant caregiver to being what she calls a "professional" Alzheimer's volunteer. 

In Part 4 of this series Linda shares her answers to the following questions: 

• What could employers do to more fully understand the needs of caregivers?
• Do you feel there is a stigma with Alzheimer's? 
• What part did you faith play in coping with your husband's Alzheimer's disease?

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Presenter: Linda Sendaula

Linda openly admits that when her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease she was in denial and unable to come to terms the diagnosis in the beginning. She went on to care for her husband for seven years before his death. 

In this short video Linda explains the ugly reality of this disease, offers advice for anyone who may be in denial about their loved one's Alzheimer's disease and shares the signs that led her to seek help for her husband. 

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Presenter:  Dr. Thomas Weiss

When patients are nearing end stage dementia the question often arises "When is it time to stop dementia medications?" This is a really difficult question for many and unfortunately there is not an easy answer. Geriatric Psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Weiss will walk you through this hard decision and give you guidelines and examples of what you should consider when making this onerous decision. 

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Presenter:  Maria Wellisch, RN, LNFA
For people caring for an elderly family member, it can be challenging as you figure out how to cope with dementia. Support from family members is not always forthcoming and decision-making has the potential to erode family relationships. This video explores the conflict and strain that often exists when caring for a loved one with dementia and gives families helpful hints to handle this conflict and move forward with positive caregiving.

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This video presents an interview with Bill and Nancy Frost regarding their experience in understanding Alzheimers. Bill recounts his first sign of memory loss and the initial diagnosis, helping viewers understand the importance of early detection, the differences between the diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease versus cancer, and what seniors and caregivers can do to be proactive in managing this disease.

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Too often, aging services providers find that caregivers have not mastered the art and science of dementia communication, resulting in disheartening, undignified, and even dangerous situations, especially during meals. When they should be experiencing the comfort of a familiar routine, people with dementia often instead experience confusion, frustration, and anxiety. This video gives caregivers guidance for visiting someone with dementia at any time, and especially during meals.

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Caregivers of the elderly often have questions as they relate to memory care. In this video, the presenter discusses issues doctors often face that surround memory care, such as the havoc wrought by managed care, the debate over “quality care” of the elderly, and whether prolonging life at any cost is wise. Probing and intelligent, this video challenges viewers to think deeply about the choices they make in the care of their elders. 

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