Morning Pointe

This is a bitter, sweet article. I report it in hopes of helping others and to give credit where credit's due.

Many of you remember my sweet mother and father-in-law, C.W. & Elizabeth Holland or Mamaw and Big Pap as we called them.

Elizabeth taught school for thirty-six years, Home Economics. I bet some of you reading this right now had her class. C.W. taught the little kids Sunday School class at First Baptist for dozens of years. There's no telling how many children Mamaw and Big Pap touched over the many years.

Sadly, both are now afflicted with the devastating disease of Alzheimers in their twilight years. Alzheimer's has to be one of the worst diseases a person can get. It absolutely robs the victim of everything that made them who they were. The disease is also very difficult for family members who must make the difficult decisions.         

This cloud does have a silver lining in a way.

We were fortunate to be able to get Mamaw and Big Pap admitted into The Morning Pointe Assisted Living facility right here in Lenoir City. After visiting a number of facilities that could provide the care our folks needed, we chose Morning Pointe and have been well pleased with our decision. We have been so happy with the care and attention our sweet parents have received.

Mamaw and Big Pap are currently in The Lantern, the memory care portion of the facility. In the next few weeks the facility will be opening an entirely new 44 bed facility next door to the current facility. The new facility will be entirely dedicated to those patients in need of around the clock attention for memory loss. We'll be moving into the new facility when it opens.

We greatly appreciate all the individuals who make up the patient care team at Morning Pointe. If you have a loved one in need of the Morning Pointe services, we can strongly recommend it based on our experiences.

It's so sad to see folks with this horrid disease but it's a blessing to have a facility where they can get the care they need.

Senior Retirement Community

Normal, or not? 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's

10 warning signs to take note of

There are changes in memory that are common with aging. But these 10 warning signs could signal something more serious. If you think you're experiencing one, see a doctor; people diagnosed earlier have more options.

Typical age-related change: Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

Possible Alzheimer's warning sign: Memory loss that disrupts daily life. Forgetting recently learned information or important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aids (notes, electronic devices) or family members for things you used to handle on your own.

Typical change: Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook; accidentally leaving an ingredient out of a recipe.

Warning sign: Changes in ability to perform complex tasks involving numbers or directions – following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills, for example.

Typical change: Occasionally needing help to remember how to use the settings on a microwave or record a TV show.

Warning sign: Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home or work — driving to a familiar location, managing a budget on the job, or remembering the rules of a favorite game, for instance.

Typical change: Getting temporarily confused about the day of the week but realizing it later; forgetting why you entered a room.

Warning sign: Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time; forgetting where you are or how you got there, such as getting "lost" on your own street with no idea how to return home.

Typical change: Vision changes related to cataracts.

Warning sign: Trouble reading, judging distances, determining color or contrast, or perceiving things (you may pass a mirror and think another person is in the room, not realizing you're seeing your own reflection).

Typical change: Having trouble finding the right word at times.

Warning sign: Struggling with vocabulary, including calling objects by the wrong name; trouble following or joining a conversation, such as stopping in the middle with no idea how to continue, or repeating things.

Typical change: Misplacing items – glasses, keys, remote control – from time to time.

Warning sign: Putting things in unusual places; being unable to retrace steps to find lost items; sometimes accusing others of stealing.

Typical change: Making a questionable decision once in a while.

Warning sign: Decreased/poor judgment compared to past behavior — giving large sums of money to telemarketers, for example, or neglecting hygiene, or dressing extremely inappropriately for the weather.

Typical change: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

Warning sign: Withdrawing from work, hobbies, social activities, sports; having trouble keeping up with a favorite team or doing a favorite hobby; avoiding social contact because of memory problems.

Typical change: Developing very specific routines over time and becoming irritable when they're interrupted.

Warning sign: Changes in mood and personality such as becoming confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. Becoming easily upset when out of your comfort zone.

Sources: Alzheimer's Association; Alzheimer's Tennessee Inc.

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4/11/12