- With Mayo Clinic health education outreach coordinator
Angela Lunde
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Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Angela Lunde
The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the Alzheimer's Association board of directors and co-chair of the annual Minnesota Dementia Conference. She is a member of the Dementia Behavior Assessment and Response Team (D-BART), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia. She facilitates several support groups, including Memory Club, an early-stage education and support series, and more recently, helped to develop and now deliver Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT), a 10-day cognitive rehab and wellness program for people with mild cognitive impairment.
Angela takes a personal interest in understanding the complex changes that take place within relationships and among families when dementia is present. She is particularly interested in providing innovative and accessible ways for people with dementia and their families to receive information and participate in valuable programs that promote well-being.
"Amid a devastating disease, there are tools, therapies, programs and ways to cope, and it is vital that families are connected to these resources," she says.
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Alzheimer's blog
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Oct. 31, 2008
Alzheimer's disease disclosure a sensitive issue
By Angela Lunde
Thank you for posting your thoughts on disclosing the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. As expected, there are many views on the subject. This is a sensitive issue and one that was a key topic at a conference on "Ethics in Caregiving" that I recently attended. I wanted to comment on a few of the postings I received over the past couple of weeks that hit on the topics of disclosure, denial and communication.
- I appreciate the posting from 'Sister' because I sometimes hear from family members that the person with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is in denial. However, one thing to be aware of is that many people with a dementia, particularly when the fontal lobes of the brain are impacted, lack awareness or insight into their own changes or deficits. Anosognosia is the medical term for this symptom. In some cases it might be denial, but in most instances the person truly believes there isn't a problem.
- Shari, you have taken the perfect approach to discussing your mom's Alzheimer's disease with her. You realized that explaining her condition using the word 'dementia' only upset her. So, you changed to referring to her changes as 'memory issues.' You took your cues from her response and added in a healthy dose of reassurance. Beautifully done!
- Becky, you learned an important lesson in Alzheimer's communication — you rarely win an argument with someone who has Alzheimer's disease (remember that reasoning and judgment are areas of the brain impacted by Alzheimer's disease). I found this 'poem' a while back and have shared it with many caregivers. I think this will make sense to you and your family:
The 10 Absolutes:
Never argue; instead, agree.
Never reason; instead, distract.
Never shame; instead, distract.
Never lecture; instead, reassure.
Never say "remember,"
instead reminisce.
- Finally, many of you are looking for someone to talk to who understands and can offer support and guidance. I suggest a wonderful service called Helpline, offered by the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline provides reliable information and support to all those who need assistance. You can call toll-free anytime day or night at 1-800-272-3900 (TDD: 1-866-403-3073).
Trained and knowledgeable staff offers:
- Confidential care consultation provided by master's level clinicians who can help with decision-making support, crisis assistance and education on issues families face every day.
- Help in a caller's preferred language using translation service that features over 140 languages and dialects.
- Referrals to local community programs, services and ongoing support.
- Information on understanding memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's medications and other treatment options, skills to provide quality care and to find the best care from professionals, as well as legal, financial and living-arrangement decisions.
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