Testimonials — Pets for Alzheimer's

Many health professionals working with Alzheimer's patients assure that therapeutic activities should focus mainly on the person's interests before the disease, as well as stimulate both older and more recent memories, while highlighting the patient's remaining abilities and make their compromised abilities easier to manage. Each activity will affect individual patient's differently; not all activities will have a positive effect on every patient. Examples of therapeutic activities proven through various research studies to improve and reduce behavorial problems in people with Alzheimer's include playing their favorite music, one-on-one interactions, playing videos of of family members, going for walks, and spending time...

In the sixth part of their series documenting and reporting the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer's personally faced by families, Observer Reporter looks at the life of Rudy Keron, age 74, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's seven years ago. In Rudy's case the disease progressed rapidly, and he soon lacked the ability to speak, brush his teeth, or recognize family members. For five of these seven years post-diagnosis, Keron's wife Judy, took care of him herself in their home in Washington before finally deciding to move him to the Washington County Health Center in 2012."'I was in denial when we got the diagnosis,'...