Editor’s Note: Here at the Penn Memory Center, the communications team has been trying out a weekly letter we call “Sunday Reads” to keep you updated on what’s been happening and what we’re currently reading in our office. To see this in your inbox first, fill out your name and email address at the top of your screen or email joyce.lee2@uphs.upenn.edu.
It’s the peak of hurricane season, which reminds us here at PMC how our patients are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.
Tropical storms have brought some rain to Philadelphia this season, but we’ve been fortunate not to experience anything like what has hit Florida this past week. However, we must be prepared for any harsh weather that may come in the months ahead, including major snowstorms and the extreme cold.
Unpredictable weather causes chaos for everyone, but those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have a notably tough time coping with the difficulties of storms. Challenges include, but are not limited to: remembering to pack all of your necessities, being put into an unfamiliar environment such as an emergency shelter, and understanding what may happen if you disobey evacuation orders (which is detailed in this New York Times article).
Patty Younts, 62, learned firsthand last month just how tough it can be. Younts is the sole caregiver for her husband Howard, 66, who has a rare, visual variant of Alzheimer’s called posterior cortical atrophy. The couple, who have been married for 32 years, have also resided in the same home for just as long. Last month, their Pawley Island home was one of many in the Carolinas that faced mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Florence.
Leaving their home to head to an unfamiliar place (a hotel) was stressful, Younts told Kaiser Health News (KHN), but returning home days after the storm had passed was perhaps even worse.
“It seems like he has been even more lost in his own home than before he left,” Younts told KHN. “He cannot find where the bathroom is. I have to take him every time to show him, get him lined in front of the toilet.”
Although each individual is different, there’s one thing that we can all do for our loved one with Alzheimer’s disease: be prepared.
Create a family disaster kit which includes recent photos of the person, medications, and favorite snacks, among other items. For a full list of what to include in the kit and how to manage separation during a disaster, check out the National Institute on Aging’s “Disaster Preparedness for Alzheimer’s Caregivers,” guide.
News & Upcoming Events
The PMC received the Caring Community Award from ARTZ Philadelphia last week. It was presented to us during a community exhibition and reception at The Philadelphia Foundation Community Arts Gallery.
The Jefferson Humanities Forum is hosting an event with Anne Basting, a theater artist and educator, titled “Anne Basting: Aging, Dementia and the Cultural Cure.” It’ll take place on Friday, October 19 from noon to 1 p.m at Jefferson. It’s free, but registration is required.
Our weekly Dance for Health session will be on Saturday, October 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Ralston Center. Here’s more details.
Sincerely,
The PMC Communications Team
Terrence Casey, Joyce Lee, Janissa Delzo, Linnea Langkammer, and Sharnita Midgett