Accidents

I think it's honestly time the DMV does something more about dangerous drivers. It's been twice in less than a year that an elderly driver has caused an accident and almost seriously hurt someone.

Now I am not saying that it's just the elderly or that all of our elderly should not have licenses, but when you're endangering the lives of others, you really should not be driving.

Several months ago as my husband and I were leaving Braum's parking lot, an elderly gentlemen forgot to look behind him as he was backing out. Not only did he forget to look, he continued to back out even though our truck was preventing him from moving as he continued to push it out of the way. Even worse was the fact that he could not hear us as my husband got out of the truck to let him know what was happening. It took 5 good hard knocks on the elderly gentleman's window and nearly hitting my husband with his car before the gentlemen realized my husband was even there.

Today we wittnessed an elderly lady sit in the path of traffic trying to decide what to do when there was a line of cars behind her waiting for her to decide. Then we watched her inch forward and the next thing we knew she was gunning the gas pedal and jumping over a the curb and slamming into the fence of McDonald's parking lot. Luckily no one was hurt.

I understand that accidents do happen, but what worries me is when it's caused by the pride of someone who believes their freedom will be taken away if they cannot drive or they believe they are invincible on the road and have every right to do what they please. I remember the horrific accident that happened when we first moved to our home. The man was speeding and wasn't wearing a helmet on his bike. He died from his injuries and while it was a very sad loss, I often wonder why he was stubborn enough not to wear a helmet and why he was speeding when he knew the laws.

Raising Alzheimer's Awareness

As many of you may already know, this isn't my first post about Alzheimer's awareness. A while back I wrote about walking for Alzheimer's. It's a cause I am passionate about.

I worked as a CNA for nearly 2 years before a back injury caused me to set my love for nursing and caring for elderly people aside. If you have ever been a nurse or you've been able to be around our elderly generation, then you know how special they truly are.

I loved hearing the stories of their past! It was as if I was truly living history right along with them! Nothing beats hearing a live story about history verses reading about it in a text book.

It saddens me that so many of our elderly are now facing Alzheimer's. Last Friday at the store my husband pointed out an elderly lady who had stopped in the middle of an isle and looked lost for a moment. I wondered if she had the beginning of Alzheimer's. I worried. What if she wanders off somewhere and cannot find her way home. What if she has no family to worry about her.

She is the reason why it is very important to have a memory screening done for Alzheimer's. It's very important!

While I understand that it is difficult to care for someone with Alzheimer's, it's not a curse or a reason to ignore or fear.

If you're unfamiliar with the facts about Alzheimer's, please feel free to visit the Alzheimer's Foundation of America website where you can find more information about Alzheimer's, including: "successful aging tips."

While you are there, please consider making a holiday gift of a contribution for Alzheimer's. It's important that we find a cure. Without it, our loved one's memories may be lost forever and I don't want to see that happen! I love learning about our history through our elderly! Don't you??

Walking For Alzheimer's Disease

When I was still working as a CNA in nursing homes, I was around many elderly people who had Alzheimer's Disease. There was one lady in particular who would roam the halls and forget where her room was or forget whether she was wearing a sweater or not, that day. Her name was Helen.

Every time I saw Helen roaming, I would stop to visit with her and then assist her to her room or gently remind her that she didn't bring her sweater today. A few hours later she would be roaming the hallways again and I would repeat my visit with her all over again.

While I enjoyed visiting with Helen, it saddened me that she would forget who I was even though we'd visited with one another a few hours prior. It also saddened me that she would not be able to remember her past and cherish the wonderful memories of her life. She would not know her loved ones or be able to talk about old times with them.

Helen passed away a few months after I left the nursing home, but my sadness still remains. While many people are aware of Alzheimer's Disease, they may not be aware that someone out there is willing to do something about the disease. That someone is the Alzheimer's Association and their Memory Walk Program.

Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk is helping to raise awareness and the funds to help fight Alzheimer's Disease. The funds for this walk will also help for care of loved ones with Alzheimer's as well. Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk is asking volunteers of all ages to become a part of the fight for Alzheimer's Disease by starting or joining a team and walking for a purpose.

Through their website you can find information on how to join or start a team. You can also volunteer in other ways if you're unable to join the walk. If you're not sure whether a team has been started in your area, you can type in your zip code and do a search that is provided on the main page of their website.

If there is not a team in your area, why not start one? While you don't need to be a team captain to walk, becoming a team captain is a great start to help in the fight for a cure for Alzheimer's Disease. It's a great way for your to make sure that friends and family are aware of what is going on.

Consider this in volunteering as a team captain:

If you live in a small town like I do, you can change things for loved ones like, Helen.

Make businesses aware of this disease by asking for donations and having them post flyers in their windows.

Talk to friends and family and have them help in your quest by walking with you or donating to this great cause.

Let the local newspaper and radio station know of your cause and see if they will print an article about the walk or announce it on the air.

Talk to nursing homes and get them involved!

The above are just a few ways you can help as a team captain. In the end it's a positive experience knowing that you are a big part of this cause. For me this is a great cause that I want to be a part of. Won't you join me with the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in this fight and help loved ones remember?

Become a Team Captain and change a life.