Alzheimer's disease takes center stage.Byline: Tim Christie The Register-Guard Sadie is worried about her husband, Albert. He's forgetful, befuddled, irritable. He forgot where he put his toothbrush, stuck a flower pot in the freezer and barked at his wife for no good reason. Albert and Sadie are fictional characters This is a list of fictional characters. It has been expanded into the following lists:
"It's something I've wanted to do for years," said Frank Hales, director of the Alzheimer's Association office in Eugene. The group has presented monthly education programs for some 20 years, with speakers giving talks and answering questions. "But we wanted to give caregivers a hands-on experience of caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease," he said. Hales obtained a grant from the Chambers Family Foundation to underwrite the program and then called Karen Scheeland, president of the Very Little Theatre, to see if she could help with production. She recruited actors Sharon Wetterling to play Sadie and Stephen Speidel to play Albert. Donna Peterson, a gerontologist ger·on·tol·o·gy n. The scientific study of the biological, psychological, and sociological phenomena associated with old age and aging. ge·ron , wrote the script. Alzheimer's is a progressive, irreversible neurological disorder Noun 1. neurological disorder - a disorder of the nervous system nervous disorder, neurological disease disorder, upset - a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning; "the doctor prescribed some medicine for the disorder"; that afflicts up to 4.5 million Americans, most over age 65, including 90,000 Oregonians, 6,000 in Lane County. The disease destroys brain cells, causing gradual memory loss, impaired judgment, disorientation disorientation /dis·or·i·en·ta·tion/ (-or?e-en-ta´shun) the loss of proper bearings, or a state of mental confusion as to time, place, or identity. , personality change and loss of language skills. Alzheimer's is sometimes called a disease with two victims, because it takes a heavy toll on spouses and family members who struggle to care for loved ones loved ones npl → seres mpl queridos loved ones npl → proches mpl et amis chers loved ones love npl who are literally losing their minds. The vignettes help dramatize dram·a·tize v. dram·a·tized, dram·a·tiz·ing, dram·a·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To adapt (a literary work) for dramatic presentation, as in a theater or on television or radio. 2. what caregivers and people with Alzheimer's go through. The first program portrays the early signs of Alzheimer's. In a series of short scenes, Albert becomes increasingly confused. Sadie asks him why he hasn't shown up for his weekly racquetball racquetball, sport played indoors by two or four players, combining elements of court handball and such racket games as squash racquets. It is played on a standard handball court 40 ft (12.2 m) long, 20 ft (6. game for two months and why he quit mowing mow 1 n. 1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored. 2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn. the lawn. Albert mutters, nods and responds in non sequiturs. In one scene, Sadie comes home, and Albert starts to cry. "Albert, what's wrong? Are you all right?" she asks. "What's wrong with me?" he yells. "What's wrong with you? Why all the questions?" Later sketches will delve into problems such as Alzheimer's patients wandering off, refusing to bathe, and closely shadowing their caregivers. If this first program is a success, Hales said, he plans to seek another grant to take the show on the road to outlying areas. EARLY STAGES The local Alzheimer's Association is offering a 10-week seminar on the early stages of Alzheimer's disease for caregivers and people with the disease. Call 345-8392 for information. SPOTLIGHT ON ALZHEIMER'S The Alzheimer's Association is presenting a monthly series of dramatic vignettes and videos on the disease, along with tips and advice for caregivers, at the Very Little Theatre, 2350 Hilyard St., Eugene. The performances run from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month. A $5 donation is suggested. Feb. 11 - Living with Alzheimer's March 10 - Driving and Wandering: Your Lost Loved One April 14 - The Home Setting and Troublesome Behaviors May 12 - To Bathe or Not to Bathe: Personal Care June 9 - Repetition, Shadowing and Tips in Communication July 14 - Holding Your Ground: The Importance of Self-Care CAPTION(S): Brian Davies Brian Davies can stand for:
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