Need Help Sorting Through Your Diagnosis? Medify Can Help

Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio

CEO Derek Streat of Medify

Need Help Sorting Through Your Diagnosis? 

Medify Can Help

Derek Streat was inspired to start Medify, a company which simplifies medical research.  After struggling to investigate and  manage the care of his daughter who was diagnosed with a serious medical condition he and his wife, like most caregivers wanted to explore all the possible treatment plans and review the research so they could make an educated decision regarding their her treatment plan.  So of course, the logical next step after meeting with physicians was to hop on the internet and start googling and searching ever nook and cranny on cyber space for information and answers.

Derek Streat, CEO of Medify

After spending many sleepless nights struggling to find relevant information online.  Derek realized the precious time he was losing and the added stress due to the endless black hole the internet can turn into.  Swirling reports and research studies so complicated and lengthy making one exhausted and feeling overwhelmed and more confused.

Derek had a vision to make a difference. To help others like himself search, find and understand the best possible information  available regarding their specific condition.  He wanted to create a company that made access to the multitude of information easy to access, easy to understand and yet be reputable when given to a physician; and so Medify was born.

Medify fills the missing middle layer of medical information online by distilling important research studies into an easy-to-understand format. Unlike high-level health websites like Web MD, Medify uses proprietary technology that allows the consumer to produce only the studies that are most relevant to their situation – making the information actionable to their treatment plan. The site organizes key information around relevant issues including thousands of conditions, top treatments, leading experts and institutions, as well as hot research topics to help patients foster more informed conversations with their doctors and achieve better outcomes.

Medify is backed by an expert medical advisory board including leaders from United Healthcare, University of Washington Medical Center and McKesson and is at the forefront of the e-patient phenomenon.

As CEO, of Medify Derek is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the company. He is motivated to solve the hard problems that make a difference in the lives of people who need unbiased help as they  sort through medical information.  Check out the site and feel free to give them feedback about their design and accessibility.  Medify’s goal is to be the best possible source for medical information.
 

 www.medify.com

  Your Online Consumer

Health Information Resource Center

Don’t Miss This Event! Naomi Feil Comes to Minnesota!

Naomi is the Queen of compassion and has been actively trying to change our Dementia Care Culture for 30 years!  She is absolutely amazing and I promise you will not disappointed.

 

Help Alzheimer’s Speaks Bring Home The Gold!

We’ve been nominated and would love your help

bringing home the gold

 if you feel we deserve it!

All you have to do is CLICK to the link below and vote for us!

BEST ALZHEIMER’S BLOGS

Just scroll to the bottom of the page and vote for us.

The article they are featuring about Alzheimer’s Speaks is:

No Thanks, We’re Fine: Supporting Families Living with Dementia

Thank you for your support!

Alzheimer’s – Medical System Is Broke And Here Is Prime Example

Alzheimer’s – Medical System Is Broke

Here Is Prime Example

by Rick Phelps,

Founder of Memory People on Facebook

This message was provided to me by Rick Phelps. Normally this conversation from his “Closed” group on Facebook “Memory People”  would not be reposted.  I approached  Rick on the importance of his message and Rick agreed it would be valuable for others to read as well and so we decided to  share it here with our readers.  I hope you see the value in Rick’s message like I do.

I wanted to give everyone an update of sorts. Things were a little rough the last couple of days, really bad yesterday.

To the best of my knowledge I was fine one minute, and wasn’t the next. I don’t really know. I can tell you I knew enough to call Phyllis, and she made the appropriate calls for me to get help.

To keep things short here, I wanted to talk to someone. I have a counselor who already has my case file, but how the system works, you get in when they have an opening.

I have an appointment the first of March sometime. In the mean time they increased my meds, my Doctor did. Which has been done so many times I can’t keep track.

They, the system have or are missing out on a golden opportunity not getting me in to talk to someone. What I have in my head, what I need to explain, I may not know, and probably won’t the first of March.

I hate to keep beating this drum, but no one listens. The way it works, unless this is a life or death situation, you take the next available appointment. I understand that I am not the only one with issues..

What they don’t understand is, there is always a small window of opportunity for me to get my information out. Come the first of March, this will not even be a memory.

There is no way I can explain in three weeks or whatever it is, what I am going through right now. Again, lack of understanding with this disease.

So, they medicate me. I went from just getting off of the anxiety meds all together, to now back on them twice a day. And what it does is masks the symptoms. These meds no more help me than a man in the moon.

They make it so I don’t care that I’m stressed, that I don’t care that I can’t remember anything. So now instead of talking to a professional, I am once again drugged into oblivion.

That is what is wrong with our society. They have a pill for everything. When so much more would be learned if they would just listen. I know how the game is played. Being in EMS for 24 years all I have to do is say I am suicidal, and things will happen then.

The problem is, I am not suicidal. I am reaching out for help…this is why I have said a long time ago. After seeing so many senseless suicides over the years in Law Enforcement, and EMS, I can now see how someone can get to that dark place in their mind.

Now someone took that and said I was condoning suicide, which I am not. There are many issues we deal with when you have this disease. Things that warrant immediate attention. Things that if not dealt with, and left unchecked could lead the strongest of person to do things they never would dream of, if they had help.

I am ok. I am not good. Don’t think I ever will be. But I have a handle on things. Phyllis would never have left me here today alone, if there was any thought of me being in harms way.

Our daughter has called me, I have talked to Leeanne, I have talked to Phyllis…I am on everyone’s mind. Which I appreciate. I wanted to post this not for people to try to give me advice on what to do. There is none. I just need to get myself settled down. Remember that I need to be stress free, which for the most part I think my life is.

But there is something that triggers these episodes. That is why I am so desperate to talk to a counselor, to let them listen to what I have to say. Then and only then maybe they will see what it is like.

I am afraid they missed the boat here. But I am more afraid there will be other episodes. Maybe worse, maybe more often. I don’t know. But neither do they…thank you all for the kind words. I see the number of posts but just can’t get through them right now.

Remember, its the disease, its always the disease…I hope this post made since, read between the lines if not. I am not re-doing it, or reading it myself. I can only hope I said what I meant to….

We would love to hear your thoughts!

If you are interested in joining “Memory People on Facebook,  just type in “Memory People” in the search bar on your home page on  facebook and asked to become a member!

Norrm’s Gets Creative To Raise Funds For Lewy Body Disease

Norrm and his wife Elaine

 

A POEM JUST FOR YOU
I will write a poem, private, just for you,
For a small donation,
Please donate to this link,

 

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2FDementiaAwarenessDay2012&h=VAQEML7iq

Is its destination
::
I will write whatever you want,
About your good times or your sad,
Then you can keep this personal poem,
From this Bolton Lad,
::
Every penny that we make,
Of this you can be sure,
Will go straight to Lewy Body`s,
And hope we find a cure,
::
So come on guys, help me out,
So i can use my brain,
Before Dementia comes along,
And turns my sun to rain.
Just let me know what you want me to write about, i will write it and if you like it then you can please make a small donation to the link in the poem, whatever you think it`s worth. As you can see by the link every penny will go to the Lewy Body`s society just giving page

Best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxxxx

Here’s an Interesting Article – A Life that Might have been Stolen

A Life that Might have been Stolen

By The Blog “A Soldiers Mother “

Feb 20th, 2012

Here is just a small portion of the article.  I think it is worth reading the whole thing.  I’ve added the link to the article below.

There is a disease called Alzheimer’s that robs the body of the mind, the soul of its future, and the family of its center. It is slow. It is insidious and just its diagnosis is enough to promise an agony of days dwindling down to mindless loss, leaving all around it to try to hold the center for as long and as best as they can.

There is a condition called NPH, or Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus which means a rise in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. There are three main symptoms that are caused by this condition. One is Alzheimer’s-like memory problems. Another is a horrible shuffling movement as you walk; an inability to lift the feet. It makes walking painfully slow, each step a labor.

The thing is, if you relieve the cerebrospinal fluid – essentially water – on the brain, the symptoms of NPH disappear. Much if not all of the memory problems go away, the labored walk gone.

Here is the link! 

What Does A Baker’s Dozen and Alzheimer’s Have In Common?

What Does A Baker’s Dozen &

Alzheimer’s Have In Common?

Today’s show was such a fun and interesting  conversation with Author Kerry Luksic.  I encourage everyone to listen to the show as there are many pearls of wisdom Kerry shares with our audience that she has learned on her journey with her Mother and her dementia.

I hope you enjoy the show.  I sure did. 

I feel so blessed to have a job a love so dearly.

The Reverie Harp Ideal For Engaging People with Dementia

The Reverie Harp -

A New Beginning in Music Therapy

Matt and Jerry from Musicmaker’s Kits in Stillwater, Minnesota explain how the Reverie Harp was born.

The Reverie Harp -

How it is used in Music Therapy

To get more information on the Reverie Harp Contact

Music Makers

http://www.harpkit.com/

Mailing address	Musicmaker’s Kits 14525 61st St. Ct. N PO Box 2117 Stillwater, MN 55082
Toll free	800-432-KITS (5487)
Local	(651) 439-9120
Fax	(651) 439-9130
Email	info@harpkit.com

 

A Sacred Scarf & Dementia

A Sacred Scarf & Dementia

I have to share with you all a very special gift I received from one of our readers. Let me correct that phrase. I just can’t in good conscience refer to Sheri as a”reader” of the blog.  It just feels so wrong.  You see Sheri and I met through Alzheimer’s Speaks, but by no means do I consider her a “reader,” or “follower” of the blog.  I think of Sheri as a close personal, friend, even though we have never met. 

The other day I received a UPS package.  As I picked up box that sat on my stoop, my hands got warm and my heart turned soft.  Once I opened the package, I found this beautiful purple scarf. (Just in case you haven’t noticed, purple is my favorite color.)  The scarf was so soft and smelt so good. I couldn’t help but put it around my neck immediately, and as I did my whole, body got warm. The scarf felt so healing and full of love.  It made me feel so comfortable and protected.  I wore it for two straight days!

I’ve never had a reaction to a piece of clothing like I did to this scarf.  I chose to believe it was made with love by a dear friend I have a unique connection with. 

scarf sheri 2012-02-14 20-21-20.593

►

You see, Sheri and I have shared intimate thoughts and feelings like many of us here o Alzheimer’s Speaks regarding our journeys with dementia. 

Until my dying day, I don’t think I will ever forget our conversations regarding Sheri’s Mom, who has since passed.  Never will Halloween be the same for me. Never will I forget being at a conference and rushing to my room after the event that evening to check my email to see if Sheri had written me. All day I had wondered how things were going between Sheri and her mother.  YES, there was an email, Sheri had a huge break through with her Mother on this day and I was blessed to have Sheri tell me about her day.  Thank you for your friendship Sheri! It was so special it still brings tears to my eyes. 

Here is a glimpse at our journey together.  It truly is precious.

Today was a Gift of Connection. There is Reason to Celebrate! 

(Please note the name in this letter was changed as Sheri was not comfortable at the time using her real name.)

http://alzheimersspeaks.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/today-was-a-gift-of-connection-there-is-reason-to-celebrate/

Happy Valentines Day!

Just a quick note to tell you all “Thank you” so much for all of your encouragement and wonderful notes.  Even though I have never met most of you, each of you makes this journey with dementia easier.  Thank you for your kind words and loving hearts.

Lori