ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION JAPAN, MEWSLETTER
“Pole-Pole”
BULLETIN NO､308 March 2006
Summary Translation: Hirosawa Kayoko
1 News and information
*The National Police Agency is considering what kind of test is going to be introduced for dementia when people renew a driver’s license in order to prevent traffic accidents by the senile elderly. In Japan the revocation of license and the suspension were accepted since 2002 if they would judge the person who could not drive safely because of dementia. But this system can be applied to the case that the drivers or their family admit the dementia personally, so the number of revocation is 110 and the number of suspension is 3.
Florida Atlantic University Memory and Wellness Center advised to make the decision to stop driving or not once you recognize the experience as below:
- You have gotten lost in familiar places.
- Someone has told you that you should stop driving.
- You have gone through a stop line.
- You have confused the break with the accelerator.
- You have hit or nearly hit someone or something.
- You have been stopped by a policeman and advised not to drive.
- You have thought or been told that you shouldn’t drive with your grand children.
*From the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, Dr. L. J. Launer (National Institute on Aging) reported that dementia was associated with high blood pressure; especially with the case that maximal blood pressure is more than 140mmHg compared with less than 120mmHg.
(Stroke January, 2006)
Please understand us—series 12
The letter was sent to us from Mr. Osamu Mizuki who made a blog for listening to the voice of patients.
I will be 69 years old this May. I was diagnosed with Alzheimer last March. Now I feel anxious because I have a periodic checkup for Alzheimer this April. On my doctor’s advice I try to do anything as far as I can. I began to keep a diary.
As I read the book “Who Will Be When I Die” written by Ms. Christine Boden, I decided to make a website instead of the diary for talking to the person who is suffering from the same disease. I knew that Ms. Christine Boden tried to write a book, though she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease ten years ago. This moved me. I was not sure if I could make a blog, but I tried.
I finally presented my blog “Ninchishou Ichigo Ichie” last November. The content of this blog is about me.
A blog has been popular for several years. They say that anyone can make it very easy, but it is hard for me to get used to it. The reason is that I suffer Alzheimer. Half of my handwriting is kana except my name. Compared with handwriting, typing is easier for me. So I can type not only kana but also kanji, though it takes more time than before. Ms. Christine Boden said so, too.
The members of Alzheimer’s Association Japan, would you have a conversation with me drinking tea under the cherry trees in gentle spring sunlight through this blog?
Osamu Mizuki
Report of editorial committee
The editorial committee of “Pole-Pole” carried on our plan as below:
- We encourage the home caregiver and send them useful information.
- We use simple expression and size of letters, and also think the content will be easy to read.
- We positively take up the series written by the medical specialists, welfare specialists as well as by the members of the community and also the message from the members.
- We hope “Pole-Pole” will ask the readers’ opinions.
Message from Mr. Takami, President
Members, how are you getting along?
Finally I have heard from the person with dementia that he made a blog.. I was surprised at reading his blog, because his writing, starting with “When the alarm rings at 8:30 every morning, I take a medicine (Aricept tablets 5mg) and leave the table” I feel very excellent after. Before, it is beyond our understanding in the field of dementia. There are all sorts of people with dementia.
Early detection and having courage to face difficulties prevent suffers from any disease. I think it is a new problem in our communities and it is important for us to support them. I should be involved in it.
Take good care of yourself until next month.
