What I can't do, WE CAN DO! How can I care for my loved one? What resources are available? How can I find what I need to help me care for my loved one? What next?

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Paladin - Family Advocacy for Alzheimer's Disease
As a group of authors we have created & will provide a memory advocacy resource package for family members of all ages coping with
Alzheimer's Disease.
Health – Browervile, Minnesota, United States
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$165
USD
Raised of $29,000 Goal
40
days left
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Flexible Funding
This campaign w ill receive all funds raised even if it
does not reach its goal. Funding duration:
November 11, 2013 - December 31, 2013 (11:59pm
PT).
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"Paladin" - Family Advocacy for Alzheimer's Disease
What I can't do, WE CAN DO!
How can I care for my loved one? What resources are available? How can I find what I
need to help me care for my loved one? What next?
When individuals are faced with the diagnosis that a family member has any form of
dementia they are overwhelmed with questions.
With Alzheimer's disease cases mushrooming in numbers, we felt an advocacy
packet to distribute upon diagnosis is long overdue. Resources are available, however,
not always readily accessible. Our goal is to help make resources more readily
accessible to family members of all ages.
Our objective is to provide an information packet to help families cope with
the challenges of Alzheimer's Disease and to help the diagnosed individual.
This packet does both, helps the families and their loved one; the family
members will get much needed support which will help them become better
care-givers. The knowledge and insight shared in this packet helps by
providing more skills to deal with the problems that arise and more
understanding of how this illness impacts their loved one. These skills and
understanding will go a long way toward easing the devastation of the
journey for everyone involved.
As a group of authors we have each been impacted by the devastation of Alzheimer's
Disease. We have come together with our respective books and unique experiences to
offer support and resources that we could not find when we first started on our
respective journeys. Our own experience has been there is a gap between books that
are too clinical and sometimes depressing or written for medical professionals
compared to hands-on, experiential, positive books that can connect lay people with
professionals. It is our mission to fill that gap.
Our heartfelt appreciation and the wonderful
feeling you get knowing you are helping families
in their time of need! THANK YOU!
0 out of 10000 claimed
$5 USD
Every donation helps
Our heartfelt appreciation and the wonderful
feeling you get knowing you are helping families
in their time of need! THANK YOU!
0 out of 5000 claimed
$20 USD
Christmas Twice A Year
Poem by
Alexandra Faer Bryan and our heartfelt
appreciation. THANK YOU!
1 out of 200 claimed
$25 USD

2. Dad's Eagle Tree
We are working together to provide information about organizations and resources to
families coping with the challenges of a loved one's Alzheimer's Disease. One of our
goals is to make this package available nationwide. Our "Paladin" packet will include
our respective books, a list of resources in our booklet, " Dementia Resource List for
Paladin - A Family Advocacy Packet" including information to access state specific
Living Wills and or Advance Directive information to aid people when they are initially
overwhelmed with this devastating diagnosis as well as support them on their journey
through this disease. We will create a website which will be linked to our websites
making available an electronic version of "Paladin" and links to other books and
websites we believe are excellent resources. We will also have contact information
available to get hard copy packages available for those who do not use the internet.
People suffering from Alzheimer's Disease are often helped by focusing on a
comfortable life experience such as coloring, painting, creating, singing, and listening
to music.Our packet will include an activity type book, such as a coloring book for
people of all ages, as we have found pleasant distractions are necessary for family
members of all ages.
It’s been our experience there are not enough resources for children over the age of 6
or for adult family members and caregivers. Our mission is to fill this gap as a
package resource for families as well as a resource for memory care advocates to
provide interactive tools for their clients and patient families.
Our "tag line" is a quote from a disabled Veteran who through the support of other
Veterans learned, "What I can't do, WE can do"!
Budget: $29,000.00 Goal includes expenses as approximated. Non-profit status
will be applied for upon successful fundraising campaign.
Approximate Expenses: Initial packet materials for number of packets (purchased
from respective authors and participants at wholesale rates) to be determined by funds
raised @ $50.00 per packet with the initial goal of 200 packets = $10,000.00; Design
website: $5,000.00; Web Maintenance 2 Years - $4,000.00; Outreach/Marketing:
Approximately 80 hours at $150.00 = $5,000.00; Miscellaneous Expenses, mailing
materials, stationary supplies, communications, mileage, etc. - $5,000.00
Immediate/Short Term Goals: We hope to create as many packets as possible and
get them in the hands of the families dealing with Alzheimer's Disease as soon as
possible.
Long Range Goals: We have several long range goals including, but not limited to,
continued fundraising which will allow us to provide our packet to families and
individuals/caregivers at little or no expense long term. We will strive to continually
update the packet as new research is done and new resources become available. And
it is our intent to continue this project until a cure for Alzheimer's Disease is found.
Inspiration
Our collective inspiration has been how Alzheimer's disease and dementia has
engulfed our lives and the lives of our extended families. Each of our experiences were
unique but the one thing we all had in common was seeing a need to help all families
be better informed, prepared and enlightened when this affliction enters the
door. Alexandra's mom's entire family; siblings and father, were/are impacted by
dementia so this is an issue that hits right in her home. But the inspiration to write her
book, "Green Kitty" came one day when she was working in assisted living.
There was this wonderful feisty little lady who loved to tell about the time that she
kissed Elvis Presley. She always ended the story by saying that he would still be alive
if he had married her! But one day her 10 year old granddaughter came to visit and she
was having a bad memory day. The poor old woman repeated herself several times
and asked the same question more than once to her granddaughter. The young girl
then rudely and loudly said "Grandma- you've already said that three times." The
sweet grandmother's face just fell. Alexandra could see from across the room the
woman's feelings had been hurt and remembers thinking to herself, "Someone ought
to have told that young girl what was going on with her grandmother, what to expect
and how to react to it."
Signed Copy of the original photograph of "Dad's
Eagle Tree" and our heartfelt appreciation.
THANK YOU!
2 out of 25 claimed
$50 USD
Donor's Choice
Autographed copy.
Your Choice of one of our books: Staying Afloat
of a Sea of Forgetfulness; His Name Was Merle
- Our Journey Through Alzheimer's Disease;
Green Kitty and our heartfelt appreciation.
THANK YOU!
0 out of 25 claimed
$500 USD
Dinner or Skype
Option 1: Dinner for two with one of the project
creators within a 50 mile radius of our home (or
travel at your own expense) and our heartfelt
appreciation for your support. Option 2: A
"Skype" Conversation with a founding team
member and our heartfelt appreciation. THANK
YOU!
0 out of 25 claimed
$1,000 USD
Dedicated Giver
Contributors of $1,000.00 will, with your
permission, be included and remembered on the
dedication page of our Resource booklet with
great appreciation. If you prefer not to be
recognized in print, a SKYPE conversation with
one of the project creators is an alternate option.
THANK YOU!
0 out of 25 claimed
$10,000 USD
Complete Packet
In addition to being recognized on our
Dedication Page of the resource booklet, we will
provide you a complete Advocacy Packet to
distribute in your area including our resource
list, and heartfelt appreciation for providing help
to many. THANK YOU!
0 out of 3 claimed
That’s what made her decide to use her collection of amusing animal stories to write a
book that would help children ages 8-12 have a better understanding of dementia.
Do you think this c ampaign c ontains prohibited c ontent?

3. Let us know.
His Name Was Merle - Our Journey Through Alzheimer's
Disease
"His Name Was Merle-" Our Journey through Alzheimer's Disease" by Lynda Jane
Olander Converse. While everyone's journey is unique, there are common threads we
experience and as we share our experiences and solutions we will be helpful to one
another until there is a cure for this dread disease.
This book is a loving tribute to our family and especially, my dad. It is also a resource
as I hope you gain from our experiences and find the hope, courage and comfort in
these pages to help you in some small way as you travel this path minute by minute,
hour by hour and day by day.
How does it help people live well:
Alzheimer’s disease hits many families, leaving them clinging to memories and unsure
of the future. "In His Name Was Merle - Our Journey through Alzheimer’s disease", I
present, through our story, information you may be wondering about or have not
considered. This includes:
• Care questions you will face early on: Can your loved one be cared for at home? How
do you know when it is time to consider moving your loved one to a specialized
facility?
• Issues faced by the primary caregiver.
• Emotional needs of the primary caregiver: What should your family consider when
deciding on the best care options for your loved one?
• Emotions, including guilt or anxiety, over decisions related to the care and treatment
of your loved one.
• Questions to consider when faced with tough end-of-life discussions.
• Coping methods and ideas.
Staying Alive In A Sea of Forgetfulness
"Staying Alive in a Sea of Forgetfulness"- An especially important part of this
advocacy project is to connect family members and caregivers in a way that makes a
better life for the person with dementia. Gary Joseph LeBlanc's book, "Staying Afloat
in a Sea of Forgetfulness" is an especially valuable resource on this subject and is
also included in this package.
Gary Joseph LeBlanc , is the author of “Staying Afloat in a Sea of Forgetfulness,” and
co- author of “While I Still Can.” He is also, a weekly columnist of “Common Sense
Care-giving” published in the Tampa Tribune and Hernando Today and many other
health publications.
His writings and speaking events utilize his 3,000 plus days and nights of personal
care-giving experience while taking care of his father to help other Alzheimer’s and
dementia caregivers cope with the everyday challenges and emotional struggles of
caring for the memory-impaired.
LeBlanc is founder of the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Hospital Wristband Project,
currently being piloted at Brooksville Regional Hospital in Hernando County,
Florida. The goal is to have a special wristband placed on patients with dementia and
symbol placed on the doorway when a hospital admission is required so that all
healthcare providers are aware of the unique needs of these individuals.

4. Green Kitty
"Green Kitty" is going to be included in this advocacy packet in addition to "His Name
Was Merle" and "Staying Afloat In A Sea of Forgetfulness" and other resources for
people whose families who have been impacted by Alzheimer's disease. "Green Kitty"
teaches compassion and inter-generational togetherness. It was written by Alexandra
Faer Bryan, R.N., to help reduce the stress associated with this devastating illness
and to show that people with this diagnosis still have value to their families. People in
nursing homes and assisted living are often lonely and are not visited enough. "Green
Kitty" encourages more visits between families. The work prepares children for the
changes that will occur in their grandparents or loved ones who have this diagnosis. It
also promotes the need for charity and community service.The book is about a
grandmother being visited by her grandchild and revolves around entertaining stories
as told by the grandmother. Helpful information and suggestions about dementia and
Alzheimer's disease were woven into the story line in such a way as to not be
overwhelming.
"Dementia Resource List for Paladin - A Memory Advocacy Packet for Families":
This resource list was created through research by all the "Paladin" project
participants and developed by Alexandra Faer Bryan to be included in the packet. It
provides book lists, links to other helpful websites and blogs and a brief overview of
many concerns and potential complications that families might incur.
Dad's Eagle Tree Original Photograph by LJC
Merle's Family
Dad's Eagle Tree - Original Oil Painting by LJC
Also Find This Campaign On:
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Caregivin...
Green Kit...
Team on This Campaign:
Lynda Converse
Judy Hanson
Producer/Organizer
editor/co-organizer
Help make it happen for the team! Contribute to
Paladin - Family Advocacy for Alzheimer's Disease.
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