Brain Support Network was honored to assist in the brain donation of Cheng Pei Pei, the legendary Queen of Martial Arts.
Rep. Wexton, confronting degenerative disease (PSP), finds her voice through AI
Here are some excerpts from a “Washington Post” article about Rep. Jennifer Wexton, who has progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).
Excerpt:
It seemed like the simplest of things — the sound of her own voice. But Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.) “cried happy tears” recently when she typed out some words and heard them read aloud by an artificial intelligence-generated version of the speaking voice she has all but lost to a degenerative medical condition. … Wexton made headlines this year by using a robotic-sounding speech application to deliver remarks on the House floor. It was a widely hailed display of resilient spirit, but the app didn’t sound like her.
“The Heartbreak and Hazards of Alzheimer’s Caregiving”
“Scientific American” published an article about Alzheimer’s caregiving. Despite the title, I think the article applies to caregiving of anyone with a neurological disorder and perhaps all caregiving! Here are some excerpts.
Excerpt:
The vast majority of caregivers know full well that their spouses or parents are ill, yet they still behave in ways they know are counterproductive: arguing, blaming, insisting on reality, and taking symptoms personally. Yes, Cathy understood that she was dealing with a disease, with someone suffering from delusions and hallucinations, but when Frank [with Alzheimer’s], panicked by imaginary thieves, refused to crack open a window, Cathy [his wife] fumed with resentment, and that feeling gradually overcame her desire to be understanding and reasonable. … [Frank] lost his ability to see his wife as a complete person.
KFF Health News – How to Find a Good, Well-Staffed Nursing Home
This article, by Jordan Rau with KFF Health News, offers a guide to selecting nursing homes. The first question is — how do I find nursing homes worth considering? Mr. Rau suggests starting with the Medicare “Compare Tool.”“Tips to Manage Carers Stress” by PSP Association (UK)
While this post and infographic are from the PSP Association (pspassociation.org.uk), the tips about managing caregiver stress apply to all caregivers. As the PSP Association (PSPA) is based in the UK, some of the terminology used is unique to the UK! (Example – in the US, we use the term “caregivers,” while “carers” is used in the UK.)
From the PSP Association:
Caring for someone can be rewarding as well as tiring, putting a lot of demand on your physical and emotional energy.