Create an everlasting Impression

Overall impression of a person is the gross of all what he/she is. This is the picture which comes immediately to our senses and our feelings towards them. It is a culmination of physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual aspects of that person.

It is true that when people first see a person, we try to get an idea about him/her at the time of acquaintance. First we would be judging him/her on the basis of his/her looks, whether he/she has similar features associated with people or things we already know, this is the natural learning process happening within ourselves. This is how people learn new things, acquire new skills or understand other people.

Attractiveness at the physical level is good enough only for the first impression which could be formed when we meet the person. This is because we generally tend to have predefined notions based on the looks of people and our experiences surrounding those, whom we have come across in our lives. Our predefined notions and experiences surrounding a person is strengthened or weakened each time when we mingle with that person.
A person’s physical appearance contributes very little to attractiveness. We all remember a person for his/her abilities and our experience in his/her company, other than if we want a relationship purely based on and at the physical level.
However attractive a person may be in the physical level, they must have
-an emotional appeal
-a well developed intellect
-good socializing/networking skills
and also something within - which is sometimes referred to as aura or the power within or charisma – which is the astral aspect of him/her. Only then would he/she be remembered and the relationship would evolve in depth.
Hence by speaking, being physically attractive holds very little stake in a continuing relationships. Tell a joke while talking if you can't keep listening to the other person and appreciate every small step. Make the person confident and then start talking or expressing your views.
Good clothing sense makes good impressions.
Simply reply a sweet smile to the person who is watching you is another way.
To make a better impression, body language is a good way to stand out. A smile and response to the other person makes you appear friendly.
Mind your manners. If you don't know, copycat is the best way. Remember, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Understanding Dimentia

As life expectancy increases, so, too, does the prevalence of dementia. Here, a look at the disorder, from symptoms to treatment.

For many patients—and the families who love them—a diagnosis of dementia can be devastating. A degenerative disease, the condition causes a progressive decline in cognitive function, including memory, attention span, and problem-solving skills. In some cases, dementia patients may suffer from hallucinations or severe disorientation, failing to remember what decade it is, where they are, or even their own names.
Dementia affects approximately 3.4 million Americans, or 13.9 percent of the U.S. population ages 71 and older. In these cases, dementia is generally caused by irreversible brain damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease. (In more unusual cases, younger people can be affected by reversible or partially reversible dementia resulting from head injury, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, or infections.)

Dementia can be challenging for both patients and caregivers, but knowing what to expect can help ease the journey. Here, a look at the disease, from symptoms to treatment.

Dementia Symptoms
In later stages of dementia or after a patient has been diagnosed, the signs may seem fairly obvious, but early indicators of the disease can be harder to spot. In fact, families often attribute these initial symptoms to forgetfulness, depression, or simply old age. According to the NIH, early signs of dementia may include:
• asking the same questions repeatedly;
• becoming lost in familiar places;
• being unable to follow directions;
• becoming disoriented regarding time, people, or places; or
• neglecting personal safety, hygiene, or nutrition.

Experts note that those struggling with the disease may have difficulty recalling appointments they’ve made, thinking of the right words to express themselves, or remembering simple steps in everyday activities (such as turning the stove off after cooking).

What’s more, judgment may be impaired (for example, dementia sufferers may bundle up in heavy winter clothes on a hot summer’s day). Other signs to watch out for include sudden mood swings, personality changes, and a loss of initiative.

Diagnosing Dementia
Regardless how much research you do, you must consult with a health-care professional to obtain an accurate diagnosis. This is often a difficult step for patients and families to take, but the sooner dementia is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.

Diagnosing Dementia
Regardless how much research you do, you must consult with a health-care professional to obtain an accurate diagnosis. This is often a difficult step for patients and families to take, but the sooner dementia is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin.

Diagnosis of dementia requires a complete medical and neuropsychological evaluation. The full exam allows the doctor to determine whether the patient has dementia and, if so, its severity and causes. From there, the physician can make treatment recommendations and assist the patient and caregivers in planning for the future.

The evaluation may comprise several parts, including a full medical history, a neurological exam, laboratory tests, brain imaging, and mental status testing. Doctors often use a test known as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to assess cognitive skills. A variety of other tests may be used to identify specific types of cognitive problems and abilities.

Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease

For about 70 percent of patients, a diagnosis of dementia will be accompanied by a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although these terms are often used interchangeably, it’s important to note that Alzheimer’s and dementia are not one in the same. Dementia is a loss of brain function that refers to a group of illnesses. Although it may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s, it may have other underlying causes, such as Pick's disease, hypothyroidism, or head trauma.

While Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia, vascular dementia, which is often caused by stroke, accounts for about 17 percent of all dementia cases. With increasing age, however, Alzheimer's disease accounts for a progressively greater percentage of dementia cases (among patients 90 and older, Alzheimer’s is indicated in approximately 80 percent of dementia cases, compared with roughly 50 percent for those in their 70s).

Dementia Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for dementia, so the goals of treatment are to control the disease’s symptoms, manage coexisting disorders, and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.There are several medical treatments that focus on maximizing cognitive and functional abilities. The treatments your doctor recommends will depend on the cause of the dementia.

For patients with Alzheimer’s disease, medications known as cholinesterase inhibitors may slow the rate of decline and improve memory function. Other, newer medications are designed to prevent the buildup of chemicals thought to contribute to memory loss. For vascular dementia, doctors generally focus on controlling risk factors such as hypertension and high cholesterol.

In addition, there are treatments designed to manage symptoms associated with dementia, such as sleep disorders, movement problems, depression, irritability, or agitation. Although these drugs cannot reverse existing brain damage, they may improve an individual’s quality of life and ease the burden on caregivers.

Early Warnings Signs Of Alzhiemers

Are you concerned that a loved one may be suffering from Alzheimer's disease? Read on to learn about the most common early sympstoms.

For millions of Americans, it's an all-too-familiar scenario: Suddenly, a loved one will start asking the same question repeatedly, telling the same story continuously, or behaving inappropriately. His or her close friends, spouses, or children notice it but dismiss it simply as "getting old." And who can blame them? We all forget things when we get older.

But then, friends, spouses, and children become increasingly concerned as the memory lapses get worse: Their loved one leaves a stove burner on or can't remember how to get home. The truth is, concern is very important at this stage: Memory loss is one of the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease—a debilitating condition that affects more than 5.1 million older Americans.


Identifying the Symptoms

It's important to pay close attention if your loved one is exhibiting unusual memory loss or any of the following early warning signs:

• Asking the same question repeatedly.

• Telling the same story several times.

• Forgetting basic life skills, such as how to cook or other activities accomplished with ease before.

• Forgetting how to pay bills or do other basic financial tasks.

• Getting lost in familiar surroundings, such as in their own neighborhoods.

• Stopping bathing and wearing the same clothes continuously. When asked about it, they insist they've bathed and are wearing clean clothes.

• Turning to others for simple decisions that they otherwise would tackle themselves.

As the disease progresses, patients may stumble over simple words, misplacing objects in bizarre places, using poor judgment about simple decisions, exhibiting rapid mood swings, becoming suspicious and fearful, having delusions or hallucinations, or simply losing initiative.

Experts warn, however, that having one or a few of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that your loved one has Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. But according to the Alzheimer's Association, any of these signs warrants a visit to a neurologist or psychiatrist—medical professionals trained in diagnosing and treating such problems.

Something Must know About alzheimers

What families need to know when a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

For many families, determining whether their loved on has age-related memory problems or Alzheimer's disease(AD) can be a challenge. And if their family member is diagnosed with AD, they then face a daunting, open-ended question: "Now what?" Most Alzheimer's caregivers wish that they had known early on what to expect in terms of the disease's progression and their loved one's behaviors. Refer to the following guide to help prepare for what comes next.

Stages of Alzheimer's
The progression of Alzheimer's disease is highly individual, so it's impossible to predict your loved one's specific behaviors over time with certainty. However, experts have classified the disease into early, mid, and late stages, and the following time frames can serve as general guidelines for families:

Early Stage: 2 to 4 Years (Diagnosis Usually Occurs at End of This Stage)
• Short-term memory loss
• Loss of problem-solving and judgment
• Attention span of about 15 minutes
• Talks around ideas; some word loss
Mid Stage: 2 to 10 Years Following Diagnosis
• No short-term memory
• Little long-term memory
• Attention span of 2 minutes
• Difficulty understanding others
• Extensive assistance with activities of daily living
• Episodes of incontinence
Late Stage: 1 to 3 Years
• Attention span of a few seconds
• Total assistance with activities of daily living
• No awareness of person, place, time, or purpose of objects
• Incontinence & loss of motor skills

Communication Tips
Experienced caregivers usually wish they had been prepared early on to communicate with their loved ones as their skills declined. Keep in mind that positive communication and warm interactions form the basis of caring care giving. The following speech, body language, and body movement guidelines can be helpful as you interact with your loved one (not surprisingly, these are the same basics taught to all health-care professionals who interact with Alzheimer's patients, whether at home or in residential-care settings):

How to Talk
• Slow, calm speech
• Sincere tonality
• Simple, short sentences
• Offer verbal prompts for assistance
.Avoid asking, "Do you remember...?"
• Give loved one extra time to answer
Body Language
• Cheerful face
• Use gentle touch for reassurance and guidance
• Use gestures as visual cues to help loved one
• Use hand-on-hand to demonstrate use of objects or actions
Body Movement
• Calm, non-threatening movements
• Approach your loved one from the front to avoid frightening him or her
• Avoid startling your loved one awake in the morning or from a nap

As with all things, practice makes (almost) perfect, so be patient with yourself as you incorporate these basics into your care giving approach.

Foods That May Prevent Alzhiemers Disease

A growing body of research suggests that antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the onset of the disease.

There are still many questions surrounding Alzheimer's disease—a degenerative brain disorder and form of dementia that currently has no cure. Although the evidence is not conclusive, several studies, including one conducted by the Alzheimer's Association, suggest that foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the onset of the disease.

Antioxidants may help combat the negative effects of the brain's oxidation process. Meanwhile, omega-3 fatty acids may slow the growth of two brain lesions that are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease.

Consider incorporating the following six "brain foods" into your diet:

Spinach and other leafy green vegetables. These foods contain vitamin E and are also rich in antioxidants. Other good options include kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe.

Salmon and other fatty fish, such as tuna. It is believed that these foods, packed with omega-3s, can prevent memory loss. That said, you should talk to your doctor about the effects of mercury in fish and seafood.

Breakfast cereals are often fortified with vitamins, minerals, and folic acid. Check the nutrition label to make sure.

Nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans. You can also use peanut or sunflower-seed oil as a substitute for canola oil when cooking or baking.

Fruit Salad, made with dark-skinned berries and fruits indicate an abundance of antioxidants. Try a mix of apple slices, cherries, red grapes, raspberries, and strawberries. If you don't want your apple slices to turn brown, sprinkle them with lemon juice.

Grilled or steamed foods are a healthy alternative to fried meat and vegetables, which are fatty and striped of their nutrients. Keep in mind that grilled fruit can also make a great dessert.

Tips For Alzhemer’s Caregivers

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease can be a challenge.
more than 10 million Americans are currently caring for a relative with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Although the task can be challenging and even overwhelming at times, there are things you can do to ease the process. Keep these tips in mind when caring for your loved one:

• Take time to grieve. It's normal to grieve for the loss of the person your loved one used to be. Remember that even though your loved one is still physically there, a loss has taken place.

• Make a schedule. Determine the time of day when your loved one is the calmest and most agreeable. Schedule the most difficult tasks, such as bathing or medical appointments, for that time period. Established routines can help make the day more predictable and less confusing.

• Create a safe environment. Remove throw rugs, extension cords, or other clutter that may cause your loved one to trip and fall. Install locks on cabinets that contain potentially dangerous items, such as guns, medication, alcohol, and sharp utensils. Keep a fire extinguisher, working smoke alarms, and a first-aid kit easily accessible.

• Let him or her help. Involve your loved one in tasks as much as possible. Alzheimer’s patients may might enjoy dressing themselves if the clothes are laid out in the order they need to go on.


• Limit choices. Having fewer options makes decision-making easier. For example, provide two outfits to choose between, instead of a closet full of clothes. Minimize distractions at mealtimes or during conversations so that your loved one can focus on one thing at a time.

• Make communication easier. Address your loved one by name, talk slowly and clearly, and use familiar words and short sentences.

• Allow ample time. Expect things to take longer than they used to. Allow additional time to complete even simple tasks so that tasks aren't rushed and stressful. Provide simple instructions one step at a time.

• Take time off. Schedule regular breaks, and make time to get out of the house. Friends may be able to assist with home care, or consider placing your loved one in elder care a few times a week.