When it comes to Alzheimer’s care, sleep often becomes one of the biggest challenges for patients and their caregivers. Restless nights, disrupted routines, and round-the-clock responsibilities can take a toll. But sleep isn’t just a comfort; it’s essential for health, patience, and resilience. For those living with Alzheimer’s, sleep REST MATTER
Mission Im-paw-sible
Florida Cat’s Epic Getaway From the Vet
difficulties are common. Changes in the brain can disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to nighttime wandering, confusion, and restlessness. Lack of rest often makes symptoms like memory problems, anxiety, and agitation worse, which can feel overwhelming for the patient and caregiver. But here’s the piece many
No one likes going to the doctor, but for one Florida feline, a routine visit to the vet turned into a daring escape. Just after being neutered at SPCA Florida, George the cat put his kitty GPS to the test when he broke out of his cage, trying to make his way home. As if his daring getaway wasn’t impressive enough, the tabby scampered across 3 miles full of obstacles to return to his owners’ doorstep. On the day of the incident, George managed to pop his cage open and scurry out in a matter of seconds. Still loopy on anesthesia, the housecat evaded clinic staff, scaling up fencing before disappearing. Employees did everything they could to stop the escape artist, lifting each other over fences, but George was too quick and determined to catch. Owner Bob Beasock was heartbroken by the news and searched for his little buddy alongside clinic staff for nearly a week. Just when it looked like they might never find his furry companion, Bob found him at home, curled up in his favorite armchair in the carport. “There was George, stretched out in his chair in our carport, looking like he had just returned from a grand adventure,” Bob told reporters. “He was a bit thinner, clearly hungry, but otherwise no worse for the wear.” Though George was unscathed, his journey home was no walk in the park. He had to trek through multiple subdivisions, maneuver around a couple of lakes, and cross five or six roads to reach his destination.
caregivers overlook: Their sleep is just as critical. Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is demanding, and too often, caregivers push through exhaustion to “get it all done.” Over time, sleep deprivation drains
energy, weakens the immune system, and fuels stress. It can also heighten feelings of frustration or burnout, making it harder to provide the calm, steady presence their loved one needs.
Cats are skilled navigators who use a combination of scent, visual markers, and even geomagnetism to find their way around. But George’s journey wasn’t all prompted by a deep instinct or fear of the vet; he just wanted to get back to his owner. Though they express it more subtly than dogs, research has found that cats love their humans and form a deep attachment with their owners. Bob was relieved to find George safe and sound, but said he would have done it just a little differently if he ever found himself fleeing his doctor’s appointment. “If I had been stuck there, I would’ve called an Uber. But George didn’t have that option.”
Puzzle Time!
2 TrinityElderLaw.com
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