This is Number 19 in a series of articles written by Frank S. P. Yacino regarding Alzheimer’s disease. He is the husband and caregiver for his wife Barbara who has been struggling with this disease for over fifteen years.

One of Barbara’s unhealthy and unsanitary habits that she developed about mid-stage of this disease was to touch her feces when she was still able to go to the bathroom alone. I would see signs of this on the shower curtain and the walls. She would do it at night in bed and wipe her hands on the sheets and side of the mattress, which I wouldn’t see until   the morning. If she were lying on the couch during the day and evening she’d wipe her hand on the back of the couch or side. I used to put towels there to protect the furniture. She was so fast in doing this that it was almost impossible to catch her in the act. It seemed that when I would leave the area she’d get the urge to put her hand down her pants and wipe the feces wherever she was.

This went on for some time and it finally became necessary to start using pampers and I started to toilet her each time she had the need to go to the bathroom. Even at that she would try to touch the feces in her pamper as I would pull it down. I can recall one day when she actually put her fingers in her mouth with feces on them when I turned to get something out of the closet. In a split second it was done and I attempted to get as much out as I could with a tissue. From that time on I was very diligent in watching what she would do when I toileted her. This situation was one of the many phases that a patient may go through. I have heard from other caregivers that their patients have had the same issue that Barbara had, but they do get out of the phase at some point in time. Recall my statements in earlier articles that all patients are not exactly the same, so what may happen to some may not happen to others. Many stories are told at out Support Meetings of the caregiver’s experiences that are similar to the situation someone else may have.

Another unhealthy trait that is difficult for us to deal with is that of brushing Barbara’s teeth. When the toothbrush is placed in Barbara’s mouth she has a tendency to want to bite down on it and of course this becomes a problem brushing with her mouth closed. Barbara has not been to a dentist since 2004 and her not being able to speak to alert us to any issues with her teeth makes it important that we at least try to brush them once a day. For a period of time after being diagnosed she was still able to take care of her brushing. I had purchased a battery powered brush and she enjoyed the vibration and noise it made. When she stopped using the brush she’d let me do it for her and that lasted a few months. I also used to be able to floss her teeth at night, mid-2008, with the little plastic floss picks while she was lying on the couch and then that stopped because she’d bite down on the plastic.

So, the challenge was before us-----how can we brush her teeth. If you have been a follower of these articles you may remember me mentioning an item that we discovered, while attending a Support Group meeting in the third paragraph of Article 3, and that was a Chewy Tube. Barbara would always bite on a pencil or a pen when doing her word-find puzzles, a habit that is called Oral Fixation. So we purchased these Chewy tubes for her to bite on like a baby would do with a pacifier. Well now we are using it each day to help in brushing Barbara’s teeth. The Chewy Tube has a hole in one end that will fit over a pen and we put that into her mouth the same time we put the toothbrush in. As Barbara chomps down on the pen we have enough room to move the brush around in her mouth to do the best we can with the brushing. It’s probably not the best of hygienic methods but at least we are getting toothpaste on her teeth and trying to get what food is there off the teeth.

Barbara has all of her natural teeth so of course the issues we are describing here certainly would not apply to someone who has dentures.

A trait that Barbara had that was certainly unsanitary by normal standards was to go into restrooms when we were traveling and go through the trash bin. The first time that I noticed this, as she was still able to toilet herself at this time, was when we were going to Maine and had stopped at the Chelmsford rest stop on Route 495. When she came out of the restroom she had a magazine, which I don’t know where she got, and it was stuffed with some unknown material. She sort of hid it under the seat and when we got to Kittery I decided to park the car as far away from the Trading Post as possible. Barbara liked to walk so when we got out of the car I suggested that she take a little walk and I’d catch up with her. With her back toward me, I went to look at what she had put under the seat. What I found wrapped up in the magazine were seven tampon holders. I had a pair of gloves in the car so I carefully removed the contents of the magazine and disposed of the items, along with the magazine, never to be seen again. When I caught up with Barbara I didn’t say a thing about what I had found or done with them. When we got back to the car she looked under the seat but never said a word about the magazine not being there. I lucked out on that experience without a confrontation.

So from that time on, whenever we would travel and Barbara had to use the restroom I would ask someone to keep an eye on her in the restroom and I explained why. We were at an Olive Garden restaurant in Manchester, Conn., one day and Barbara wanted to go to the restroom before we left. I asked the hostess if she would go in with Barbara and again explained why and when I did she said, ”I’d be glad to do that and I’ll bring in a clean trash bag and remove the old one before she gets to it. My grandmother was like that.” No matter where we traveled and I’d ask someone to help me no one ever refused and several of them knew what was going on because one of their family members was also afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.

Barbara also liked to pick trash up off the ground, including gum. This was very unsanitary to say the least. Other items were stones, elastic bands for pony tails, any kind of trash, paper clips, washers, pins, jewelry, pieces of glass, etc. I still have some of that trash in a jar at home.

Barbara had no control over these idiosyncrasies; this disease was tormenting her and making her do things that she never did before.

(The Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets every second Monday of the month from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., at the Accord Adult Daycare Center, 10 Cudworth Road, Webster.) 

By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

I continue to receive a number of questions surrounding a local intersection.  The particular area referenced was along Webster’s Main Street near the Dudley line, between Pleasant Street and Davis Street. There are two traffic signals in this location, one at Pleasant Street and the other before the railroad tracks near Davis Street.  Both traffic signals operate simultaneously.  When drivers are heading toward Dudley and stop at the red light near the tracks, is it legal to proceed over the railroad tracks, through the first red signal, and stop at the second light?  

This area, despite the close proximity of the respective signals, is to be treated the same as any stand alone traffic light.  Basically, it is a violation to proceed through the first stop light and stop at the second traffic signal.  A solid red traffic signal is the same whether it is near railroad tracks, a street intersection, or other area.  The only movements which can be made contrary to these signals are authorized turns on red (Right on red, unless it is otherwise prohibited) or when directed by a police officer.    

This location can be confusing as there are three areas of concern.  There are the tracks, the intersections of both roads, and the crosswalks.  You must pay particular attention as it is a violation to stop on the tracks, in the crosswalk, or block the intersection.  The law requires a vehicle to stop a minimum of fifteen feet from the railroad tracks.  The light near the tracks is present to insure drivers stop a sufficient distance from the tracks.  Several stop lines are present in this area.  Violations generally call for civil fines.  This area is very busy with both vehicle and pedestrian traffic.  For safety purposes, please wait the few extra minutes and observe the appropriate markings and signals.

I wish to take a moment to thank The Patriot Newspaper for their many years of service to our area and, in particular, their assistance with printing this column every week.  This article has the distinction of appearing in the final edition of the paper due out on May 8^th.  For over 10 years, the dedicated staff of the paper has printed this column, printed public information, and provided a tremendous service to our department without hesitation.  They have covered numerous events and stories over the years and their presence will be surely missed in our area.  I wish everyone there the best of luck for the future.

Thanks again for your questions and comments.  Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen.  

Q: When my kids get in the car, they immediately mess with the music that is playing, tuning in whatever they want to play (some ask first).  Is there a correlation between what they are listening to and the mood they are in and if so how can I take advantage of that?   …………………..a happy mom

A:  Many recent studies confirm what mothers have know for years, music does make a difference to the quality of your life, the kids lives, and in relationships in general.  Music is a great mood regulator.  Loud, upbeat music generally has a stimulating effect while slow music can act as a sedative.

Music actually changes the way parts of your brain work, touching the feel good part of the brain as well as the decision making part of the brain.

There is marked improvement in healing when using music as part of therapy.  Health professionals are tapping into this knowledge, “it’s the music’s rhythm, melody and tonal quality that puts patients in that special place where healing can be achieved faster.”  For example, Harvard researchers have discovered that certain rhythms, such as harp music, can cause your heart to beat more regularly.  Studies in the 1990’s concluded that music significantly lowered the heart rates and calmed and regulated the blood pressures and respiration rates of patients who had undergone surgery.

Music therapy has also been shown to boost your immune system, improve mental focus, help control pain, create feelings of well-being, improve motor skills of those suffering from strokes, reduce anxiety and depression.  The researcher’s findings suggested the importance of using music therapy for pregnant women, to reduce depression, anxiety and stress for the mother as well as benefits for the baby.  Neonatal studies show the entrainment occurring when parents sing lullabies to the infant enhances bonding, decreases stress, changed the heart rates and improved the sucking response.  Something else mothers already knew and research just confirmed.

Using music when you work out helps to increase your flow, last longer and be stronger. Music playing in restaurants directly effects what and how much you drink.  When you are listening to music it messes with your sense of time—think of the on hold music on the phone, it is designed to make you think you waited less time.

It turns out that studying music from a very early age gives you an advantage when it comes to perceiving the emotions of others.  People who play instruments at near professional levels can detect subtle changes in the intonations in the vocal tones of others.  They know whether you are sad even if you say you’re fine.  Also the fact that they studied music makes them better able to screen out the background noise and they are better able to pay attention to what you are saying.

Encourage your children’s interest in music, especially learning an instrument.  Eventually they may even learn to appreciate the years you put up with missed notes, screeching strings and never ending Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

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Q: When I visit my elderly parent I notice that there are some discrepancies with money and general confusion with the details of finances.  Should I be worried that something is going on?  I hear stories of elders being targeted for scams but I don’t want to intrude  if there isn’t a problem.  What are some of the signs that I should be watching for?

A: They say there is a study that will prove just about any theory you want to espouse. With that in mind I read about a study recently that indicated that as we age there are certain parts of the brain that become less able to discern truth and falsehood, especially as it relates to reading the visual clues of the people around them. They indicate that the part of the brain that registers unworthiness and subtle danger isn’t as active in older people. Personally I like the theory better that older folks were raised in a time where scamming wasn’t so prevalent and it wasn’t as necessary to have scam radar built into the genetic code. Perhaps they are a more trusting generation.

But whatever the reason, the fact is that older citizens are specifically being targeted.  Surveys also show that the average age of fraud victims is between 80 and 89, losing approximately $2.9 billion a year to fraud.  Fraud victims tend to be much more likely to get junk mail, open junk mail, listen to unknown callers on the telephone who are telemarketing and generally leave themselves open to situations in which they can be defrauded.

The current big scams is coins.  The caller will tell the person that the stock market and money markets aren’t safe anymore and the only safe place to put their money is in precious metals.  The genius of this scam is that you actually get the coins, but at a cost of four or five times their actual value.

One recent study reported in Consumers Digest estimated that there are at least 5 million cases of this financial abuse in the US each year, but law enforcement or government officials learn about only 1 in 25 cases.

Scammers target elders that they perceive to be vulnerable—those who are isolated, lonely, physically or mentally disabled, unfamiliar with handling their own finances or have recently lost a spouse.  They often pose as trustworthy helpers.  They can be strangers such as telemarketers or tradespeople, or have a relationship with the targeted victim, such as friends, family members, doctors, lawyers, accountants and paid or volunteer caregivers.

Keep an eye out for these common scams.  1.Telemarketing or mail fraud—the US Dept. of Justice estimates that $40 billion is stolen each year with 80% of it from people over 50.  This includes credit card fraud and identity theft as well as lottery scams.  2.Getting unauthorized access to funds—alleged suitors and the like gaining access to funds.  Charging excessive amounts of money— smooth talking scammers convince the elder they need a service or product and then charge excessive amounts for it.  3.Selling Bogus items.  4.Using fraudulent legal documents.  5.Making pigeon drops. 6.Faking an injury scenario.  7.Offering false prize money.  A good example of this is the Canadian “You have won the lottery” scam.  It requires you to send money for “fees and taxes” to actually collect the prize. It is estimated that one billion dollars has been stolen this way.       8.Doing unsolicited home repair work.  The workmen will come to the door, say they see work that needs to be done and then do a shoddy job, overcharge and then often set the person up to be robbed after the fact.

    There are some things to watch out for if you have elderly loved ones who is your responsibility.  Watch for large or unusual transactions from bank accounts or large credit card charges that can’t be explained.  Checks that are missing or have suspicious signatures.  An individual who suddenly forms close attachments to the elder getting access to his or her home, money, etc.  Large number of unpaid bills.  Missing property.  Entry forms and prizes from contests and payments made for ‘free’ vacations or merchandise. Activity in authorized signers and beneficiaries.  Any newly executed documents, wills or POAs.  Untreated physical or mental problems.  Sudden social isolation.

If possible address your concerns with the elder.  The advise from experts is, “Hang up.  Throw it away.  Don’t open it up. Don’t go to any free lunches or seminars.  Stop it at the source.”

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about?  Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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Q:  We hear repeatedly that people are drinking less water than their bodies need to perform at peak capacity.  How can I tell if I’m getting enough, what are the signs?   Also what kind of water is best? ……………………………………………… Sybel, W

A:  Let’s begin with a few statistics.  According to studies done in the medical community 75% of all Americans are chronically dehydrated.  So if you are asking, you probably are.  It is estimated that as many as 40% of Americans can’t even read the signs that the body sends for ‘thirst.’  

Even mild dehydration will slow your metabolism down by around 30% (note: weight will increase) and it is also the number one cause for fatigue during the day.  Preliminary research shows that back pain and joint pain is significantly reduced if you take the recommended 8—10 glasses of plain water every day—water—not soda, not coffee with sugar and cream, not juice or alcoholic drinks. 

A 2% drop in your body’s water level results in such things as fuzzy short term memory loss, difficulty in making change, focusing on the computer screen or the page of your book.  If you notice any of these symptoms, drink a glass of water first, before you reach for something to eat, pop a pill or chug an ‘energy’ drink.  Other symptoms could include heartburn, stomach ache, non-infectious recurring or chronic pain, low back pain, headache, high cholesterol, premature aging, autoimmune disease, UTI. mental irritation and depression. 

 Being properly hydrated reduces the risk of all types of cancer by a significant amount.  It is also an important factor in maintaining your weight, your breathing, elimination, digestion, joints, muscle tone and more.  If weight management is an issue for you take note that not drinking enough water will slow the metabolism down and the fat will not be broken down properly causing bloating and water retention. 

The recommended minimum for a healthy person is eight to ten eight-ounce glasses of clear water a day.  You would need more if you exercise or live in a hot climate.  Overweight persons should drink an additional glass for each 25 lbs. they are over their ideal weight.  The general guidelines are to drink 50 to 75% of your weight in ounces: ie if you weigh 150 lbs and live a sedentary life than you would need 75 ounces of fluids daily.  Dividing that by the number of hours you are awake that would be about 5 ounces per hour. 

As a general guideline, drink water (not soda) when you feel thirsty and watch that your urine output is light yellow or clear most of the time. Although various beverages and foods such as soups and juices contain some water, it is best to obtain your daily water requirements from drinking water. Drinks like coffee and alcoholic beverages are diuretics, which cause your body to lose water, so avoid them as much as possible.

The American Society of Nephrology warns that there is little evidence that there is a health benefit from drinking morethan the recommended amount.  In fact the body can get saturated and lose its sodium balance causing a number of unpleasant symptoms.  The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day and is only challenged if you drink too much at one time.  Sipping 5 to 9 ounces an hour works really well.

Now that we know why and how much water to drink, let’s explore what kind of water is best.  Tap, bottled, filtered, distilled, reverse osmosis, alkaline, vitamin, or living, which is best?

The most available water is the stuff that comes out of your kitchen faucet.  While that may have been ‘clean’ many ears ago, today there are a number of contaminants frequently found in both municipal water and surface and well water.  Arsenic, Aluminum, fluoride, prescription drugs, Disinfection ByProducts (DBPs) and more than 600 different toxins are often found in public water supplies.  The real danger here is in the interaction of the ingredients and the fact that most water delivery systems only test and report roughly 80 of the hundreds of known potentially hazardous elements found in

The next most available water is the bottled variety you find in most stores and vending machines.  If you read the labels carefully you will see the majority of bottled water sold today is just municipal city water filtered to remove the chlorine and bad tasting elements. Almost all of this water is bottled in plastic bottles which then leaches out the bisphenol A or BPA, the synthetic hormone disruptors known to create many other health problems—not to mention the devastating impact plastic water bottles have on the ecosystem.

Alkaline water and distilled water are excellent for use in detoxification and short term use, but can result in danger in the long term as it pulls toxins from the body very effectively.  Drinking it long term can invite other health problems, especially if the minerals that are leached out of the body are not replaced.  Alkaline water has also been linked to changes in the body’s natural digestive process and disrupt the good bacteria.

“Vitamin” waters are nothing more than a clever marketing scheme designed to promote a product that is just as unhealthy as soda.  It contains high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and is mixed with distilled water.

Now we come to filtered tap water using Reverse Osmosis filters, Ion exchange filters and Granular Carbon Filters. Ideally, you want a filtration system that offers a variety of methods to remove different contaminants,  Most systems do not address a combination of organic, inorganic, cyst, sediment and metals.  The Pure and Clean filtering systems do seem to address the multiple methods of filtering out contaminants.

Living water—that which hasn’t been messed with would be mountain spring water, being in the healthy neutral ph range of 6.5 to 7.5.   It is some of the healthiest water on the planet because it is ’living water’.  Living water, like ’living food is in its raw natural state the way nature intended.  Gravity-fed water is alive in the same way as raw organic food.  When you take this vital energy into your body you are recharging it with health and encouraging it to return to a whole and balanced state.  I am not referring to the two gallon jugs you see at the grocery store, but the bottle you fill yourself from a gravity fed stream.  There’s a great website called FindaSpring.com where you can find a natural spring in your area.  It’s a great way to get back to nature and the best part is that most of these spring water sources are free.  Be sure to bring glass containers or chemical free containers so your nice clean water doesn’t get contaminated. 

Check out the Alex Caisse Spring in Willimantic CT  for a free natural spring water source.

NATURAL HEALING staff gathers information from many reliable sources and publications validating the information as much as possible.  Magdalena Dakin is a certified Healing Practitioner working with people from all walks of life to help them gain and maintain their optimum health.

by Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

The subject of passing vehicles was recently brought to my attention.  The person noted a problem with some vehicles traveling partially on the roadway shoulder while passing another vehicle on the right.  They also noted some roads have signs posted prohibiting this type of activity.  I was asked to remind people about the laws pertaining to passing on the right.

By Michelle LaFleche
Webster Animal Control Officer

Easter night arrived dark, damp and rainy.   I was tired after a long day enjoying the holiday with family and friends and looking forward to relaxing before bedtime.  Unfortunately, along with the arrival of the dismal weather came a sore throat, stuffy nose and constant sneezing.   I was feeling pretty miserable to say the least.  I decided to try to call it a night sooner than usual.  As a result, I had to let all the dogs outside for their final potty before morning.   As I opened the door to allow the group out into the dog yard, I caught a movement to my right inside the kennel closest to the house. 

As I took a closer look, I saw what at first glance appeared to be a lizard scurrying towards my direction in the kennel.   Turns out, it was a spotted salamander about five inches long.  I had not seen one of these amphibians since I was a kid.

By Chief Steven J. Wojnar
Dudley Police Department

 In today’s world, there are a number of phone, computer, or mail “scams” taking place.  People can unwittingly become a victim of a larceny or identity theft by sending money to unconfirmed locations or providing personal / bank information.  Our department has recently been investigating several phone scams which are rather concerning.  I wanted to bring this information to the attention of the readers of this column in the event you may receive similar calls.

At least two area residents have reported receiving phone calls from people presenting themselves as law enforcement officials.  They inform the victim that they owe outstanding fines or money on a loan.  The people are then threatened to have a warrant issued for their arrest if they do not pay these amounts.  Some people have been coerced into sending money.  They are told to purchase pre-paid debit cards and provide the callers with the card numbers.

Q: My wife insists that the baked potato chips are a healthier alternative than the traditional fried chips? I think they usually taste kind of bland and not worth eating. What do you think?” 

A: It seems as if this is yet another supposedly “healthy” food the manufacturers are producing to keep their market share.  Your wife has fallen prey to the advertising strategy employed to think we are doing good things for our bodies and making better choices.

Let’s look at potato chips.The original potato chip has 3 ingredients: potato, oil, salt.  In addition to the high calorie and salt content the concern here is the oil and transfat used to fry the chips. It is a saturated fat and the high temperatures used to make them  ensures exposure to the carcinogen acrylamide.