Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia and not only does it afflict more than 25 million people around the world, family members such as a spouse or child are often faced with the task of caring for an individual who eventually might not even remember them and also may be aggressive and angry due to the effects of dementia.
Typically the disease progresses in stages, and the early stages can be difficult because while you might encourage your parent or spouse to visit a doctor and see if Alzheimer's is the cause of their issues, the person is obviously quite fearful of hearing the diagnosis and might resist seeing a medical professional. Once the diagnosis has been made, many patients become understandably angry and fearful and might lash out at loved ones.
It isn't easy, but keep in mind that their anger is absolutely not about you, but about fear and confusion. Imagine how you would feel if you lost your memory and were constantly confused and bewildered. Anxiety can be lessened to an extent by reducing the stimulus and stress surrounding the person with the disease. Make life as simple as possible with no responsibilities, and just meals and activities. Skip events where there will be too many people and too much noise, and while visiting with people is very important, limit the visits to just one or two people. Clean up the house and bedroom so that taking care of basic needs is as simple as possible.
Learn how to answer questions in a way that makes the person feel as though you are listening, but without making the situation more confusing. So if a parent asks where they are or who you are, respond by telling them that they are safe and then perhaps distract them by telling them that it is time for lunch or that you are fixing them a cup of tea. If they tell you they need to go to visit a relative that already is deceased, rather than arguing the point, simply ask them some questions about this loved one. Often a comfort object can be used, such as a blanket or a pillow. A person can hold this soft object and it can increase their level of security.
As this disease progresses, it often becomes very difficult for a child or spouse to truly meet all of the needs of a person with severe dementia. At this point, it is wise to consider looking at different eldercare choices in your area. Talk to the experts at CarePlacement.com, which is a service that specializes in matching people to the most ideal eldercare options. They can find a facility that is suitable for someone with dementia, as well as one that fits within your budget.
Your budget will be a major factor in which type of facility that you choose. Typically assisted living homes and board & care homes are more expensive than nursing homes because these skilled nursing facilities do accept Medi-Cal while the other two options do not. At CarePlacement.com, the team of eldercare specialists will look at all of the facilities in your area that meet your needs and provide you with a list of suitable, pre-screened places to consider.
Typically the disease progresses in stages, and the early stages can be difficult because while you might encourage your parent or spouse to visit a doctor and see if Alzheimer's is the cause of their issues, the person is obviously quite fearful of hearing the diagnosis and might resist seeing a medical professional. Once the diagnosis has been made, many patients become understandably angry and fearful and might lash out at loved ones.
It isn't easy, but keep in mind that their anger is absolutely not about you, but about fear and confusion. Imagine how you would feel if you lost your memory and were constantly confused and bewildered. Anxiety can be lessened to an extent by reducing the stimulus and stress surrounding the person with the disease. Make life as simple as possible with no responsibilities, and just meals and activities. Skip events where there will be too many people and too much noise, and while visiting with people is very important, limit the visits to just one or two people. Clean up the house and bedroom so that taking care of basic needs is as simple as possible.
Learn how to answer questions in a way that makes the person feel as though you are listening, but without making the situation more confusing. So if a parent asks where they are or who you are, respond by telling them that they are safe and then perhaps distract them by telling them that it is time for lunch or that you are fixing them a cup of tea. If they tell you they need to go to visit a relative that already is deceased, rather than arguing the point, simply ask them some questions about this loved one. Often a comfort object can be used, such as a blanket or a pillow. A person can hold this soft object and it can increase their level of security.
As this disease progresses, it often becomes very difficult for a child or spouse to truly meet all of the needs of a person with severe dementia. At this point, it is wise to consider looking at different eldercare choices in your area. Talk to the experts at CarePlacement.com, which is a service that specializes in matching people to the most ideal eldercare options. They can find a facility that is suitable for someone with dementia, as well as one that fits within your budget.
Your budget will be a major factor in which type of facility that you choose. Typically assisted living homes and board & care homes are more expensive than nursing homes because these skilled nursing facilities do accept Medi-Cal while the other two options do not. At CarePlacement.com, the team of eldercare specialists will look at all of the facilities in your area that meet your needs and provide you with a list of suitable, pre-screened places to consider.
About the Author:
Kristana Jenson loves reading home health care blogs. For additional details regarding assisted living San Diego facilities or for help finding board and care Solana Beach services, please check out the CarePlacement.com site now.
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