Alzheimer's

 

Welcome to Christine’s Blogging Zone, topic of discussion today is Alzheimer’s. Going along in life we hear people mention Alzheimer’s disease but many of us may not know what it is or even know the effects it may have on a person and their family or the caregivers that take care of them.

 

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that destroys the memory and other important mental functions, connections between brain cells and the brain cells themselves degenerate and die which in turn causes a steady decline in one’s mental function as well as their memory.  There unfortunately is no cure for Alzheimer’s at this time.

 

How to spot the signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Many people start off with increasing forgetfulness and or a mild case of confusion but over time Alzheimer’s causes a person to lose their memory, more so recent memories. As the disease progresses people are faced with disorientation, forgetting what day it is, where they are or even their current life circumstances. Many people with Alzheimer’s also find it difficult to identify objects or even take part in a simple conversation, writing their own name becomes a challenge and reading becomes harder. Concentrating or thinking about advanced concepts becomes increasingly difficult. One may be unable to track and manage their own finances or pay their bills. Everyday decisions become troublesome and unable to differentiate between situations causes an increasing challenge for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s. You may notice a change in your loved ones mood, personality, and or behavior. People with Alzheimer’s often experience some of the following:

 

·         Depression

·         Social withdraw

·         Mood swings

·         Distrust in people around them

·         Changes in sleeping patterns

·         Irritability and aggressiveness

·         Loss of inhibitions/Wandering

 

 

As a family member, friend or caregiver of someone suffering from Alzheimer’s it is important to remember not to take it personally if they act different towards you. It is hard to sometimes accept the fact that someone we have loved for so long all of a sudden forgets who we are or their mood changes rapidly and they become angry or withdrawn. As a close person in their life we need to have the ability to support them in any situation and be the one constant non changing factor for them.

 

 

Here are a few tips on how to help a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s, it is important to remember to have patience when assisting them in any way.  When communicating it is always important to choose simple words, keep sentences short and speak in a calm and gentle tone so that the person you are speaking with does not feel threatened. Making eye contact and using their name frequently is also important. It is always a good idea to establish a routine that will help make each day predictable to the person suffering from Alzheimer’s. It is important to take your time while completing tasks, give fewer options so there is less of a chance of getting confused or agitated.

 

 

Alzheimer’s is not an easy disease to deal with, but if you become educated on the topic it makes handling it as a caregiver a bit easier. If you are interested in obtaining more information I encourage you to look at following link: Alzheimer's Association.

 

 

November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, be sure to wear Purple in support of those who suffer from this unfortunate Disease and for those who care for them.

 

 

Thank you again for reading and I hope to have you return next week for a Blog addressing Breast Cancer which is a  topic that is near and dear to my heart.

 

Signing Off-

 

Chrissy

 

*Certain information referenced came from http://www.mayoclinic.com/