Living with Someone with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's is believed to happen due to several genetic, envoronmental and lifestyle factors. There are no current statistics to explain the exact cause of the trauma in the mind and the strucutres in the brains that are associated with new memory and learning. However, with extreme progression of the disease, the number of neural cells decreases and the overall brain shrinks as well. At this point, it may not be a result of the aging of the normal human body but together with the progression of Alzheimer's influence on the brain.

Some of the most common symptoms are constant forgetting or memory loss, constantly repeating things or not knowing that they are repeating themselves, an inability to make simple decisions without being directed and any change in mood or behavior. There are also physical symptoms that can be displayed. People at a moderate stage can become incontinent. Encourage the person to go to the toilet regularly, up to 8 times a day and at a regular time each day. People in late stage can have difficulty swallowing. Offer soft foods that are easy to swallow. Sometimes the symptoms can last weeks and sometimes they can last many years. Some people will find that the symptoms of the disease will develop gradually, before appearing to stabilise for a while. On the other hand some people will find that the symptoms of the disease will develop fast and soon after being diagnosed they will be looking at alternative accommodation options.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are three stages to this disease. In the early stages (mild Alzeimer's disease), a person has relatively minor decay of mental functioning and may only show a few symptoms. The symptoms of this stage can include increased forgetfulness, mild confusion, trouble handling money and paying bills, poor judgment, loss of spontaneity, and taking longer to complete normal daily activities. In the middle stages (moderate Alzheimer's disease), a person may have increased memory loss and confusion, and may need help with many activities of daily living. The symptoms of this stage can include forgetfulness of events or one's history, feeling moody or withdrawn especially in socially or mentally challenging situations, being unable to recall one's own address or telephone number or the high school or college from which they graduated, confused about the date or time of day, unable to manage instrumental activities of daily living. These instrumental activities of daily living can include shopping for groceries, following current events, taking medications, and managing money.

Providing Care and Support

Creating a safe and comfortable environment

When creating a safe and comfortable environment for a person with Alzheimer's disease, there are several areas and issues you need to consider, which can include their home, the type of care they require, and their personal security and safety. Before doing that, you should also consider the developmental stage of the disease as well as cater the environment to their sensory and physical needs. This includes making the physical environment safe, secure and accessible, as well as making the social environment calm and supportive, with a culture of understanding and good communication. For families, the knowledge that their loved one is safe and comfortable can really help them to cope with the stress that dementia brings.

Managing daily activities and routines

Encourage and support the person by ensuring they participate in some form of physical activity each day. Physical activity can be as simple as going for a short walk or even just doing some household chores. As a carer, there are a few steps you can follow to help the person living with Alzheimer's Disease to accomplish this kind of routine. First, ensure the activities are realistic. Even though some of the simplest activities, like simple house chores, can be accomplished by the person themselves, sometimes they might require help, especially if such a person is battling with moderate Alzheimer's.

Communicating effectively with the person

Some tips for communicating effectively with a person who has Alzheimer's include:

• Show respect and offer praise

• Use short, simple words and sentences

• Use nonverbal communication, such as gesture, to support your words

• Avoid arguing; accept the blame or offer a simple apology

• Introduce yourself whenever you approach the person, use their first name and maintain good eye contact

Dealing with challenging behaviors

Become self-aware. The person with Alzheimer's cannot control the disease but you can, understand that the challenging behaviour is caused by the disease and not by the person. Remember the person is distressed by their own behaviour also and may not be able to communicate how they feel. They may have difficulty remembering things, making decisions, and communicating with others so remember they are reacting to stress factors.escalating, the person.

What worked today may not work tomorrow. flexibility is key, try a range of techniques - be prepared to introduce new approaches if established ones don't work. Never take the behaviour personally. Take regular breaks if challenging behaviour is prolonged. Eating, sleeping, and exercise patterns can affect behaviour redirection and the like. Keep looking for triggers; stress, for instance, can magnify the behavioural symptom.

Taking Care of Yourself

Seeking support from family and friends

It is important to ask family and friends for help. They may be relieved to know how they can pitch in. Have any of them asked, "What can I do?" Take them up on the offer. If they haven't made the offer, take the chance to explain that you could use some help, and be clear about what kind of help would be good for you and the person for whom you are caring. Ask people to visit your relative so you can take a break. Ask them to visit or call you. Sometimes, just knowing that people are worried about you can help you bear up under stress. Make sure that they understand that the person they visit may have changed a lot. Sometimes when they see how different your relative is, they don't come back for another visit. If that happens, try to understand that this is a lot to ask. People are often afraid of situations like this. You might ask one of your friends or family members to meet with you about once a month or so to discuss what's happening. It's easy to get bogged down with tasks and not even know it.

Finding respite care options

Consider the different respite care options available, as well as the unique recommendations each has to offer. If regular respite care is essential, it can be very beneficial to reach out to numerous services and sources. If your family member is reluctant to accept respite care, you could clarify that it's primarily for the caregiver's welfare, meaning the one who's being looked after can stay in their ordinary environment with recurring respite breaks. Conversely**, try to find a way for the one suffering from the disease to comfort them**. To do so ethically, you could clarify that attempting among the available respite care choices enables the caregivers to continue longer in their role. Always have a back up in case the respite care service has to cancel.

Managing stress and caregiver burnout

Think about joining a support group. Caregiver support groups are filled with people who are going through what you are. It is also the best place to vent about your frustrations. Your temperament should be checked and you'll find that of course you are not alone in the way you feel. Although you may not think of it, you are more than likely very stressed out. You may act out of that stress, and that isn't healthy for you or your loved one. It is of vital importance that you learn how to manage your stress or else you WILL become a patient as well. Caregiver Burnout is a common, all too common ailment that sets in on a person without them evening knowing it.

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