Communication in Alzheimer's World
Life as an Alzheimer’s caregiver is not an easy one. Bob DeMarco with Alzheimer’s Reading Room writes on more efficient ways of coping with difficult behavior. The approach is that instead of constantly correcting your loved one, you should work with their mindset. The idea is that the one afflicted can’t change, that is up to the caregiver.
Instead of feeling obligated, the caregiver should choose their battles. There are many ways to respond to a person afflicted with Alzheimer’s, and through these responses behavior and the emotional/mental wellbeing of those in care can be greatly improved. This is an excellent article on proper and effective communication, as well as better understanding.
I feel very confident when I say this. While a person suffering from Alzheimer's can't remember, they are full of feelings and emotions. As a caregiver, when you try to correct a person with Alzheimer's you are likely to bring out a negative emotion in them.
How would you like to be told over and over -- you are wrong? How would you act? What emotion would you be likely to express? Would you like the person that is constantly telling you -- you are wrong? I'll let you decide the answer.
Effective communication with someone suffering from Alzheimer's requires you to identify the emotion behind the persons words. To learn ways to address what they are feeling and to validate those feelings. Right now, it is likely that when a person suffering from Alzheimer's says something that is opposed to reality --as you understand it -- that you immediately feel an urge to correct them (or worse). Is this you? You aren't listening when you do this.
You are making the situation about you and your feelings -- not about them. You are trying to drag the person into your world -- this is unlikely to happen and it rarely, if ever, works. You want to avoid any and all situations that lead to an argument. When an argument ensues it is likely that the person suffering from Alzheimer's gets agitated and says those mean and angry words you dread.
Read More at Alzheimer’s Reading Room
AlzCare – Quality Alzheimer’s treatment in Texas, New Braunfels, Victoria, Waco, and San Marcos
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1 in 5 Elder Americans Victims of Financial Swindling
As parents age, children and family members are often quick to pick up on areas of weakness. Mother needs a little help getting to the store. Father could use some help with the lawn. Both parents need help with everyday tasks that they once handled easily enough. Sadly, predators and con artists also know that the elderly are easy marks. Telemarketers have been preying on seniors for years. Easily confused, lonely, and wanting friendship, some senior citizens can be taken advantage of.
A recent study by the Investor Protection Trust and the National Adult Protective Services Association reveals that a shocking one in five senior citizens will be victims of financial fraud. The study showed that:
- One out of three seniors are currently being pitched by people calling or mailing them and asking for money.
- Almost half of people over 65 got at least two questions wrong when asked questions about basic financial planning and investment.
- Only 5% of aging adults’ medical providers have voiced concern about their ability to understand billing issues, while 20% of those same providers have expressed concerns about their cognitive abilities.
- When asked, 33% of seniors admit that they feel at risk for being taken advantage of financially.
Read more at Traditions Senior Living
AlzCare provides quality care and treatment for Alzheimer’s patients in Texas. Our main office is in New Braunfels, close to San Antonio. We also have offices in San Marcos, Victoria, Temple, and Waco.
| | | | | Probiotics Help Aging Digestive Tracts
One of the blogs we regularly follow is Nurse Virginia’s blog for aging patients. She is knowledgeable, practical, and regularly brings up subjects that you don’t often read about.
Recently Nurse Virginia noted a common problem with aging patients – their increasingly delicate balance of colon bacteria. Not all bacteria are harmful. Human digestion cannot occur without the symbiotic relationship we have developed with certain, helpful strains of bacteria. If a person is not careful with the use of antibiotic medications, he or she can find herself with serious digestive problems.
Those problems only increase as we get older.
Probiotics are helpful bacteria introduced into the human system to help carry out normal digestive and other functions.
Read More at Sodalis Elder Living.
AlzCare – Quality Alzheimer’s treatment in Texas, New Braunfels, Victoria, Waco, and San Marcos
| | | | | The High Cost of Elders Caring for Elders
Hollywood loves a story about a heroic spouse who remains devoted to the care of his or her sick partner. That kind of devotion is something we all want to believe in. We want to believe that the words “till death do us part” are taken seriously. And they should be taken seriously – certainly they should. Because of this, sometimes the spouse of an Alzheimer’s patient is reluctant to seek help in caring for their loved one.
Spouses of Alzheimer’s patients have a unique perspective. And a unique level of guilt as well. Spouses don’t want to admit that they are unable to care for a cherished loved one. That’s certainly understandable. But the physical and emotional toll of caring for an advancing Alzheimer’s patient are very real. And they can be devastating to the health of the surviving spouse.
The Arizona Republic recently published a story about a woman named Betty who tried very hard to care for her husband, who had Alzheimer’s disease. She steadfastly refused help, wanting to preserve his dignity, wanting to be faithful to her husband, wanting to do the right thing.
As the months passed, "we could see the stress level affecting her," recalls her daughter Linda Fenlon. "The frustrating part was, we wanted her to have some independence, some quality of life. But she saw it as her duty in life to take care of him."
For four years, Betty Crierie rarely asked for or accepted her family's help, until one Wednesday last June. As she left her support-group meeting, she remembers, "I got this funny feeling in my chest." It worsened on the 10-minute drive home. She called her daughter and said, "I'm calling 911. I think I'm having a heart attack."
Studies are now showing that spouses who care for Alzheimer’s patients for more than 4 years have a 63% higher mortality rate. Their risk of stroke is almost 25% higher as well. Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient takes an emotional and physical toll on anyone, and an aging spouse can easily be overwhelmed. And yet, husbands and wives are often the last to ask for help.
| | | | | Caregiver Permission
Bob DeMarco at Alzheimer’s Reading Room discusses the importance of acceptance that sometimes it is better to entrust the care of your loved one to another. Whether a facility, or an individual, many people who find themselves making this decision struggle with guilt.
And, what about you the Alzheimer's caregiver? Are you equipped emotionally to carry on; or, have you reached the point where you can no longer do it?
If you continue are you going to go over the edge into the depths of depression? Or, is it just this simple -- you can no longer care effectively. Are you at the point where you might be doing more bad then good? For yourself, for your loved one?
If someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease lives on until the severe stages it is likely that they will need the "professionals". People that are "hands on" experienced. People that have been there and know what to expect -- and what to do as a result of their collective experience. People that are on the job around the clock.
Most Alzheimer's caregivers come to the job with little or no experience. This is true even with professionals like doctors and nurses. Alzheimer's care giving is a unique experience for most. As a result, this lack of experience and lack of frame of reference eventually forces us to turn to the professionals for around the clock care.
Me? My goal is clear and straight forward. Make it to Hospice. Not into the Hospice. To the point where I can keep my mother at home with the help of Hospice. Will we make it? It is not possible to know at this time.
Read More at Alzheimer’s Reading Room
AlzCare – Quality Alzheimer’s treatment in Texas, New Braunfels, Victoria, Waco, and San Marcos
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