I am an Alzheimer coach. I, along with my 5 coaches, help families find confidence in caring for someone with memory loss. I am surveying what else besides what we teach family care partners they want or need from us.
I know the confusion of trying to figure out what to do when behavior and ability change due to dementia (a set of signs and symptoms that indicate changes in brain function). I've been through it twice with a father in law and now a mother in law.
As I continue, I want to share what we have found helpful and find out what we might be missing helping you feel competent and confident.
Coach Beverly
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Looking forward to your future articles on treating Alzheimer patients. We all have friends or family who have been touched by this disease.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are almost 5 million people diagnosed with Alzheimer's and many more undiagnosed. There are still some people, even doctors who push off memory loss as normal aging. I can't believe someone can brush it off like that with all the press about Alzheimer's.
ReplyDeleteMemory lapse (forgetfulness) is normal under a lot of conditions (including busyness and stress), but memory loss is another thing entirely. People need to know how important it is to get an early diagnosis. How can we make that happen? Maybe a campaign on billboards like they do with other important issues.
Coach Beverly
A Message for Caregivers: Be gentle with yourself, especially when you forget to practice what you know you should do. This usually happens when emotions get in the way, but can help make the future better.
ReplyDeleteI was recently on vacation and stayed with my aunt who has early stage vascular dementia. During the visit my emotions clearly got in the way of using what I know. Since returning home, I now see clearly that using the "what behavior means" technique would have changed the outcome of shopping. Had I used the technique, I would have curtailed the frustration I felt in the grocery store when she was impulsively trying to buy "gifts" and probably would have decreased her anxiety. I am sharing this with you to underscore for caregivers that, in spite of what you know, the act of omission can help you learn how to take better care of yourself as you continue your journey together.
Footin2Camps
Alzheimer's disease is at epidemic proportions. Families need to get all the information they can to feel confidence in relating to their family member with Alzheimer's. I am inviting those caring for family members with Alzheimer's or a related cognitive disorder to post questions and ideas as well on what the caregiver needs to know.
ReplyDeleteCoach Beverly