What Is Someone With Dementia Thinking?

LifeisGreat

5 months ago

The fear in an elder's eyes is quite telling of the confusion that their experiencing while enduring Alzheimer's and the benefit that I realized while reading this article is to not allow this person to pull away and distance themselves in an empty solitude. I'm however more certain now then ever to be more insistent on keeping this individual's social structure alive and in tact for years to come. Much thanks to the Author for shedding light on this area of complex human behavior.

jim36

5 months ago

thanks for all of your comments , it helps to know someone cares. JB

jim36

5 months ago

at least so far, not getting out of hand, hurray ?????

blknwite

5 months ago

should be shouted from rooftops

PoloMom

5 months ago

The value of touch with our loved ones is very obvious, Also making sure you are directly in front of them when you are speaking to them.

Betty'sgirl

5 months ago

the importance of socializing for my mom in paticular.

Florida47

5 months ago

Not to feel alone as my mother slips farther away and my father starts his downward spiral. Thank you.

Sherizeee

5 months ago

Thank you for all of your tips and information. I write a blog about my journey with my Husbands Alzheimer's called "Living in the Shadow of Alzheimer's" I would love for you to visit it at www.sherizeee.blogspot.com. Thanks you for all of your help!

i couldn't disagree more with most of this article. it's stuff like this that drives the current attitudes towards dementia which is: "they're gone, they're empty, nobody's home. " it's an appalling charade of mis-information. it's actually bigotry,. the kind that was equally commonly used against children with cerebral palsy a generation ago. i've worked with elders with dementia for 24 years. yes, their short-term memory's pretty shot, but they are feeling, responsive, amused, creative, relational -- IF, and here's the crunch, IF the caregiver can be any of those things. too much is blamed on people with dementia and too few caregivers take responsibility for themselves, their own emotional state and their own psychological well-being.

elmerruthslo­

5 months ago

It was re-assuring to read what I have observed. The emotional aspect and the touch are so important as one goes down into advanced Alz.

Wow, this is my mother all over. The tragedy I face is that she is supposed to be taking care of my father, is a cruel failure at it, and won't change even when I point out to her that she could be the patient in need before he is (my father doesn't have any memory impairment, but my mother lies that he does because she wants to be rid of him). Recently, she even alientated the memory care unit that's linked to their living situation and now neither of them will be welcome to move into it if they need it. Mean people suck.

Yarnos Dadre­tte

over 1 year ago

A simpleton's view of dementia. Have you ever had the experience of "spacing out" while driving so that once you've arrived, you don't remember much of the journey? Were you demented? People with AD or other forms of dementia lose a lot of things, but not themselves.

joyg

over 2 years ago

My husband is now in very late stage dementia and is beginning end of life transition. I can tell, because sometimes he is looking "through me" or over my shoulder at something else. He is content there and might carry on a happy conversation. Other times he looks right at me and smiles and tries to answer my questions. He even tried to watch the tennis open as I carried on a happy conversation of what was happening. Believe when I tell you, they are still in there and reachable by your loving touch and words. Remember, hearing is the last thing to go.

luckybabygir­l

over 2 years ago

My mother has Alzheimer's and is 86 years old, she thrives on social contact and her mood is much better when she visits relatives who live out of town. She loves when I visit and I tell her stories of when she and my aunts/uncles/grandma were young and when my family of origin were growing up. She loves to hear them, of course, these are stories that she or my other relatives have passed on to me, but she loves to hear them because she can't remember them herself. I tell her who I am, what day it is, and tell her the names of her family of origin, and then tell her the names of my brothers and sisters. I also make sure that she is dressed appropriately for the weather and make sure she has eaten, is drinking enough water, and take her blood pressure to reassure her that she's OK. She has had a TIA (mini-stroke) and a heart attack, so she worries alot when she doesn't feel well. I really love my mother and now it's like I am the mother and she is my baby. The article was spot on concerning the behavior and emotions of my mother. It was a great article. Thanks, Eva Carvajal

Informative and comforting.