Test Yourself: What You Don't Know About Alzheimer's Can Hurt You (or Your Loved One)
Test Yourself: What You Don't Know About Alzheimer's Can Hurt You (or Your Loved One)
POP QUIZ:
- Can prompt treatment of Alzheimer's prevent symptoms from worsening?
- What's the life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer's?
- Do quick mental status tests confirm a diagnosis of Alzheimer's?
- Is talking about wandering with a loved one who does it an effective deterrent?
Misconceptions about these aspects of Alzheimer's disease are widespread among the public, caregivers, and patients themselves, according to Australian psychologist Karen Sullivan of Queensland University of Technology, who studies community awareness. Her research appears in an upcoming issue of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Zeroing in on what people don't know, she says, helps frame the most useful education programs.
I asked her what the most surprising find was for her, and it turns out it's good news: Asked about how to respond to declining self-care abilities, "Most people thought it was important to try to maintain the patient's independence," she says, "rather than letting the person try and fail, or taking over completely, or seeking supported accommodation [right away]."
That reveals a promising change in attitude. The real test for caregivers is learning how to make it happen. In caring for someone with Alzheimer's, how rough or easy has climbing the learning curve been for you?
QUIZ ANSWERS:
- Nope (this was the survey's top misconception) but you may be able to rule out or treat other diagnoses.
- Life expectancy depends on multiple factors -- but it's longer than survey respondents expected.
- No; it's a diagnosis of exclusion.
- No. Safety advice for this common symptom here.
Image by Flickr user bdunnette, used through the Creative Commons attribution license.
You're absolutely right, it's not that easy, and only children have a special burden. You need both hands-on help and emotional support so you can keep going. Your mother may be more comfortable at her home as you say but it doesn't sound very practical for you. Have you looked into having her move in with you, or nearer you? Would selling her home bring assets that might provide for some in-home help? Even a few hours a week of an elder companion can provide you with a break. Therapy (paid for by insurance) might be a stress outlet for you, too. I hope you've checked out your local Alzheimer's Association, and our Caring.com chat groups -- though you are an only child please know you're not alone.
This is an informative article. Knowledge is power. The more you know,the more you can help you or a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Something else all should be aware of when trying to stave off Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia is that eating right, not smoking and keeping mentally and physically active helps to keep these diseases at bay. by Susan Berg author of Adorable Photographs of Our Baby-Meaningful Mind Stimulating Activities and More for the Memory Challenged, Their Loved Ones and Involved Professionals a book for those with dementia and an excellent resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals. http://www.alzheimersideas.com http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/dementiacare/ http://dementiaviews.blogspot.com http://activitiesdirector.blogspot.com http://dementiabooks.blogspot.com
I understand the suggestions for forming a care-giving team and that it takes a whole family to care for someone with Alzheimer's. But what do you do if your team has only one primary member? I'm an only child and for 30 years have lived 45 minutes from my parents. My Mother was diagnosed about three years ago and was doing well, with my Dad's help. But Dad's health failed and for the past year until he died we had to focus on him. Not until after he died did I realize how poorly my mother was doing. I'm sure the stress of his illness and dying prompted a lot of the changes. In the past six months, I quit my job to take care of my mother because financially she couldn't continue to pay for in-home help. Fortunately, my children are more or less on their own. I spend the majority of my week at my Mother's home, where she is most comfortable, but not necessarily more cognizant . I get to my home for about two days and spend most of the time trying to do the things that my husband hasn't be able to get to during the week. We have a primary care physician and a neurologist and me. My husband is trying to work and care for his own 88- year-old mother. As for extended family in the area, there is little and most of my parents' friends are elderly themselves. A lot of the suggestions about joining a support group and finding outside help are great, but it's not that easy.