Gingerlee
Caring for me Member since March 27, 2010I'm have Alzheimer's myself -- diagnosed Sept 2003. Aricept and Namenda have worked wonders for my mind ("Cognitive thinking/ability"). I have problems in other areas of my brain (assuming I have one (chuckle!). The PET scan showed that the disease is in the area of my brain that affects motivation, organization skills, staying at home more than I should, etc. I recently decided to move back into an independent living apartment at a retirement village that has all levels of care -- so it's a relief to me personally (and I guess to my family) to know that when "the time comes," the staff will move me to the appropriate facility of the retirement village.
THE REAL REASON I'M WRITING TO YOU CAREGIVERS is that it's important for you to understand what the Alzie patient needs in the way of compassion (and preventing confrontation), the kinds of surroundings that are important to an Alzie patient (such as a different color for the shower, toilet, to-do-lists for them to follow during the day), and how each Alzie patient is affected differently by the disease (some Alzie's are very angry all the time; some Alzie's are very kind and loving to everyone).
Please read the info available on the internet, especially via www.alz.org to understand what your patient is undergoing "“ as well as how to take care of yourself!
The best wishes to you, your families, and your Alzheimer's patient(s).
NOTE: The issues I've checked below are regarding myself -- hope I'm not messing things up by doing it this way! MLH