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Tips on Caring for an Alzheimer Patient

The feelings associated with an Alzheimers diagnosis, can leave the patient feeling devastated and overwhelmed. "Why Me?"is an angry outcry of Alzheimer's patients. Care givers of those suffering from this syndrome often feel powerless and like they have no idea what the future is going to bring. For the five million Alzheimer patients and their families, care can last for as long as 20 years, so learning how to deal with it and learning about it is very important.

The challenge of Alzheimer's from a medical perspective is that the disease progresses at different rates in each patient, with each suffering from different symptoms. Some of the patients suffering from Alzheimers don't remember that they cannot drive a car. Alzheimer's disease can be noticed early by such signs as misplacing keys, having trouble with names, and becoming irrationally angry without remembering why. In the most extreme cases, family and friends are basically unknown to the patient, and he or she may no longer be able to talk. "Every individual is so uniquely different,its not black or white,here is how you handle (of the patient)," asserts Connie Kudlacek, who is the former head of the Alzheimer's Association chapter located in Midland. "Rather than thinking about the worst case scenario, we should concentrate on the positive aspects and look for way in which to nurture their individuality and offer them ways to succeed, even in the advanced stages."

Professor Jacquelyn Frank of the Ulndy's Center for Aging points out how difficult it can be to care for a loved one with Alzheimers, as they gradually seem to become another person. She describes the feelings as "anticipatory grief," which refers to the fear of losing someone before they've even died, and "ambiguous loss," which is the discordant feeling of caring for someone who is physically alive but socially lacking. Frank highlights the importance of airing out emotions in an Alzheimers support group to maintain a positive attitude in the face of such isolation and hopelessness.

Research shows that reducing stress levels can help provide care for Alzheimer patients. Over time, you'll learn when they are most agreeable, so trying to bathe or feed them will not be such a struggle. Established routines can help make the day less unpredictable and more manageable for the Alzheimers patient and you. Limiting difficult decision-making is very helpful for the Alzheimers caregiver. Too many choices can be intimidating, such as a closet full of clothes, but a choice between two outfits may be do-able.

Take into consideration that you'll need to be flexible and adaptable when giving Alzheimer care. It's difficult at first to get used to the mood swings of the Alzheimers patient. Out of the blue, he or she may decide that they no longer want to wear a particular color, or that they are no longer interested in what was once a favorite food. The patient may not want to take a shower or will insist upon continuing life as normal, even though a "black out" may occur. In these cases, take a deep breath and remember that the person cannot help this, so don't take it personally. Try not to use a too blatant or obvious approach. If it is hard convincing your loved one to change his clothes everyday, you might try buying several sets of the same outfit and then switch them while he is showering.

Patients that have either cancer or heart disease may require 3 to 5 years of care, where as the patients suffering from Alzheimers disease may entail 20 years or so. The person providing the Alzheimer care may find the slow disintegration of their loved one extraordinarily difficult. Since a cure hasn't been found, experts say educating yourself about Alzheimers is the key.

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Caleb Hetzler- Early Alzheimers & Alzheimers Association & Alzheimers Information