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Are you the Boss when Mom or Dad get Alzheimer’s or Dementia?

10/193 Comments

Mom or Dad get Alzheimer’s?

How much do your aging parents appreciate your raising the subject of them not managing life so well? As much as the cat wants to take a walk with the dog? As much as you want a pet tarantula?Author: Frena Gray-DavidsonWell, let me put it this way. Do you remember how much you enjoyed that sex and virginity talk with Mom when you were fourteen and she was suspicious? That’s pretty much how much your parents want you to talk to them about age, health and self-neglect.No-one wants to have interference from their kids. Certainly no one wants to admit that they aren’t aging well. And inevitably, they probably hear criticism in you even raising the topic. So, that is why you must approach this subject gently, kindly and without reproach. And did I mention tact? Oh yes, and taking stuff on yourself.

Some parents are such open people, so self-aware and unafraid of admitting their life circumstances that there will be no problem at all. “Why, son, we’re so glad you mentioned your concerns about us. We were just going to talk to you about what we need and can’t do any more.” But those are a couple of sentences rarely spoken in the inter-generational talk realm.

No, you need lots of soft-soaping here. One reason is that your parents may actually not be aware of their loss in function. Two is that, if they are, they even more don’t want to talk about it. The underlying feelings here are often their shame, their fear, their growing awareness of becoming more helpless. None of which you enjoy as feelings either, right?

So the best approach is to find a way to build them up, not tear them down. It’s true when they are stubborn, disbelieving and dismissive, then adult children often do feel the urge to take them down a peg or two by proving everything they’re afraid of. So, since someone has to be the grownup, that would be you and your siblings.

You might want to share your concerns with them first. To get a reality check of what you’re seeing and to see if they are aware of any memory loss or problems in that area. Then you could usefully get together with siblings and any other family members or even neighbors if they’re very close to your parents. That way, you can figure out the major, immediate concerns and begin making a plan.

Unless your parents are in real danger from incompetence to stay safe and live healthily, then start with a few extra nice inputs into their life. Take meals around, have someone help in the house. If they protest, here’s a way that often works.

You say,”Gosh well gee, Mom and Dad, I know you say everything is okay, and it probably is, but I just worry about you guys. You’ve done a lot for me and I want to do things for you now. “

You can choose your own words but here you are emphasizing your love, your desire to be a good child and you wish to enable to have a great style of living, blah blah blah. Why? Because they will only accept your help when they feel safe with you, respected by you and loved by you.

Otherwise, they will fight you all the way.

Author:  Frena Gray Davidson– Alzheimer’s caregiver and author of five books about Caregiving. More about Frena: Frena’s Website  and Frena on Facebook 

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Books by Frena Gray Davidson Include:

Alzheimer’s 911: Help, Hope, and Healing for the CaregiversCheck PriceSpeaking DementiaCheck PriceAlzheimer’s A Beginning GuideCheck PriceThe Caregiver’s SourcebookCheck PriceWhen Your Parent Has Alzheimer’sCheck Price

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Silvert's Disabled Clothing for Elderly Care

Filed Under: communication, Recommended Reading, What are the Signs and Symptoms Tagged With: Caregive, for Parents, Parental cognitive decline

What is Dementia? What are the Causes besides Alzheimer’s?

10/112 Comments

What is Dementia?

Dementia is actually a general term rather than a specific disease.

Dementia describes symptoms caused by a number of brain-affecting disorders. Dementia is common in senior citizens.

People with dementia experience impaired intellectual functioning that hinders normal activities and relationships, and they lose problem-solving abilities and have trouble maintaining emotional control. Senior citizens with dementia may experience personality changes and behavior problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations.

Memory loss is common in seniors with dementia, but it does not define dementia. A person can receive a diagnosis of dementia only if two or more areas of functionality-for example, memory and language skills-have been adversely affected while the person retains consciousness.

Symptoms of dementia can be caused by diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

They can also arise from reactions to medications, metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities, nutritional deficiencies, infections, poisoning, brain tumors, anoxia or hypoxia (in which the brain receives too little oxygen or none at all), and heart and lung problems. Though dementia is common in senior citizens, it is not a normal part of aging.

Which dementia treatments are available?

Medications to treat specific diseases associated with dementia (like Alzheimer’s) are available. This option cannot reverse damage to the brain, but it can improve symptoms and slow the disease’s progression.

This may improve the quality of life for senior citizens with dementia as well as easing the burden on those providing the care and delaying the move to a nursing home. In home health care for the elderly, though not a treatment, may be an effective way to provide care to the senior while giving their caretaker a daily or weekly break.

Also, senior citizens with dementia, especially during the early stages, can often benefit from practicing tasks designed to enhance cognitive functioning. An example of this is using memory aids like mnemonics, computerized recall devices, or note-taking.

What’s the prognosis?

Since many disorders can cause dementia,  Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease cause a gradual loss of mental functions, for example, but other types of dementia can be reversed or stopped with proper treatment. When senior citizens experience moderate to advanced symptoms of dementia, elder care and supervision at all hours is usually necessary to prevent them from harming themselves or others. They may need assistance with dressing, eating, bathing, or other daily activities.

What kind of research is being done?

Researchers are currently focusing on many of the aspects of dementia and hope to improve the quality of life of people with dementia. Research may eventually point to methods of prevention or ways to cure dementia.

Author: David Crumrine at the The Caring Space.

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The 36-Hour Day: A Family GuideA Caregiver’s Guide to Lewy Body DementiaParkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life: English EditionAlzheimer’s TreatmentStop Alzheimer’s Now!The Alzheimer’s Die

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Filed Under: Common Questions, EARLY STAGE, Recommended Reading Tagged With: explaining behavior, What is dementia

A Caregiver’s Guide: “Alzheimer’s Disease – 300 Tips” : Review

06/10Leave a Comment

Review: A Caregiver’s Guide

 Alzheimer’s Disease – 300 Tips

A Caregiver's Guide to Alzheimer's Disease: 300 Tips for Making Life Easier

When you have a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you are assaulted by questions. A Caregiver’s Guide is a necessity. I remember those days right after my Mom was diagnosed. All sorts of images bounce in your head, some are myths and some are behaviors that your loved one may or may not suffer through.

Even if the person you are caring for is not a family member or loved one, the list of questions you’ll have about their proper care are endless.

This book Alzheimer’s Disease – 300 TIPS fills in the gaps with answers to  many of the questions you will have: Written for patients, their families, and caregivers, the practical information here will help readers understand what is physically happening to the brain so they can empower their own special skills and talents throughout the disease process.

This book has sections which follow the literal progression of Alzheimer’s and the challenges any caregiver will have while caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. So you become familiar with the book right away and the passages you need most often are super easy to find.

I loved the Question and Answer format of this book. If I was in a hurry or needed a quick answer without reading an entire chapter–this book makes it easy.  Help is always at your fingertips with this Question + Answer book.

And the answers or suggestions are spot-on every time. It offers wonderful advice for an illness that can leave the caregiver totally baffled. Folks with Alzheimer’s can present odd behaviors that leave us clueless how to respond. You’ll find your way with this book and keep it at hand because you know the answer is quickly found for most all behaviors.

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 Alzheimer’s -300 Tips Kisses for Elizabeth Still Alice The 36-Hour Day

 Some Activities your loved one might enjoy!

 Summer Puzzle 36-Piece Trains shaped Puzzle 36 Piece Signal PointPuzzle 36-Piece Crocodile 36 pc Shaped nosaur Marvel Mighty Avengers Coloring Book Disney Animal Friends Cologing Book Disney Animal Friends – Coloring Book Crayola 120ct Original Crayons

Filed Under: Books Reviewed, Recommended Reading, The Caregiver Tagged With: 300 tips, Alzheimer's, behavior, Caregiver's, Caregiver's Guide, dementia, odd behavior

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