Caring for a Loved one
Dementia is a terrible disease that is a general label for an illness that causes serious cognitive decline. There are different forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia which is caused by multiple small strokes. Caring for a person who has dementia is tough and often times a full time job in itself. Not only does this disease take a toll on the person diagnosed but it also takes a huge toll on the caregiver and the families. Watching someone that you love and have known your entire life just forget everything, lose their mind and become disabled is mentally excruciating.
“As the disease progresses, it becomes easier to forget that your loved one is still present. Many caregivers are frustrated by their loved one’s inability to communicate their thoughts and their inability to remember names and faces. The disease eventually takes away independence so that caregivers become the mind, hands and feet of people struggling with Alzheimer’s. Many people who have the disease struggle with depression, and some can become violent and aggressive, further increasing frustration for caregivers.” (20 Things to Remember, 2015) One issue you will have to face when taking care of someone with dementia is their anger. A person with dementia may make mean and hurtful comments but you have to remember that this is the disease talking, not your loved one. Keeping a person with dementia safe is a key issue you will face. A person with dementia may be cooking food on the stove and forget to turn it off so you will have to remember to go behind them and turn it off. They may also want to wander or believe they have to be somewhere and try to drive off. Hiding their keys or simply taking the keys from them is a good idea to keep them safe and offering to drive them yourself or coming along for the ride is a good protective measure. Dementia causes a person to lose their typical routines. They forget the simple things they need to do or what they should do. Give them a helping hand by writing down reminders, set up the coffee pot for them with a cup sitting out or lay a pair of socks across their shoes. Keep in mind that a person with dementia in early stages is not completely gone. They need help but may not fully understand why they need the help which is why they tend to be argumentative or uncooperative. “People with dementia may become uncooperative and resistant to daily activities such as bathing, dressing and eating. Often this is a response to feeling out of control, rushed, afraid or confused by what you are asking of them. Break each task into steps and, in a reassuring voice, explain each step before you do it. Allow plenty of time. Find ways to have them assist to their ability in the process, or follow with an activity that they can perform.” (Understanding Dementia Behavior, 2015) As the stages of dementia progress, a person will lose control of their muscles. They tend to develop bladder and bowel incontinence.