The progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease symptoms usually happens gradually, creeping in like a slowly moving storm cloud. Things don’t seem that bad, but it can get dark — quickly. Watching your loved one experience this transition can be scary and confusing, and then you’re suddenly left to figure out how to care for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
One thing that can be very helpful in trying to provide Alzheimer’s care at home is to put yourself in your loved one’s position. Here are four things to know about what it’s like to suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s to help you better understand what you’re going through.
- Your loved one knows what they want to say, but they don’t know how to say it. We all have experienced that moment when we just can’t call to mind the word we want to use, or we get interrupted and lose track of our story. This is different from what people deal with when they suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Often, they have trouble even formulating the right way to say what they’re thinking. They struggle with vocabulary and often call things by the wrong name. This can create a great deal of frustration and subsequent difficulty in communication with the caregiver.
- Their memory issues are very upsetting. People with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease often forget the names of loved ones or misidentify family and friends they have known for years. They also have a tough time retaining recent information and can forget how to perform tasks that come natural to most of us, such as driving to the grocery store or taking a shower. Memory problems such as these disrupt a person’s life and can lead them to become altered and irritable. Sunny Days in Pittsburgh can provide in home memory care for your loved one.
- Isolation and confusion cause boredom and depression. When people begin having trouble remembering things, they may give up hobbies and pastimes that used to entertain them. Reading a book, for example, becomes impossible when you can’t recall what happened the last time you picked it up. Also, people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s tend to withdraw from social groups, either because they’re embarrassed by their memory issues or are nervous about the experience. This lack of personal and social engagement can spur depression and anxiety. When considering in-home care for seniors with dementia, it’s important to keep them engaged and socially connected to others.
- Impaired judgement puts them at risk. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can change a person’s decision-making skills and ability to judge the proper next step in a situation. This can lead them to give lots of money to a phone solicitor, to avoid bathing and other personal grooming, or to think it’s OK to leave the stove burner on until the next time they want to cook. This lack of sound judgement presents a serious concern when you’re providing Alzheimer’s care at home.
Get in-home care for seniors with dementia from Sunny Days
Learning how to care for people with dementia is a complex and emotionally exhausting process for a spouse, child or other loved one. At Sunny Days In-Home Care, we provide in-home care for seniors with dementia by caregivers who are knowledgeable and experienced. Learn more about our care for people with dementia and contact us today for a free in-home care consultation.