Archive for February 12th, 2009

Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Nurse Virginia

People with Alzheimer

Early Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the first things a family member might notice is that their loved one starts bathing less and less. However they will become highly insulted if someone suggests that they need to bathe. They will say they just had a bath, or they will just “wash up at the sink.” Working in a Nursing Community for many years, I have seen many elderly people when they move into a facility, their family will say they haven’t taken a bath or shower for years. Washing up at the sink in their later years is very common. And the elder might refer to that as a “spits bath.” The elderly population, that is in their 80’s or older, grew up and lived in a time of baths not showers. So taking a shower, especially is not “normal” for them.

Doesn’t want to get undressed.

Many times a person with Alzheimer’s disease will not want to undress. Being dressed makes a person feel put together, even when they have been wearing the same clothes for days. Everyone feels vulnerable when they are undressed. So when a person is unsure of so many things, they can at least feel more competent if they are dressed.

Bathroom is too cold, water is too cold.

Many times a person with Alzheimer’s disease has a changed perception of temperature. Their internal body thermostat no longer functions normally causing them to over dress or under dress. So they will say that they don’t want to get wet and chance a cold.
When the reason for bathing is forgotten, and seems like way to much trouble. And you add to that the fear of getting cold or “catching a cold” and the embarrassment of getting undressed. No wonder, bathing is often the most stressful task of caregiving.

Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Nurse Virginia

Caregiver Tips: Bathing a senior with Alzheimer’s Disease, or when bathing becomes a challenge .

Bathing a confused senior can be a big challenge.

If there is anything I know we are all the same and facing the same challenges everyday. I was on the radio this morning in Raleigh, North Carolina, station WCLY-AM, talking to Sheila Wilson. While talking about the aging population and all of the people now caregiving at home. Sheila told me of a friend and the friend’s mother who has dementia.

It seems her friend, we will call her Mary, has her mother in a long-term facility. The staff there, due to her mother’s combative behavior need Mary to come and bathe her Mom for them. The first thing that came to my mind was that now instead of having the opportunity to visit with her Mom, Mary has been given a task. A very difficult task.

Getting rid of misconceptions about bathing.

The rest of this week I am going to concentrate the blog on bathing, especially bathing the combative elderly person. And hopefully get rid of some misconceptions about bathing.

Do you think the whole person has to be bathed at one time?
If it doesn’t happen in a tub or shower is it really a bath?
When a person suffers from a dementing illness, how can you use distraction in a positive way to accomplish a bath?

My thanks to the great people at WCLY in Raleigh, and their friends.

Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Nurse Virginia

Aging: Senior moment or Alzheimer’s disease?

When you can’t remember where you parked the car at the Mall –is it a Senior Moment – or Alzheimer’s Disease?

Every senior citizen is concerned when they forget something that it is the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease. They many times make light of the memory laps calling it frequently a Senior Moment. This makes it sound a little cute and not so threatening. As a person ages many life stresses can cause normal forgetfulness.

Stress builds up – over a lifetime.

Stress can cause memory loss, even in young people. When a young person has the stress of being away at school, the pressure can cause memory loss. For the older person, stress has built up over time. And many things that caused stress in the past, trigger a stress response now.

Many elders suffer from fatigue.

Fatigue can cause memory loss, and fatigue combined with stress can really cause senior moments. Elderly people get so used to adapting to situations that many times they don’t realized they are even suffering from fatigue. The elder who has Arthritis will have aches and pains and toss and turn during the night. They don’t even realize that they do suffer from fatigue because they have become so accustomed to it. Then when that person forgets something or has a “Senior Moment” they immediately get worried that they are getting Alzheimer’s disease.

Becoming more distracted looks like memory loss.

Distractions can seem like memory loss. When a person reaches their late 50’s or early 60’s they begin to have a problem with distraction. The best example of that, is remembering where you parked your car at the mall. When you walk into the mall you are distracted with the first things you are seeing, and don’t lay down the memory of where you parked. (Especially if you are with someone and talking) When I reached that age, I decided to always park at J. C. Penny’s, always at the same door, at my mall. No matter what store I am going to I always park at Penny’s, this way I don’t have to remember where I parked the car.

A senior moment is not Alzheimer’s disease, its normal aging memory loss and shouldn’t scare people.