Archive for January 18th, 2010
Posted on January 18, 2010 - by Nurse Virginia
When the Elder has Signs of Dementia – Early Alzheimer’s Disease before the Diagnosis (part I)
Elder wears the same clothes all the time and has poor hygiene
Gary told everyone, when they asked why he had the same clothes on, “I decided to wear shorts all year, they’re comfortable.” This reference to comfort comes up often these days with Gary. His uniform of the day is a tee shirt and very short black knit shorts. His wife doesn’t complain because not that long ago his “comfortable” uniform was his underwear. Now the addition of the shorts seems an improvement.
(See also blog: 1/22/2009 – Confused Elder with Alzheimer’s disease wants to wear the same clothes all the time.)
Gary sleeps, eats, and spends the day in his favorite outfit. If he ventures out into the neighborhood at all he will be seen sporting his favorite outfit. He tries very hard despite living in a northern state to make it through the year in his beloved shorts. Only adding a tattered sweat suit over his outfit when forced to by the elements.
His wife knows that he only bathes when he is going out to dinner, a movie or to visit. This means he can easily go a couple of weeks between showers. Sometimes he tells her he washed up in the bathroom sink and he feels this is sufficient.
Watching TV all day and not moving
Gary sleeps about 10 hours a night and then wakes up bright and early around 10am to start his day of watching TV. He is up till midnight; his wife knows she hears the drone of the TV. In the morning the only sign that he is about is the sound of the TV. He stays in his room for hours because watching TV in bed is so “comfortable.”
Gary will venture out of that dark room in the evening to eat dinner with his wife and watch some more TV. While she is making dinner, Gary will call to her, “You should come and see this.” Whatever is happening on the TV is very much the priority.
(See also blog 2/9/2009 – When watching TV is bad for elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease)
Virginia Garberding, R.N.
Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois
Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance
- Help your elder find comfort, relevance and respect no matter how frail he or she is.
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