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Archive for June, 2012


Posted on June 7, 2012 - by

THE STRESS OF HAVING ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE – THE STRESS OF HAVING DEMENTIA

Is it stressing to have dementia? Is it stressing to have Alzheimer’s disease?  Well what if you:

  • Started a project or even a routine task that you have done many times before, and you couldn’t finish it because you have a very short attention span and you get easily distracted
  • Keep getting reminded that you have forgotten something, people keep saying to you “don’t you remember?” How stressful is it to be reminded that you made a mistake?
  • No longer have the ability to change your schedule or routine and yet is continues to be changed for you.
  • Had spatial or perceptual problems and you misinterpreted the environment or can’t recognize people, objects, tasks, etc. You spend your entire day trying to figure these things out.
  • Had a decline in your ability to communicate – you neither understand what is being said to you or can make yourself understood.
  • Can no longer tell the difference between what is real and what is not real, so you routinely think what is happening on TV is real.

It would be as if you were in a foreign country, a country where you not only don’t know the language but the customs are equally confusing for you. This would be on-going, continuous, multiple, and major stressors for you and the people trying to assist you.

What you need is a guide. A guide who knows not only the language and customs of this foreign place, but a guide who knows your language, knows your likes and dislikes, one who knows how to communicate with you.

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com


Posted on June 6, 2012 - by

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT THE ELDER NOW HAS MODERATE NOT MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Moderate Impairment:

  1. The elder may now have problems in the kitchen – they may no longer be able to judge what is safe to eat.  The elder has not only cleanliness issues but also is using expired products and not cooking items long enough.
  2. Noticeable problems with personal hygiene – one man I know as he became more and more confused only bathed when he felt his dog needed a bath – then showered with the dog.
  3. If the elder lives alone or has their own bathroom – there may be indications that the elder is having difficulty cleaning themselves or using the toilet appropriately. There may be signs of bowel movements smeared on surfaces.
  4. How the elder dresses can be a big red flag indicating their level of confusion. When the elder is no longer making good choices based on current weather conditions or going places dressed inappropriately, they are now more than mildly confused.  The other day someone told me they saw a man in a large bookstore wearing the “old man” style of undershirt without arms and a low scooped neck. And he had very short, very wide knit shorts that kind of swayed when he walked like a little skirt. This man is sending out big signals without ever opening his mouth.
  5. The family just knows that it is not safe to leave their elder home alone. This usually comes on gradually, and you can’t put your finger on exactly when you no longer left mom alone, but the time came and you just knew someone had to be there.
  6. Difficulties with clear communication – the elder may still have their words, but their thoughts are jumbled and it becomes harder to communicate.
  7. The stress on the caregiver is really building and he or she starts to wonder out loud if they have the ability to continue to care for the elder.

Virginia Garberding R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Relevance

www.pleasegettoknowme.com