Comments for Alzheimer's Disease Support http://www.alzheimers-disease.net Alzheimer's Disease Blog Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:54:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Why Do People With Alzheimer’s Wander? by Joanne http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2011/11/30/why-do-people-with-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-wander/comment-page-1/#comment-1508 Joanne Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:54:58 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=176#comment-1508 That's a million dollar question....Why does an Alzheimer person wander???? As a caregiver, i've pondered that same question and have still found no answers. I've tried to relate the wandering to periods of increased confusion/disorientation, bordem and even the need for recollection as you have mentioned but have still been unable to make a definite connection. There seems to be no rationale as to "why" but only a deep hardwired "need" within the individual affected by Alzheimers to roam. Do they find it soothing? Is it an avenue to increase their frustrations? Maybe, who knows. Personally, I don't think we will ever fully understand the "why" portion and agree our focus should be on managing the behaivor. Great tips by the way! Another tip you may wish to try is camouflaging the doors or doorknobs(paint doors the same color as the walls or cover knobs with decorative cloth) this will make exits less noticable. You can also paint a black square/circle in front of the door or use a darkened mat, Alzheimer's people often preceive this as a hole in the ground and will refuse to cross. There is no instruction manuel in caring for a loved one affected by Alzheimer's Disease, management and coping techniques are often found through trial and error. Be Creative!!! That’s a million dollar question….Why does an Alzheimer person wander???? As a caregiver, i’ve pondered that same question and have still found no answers. I’ve tried to relate the wandering to periods of increased confusion/disorientation, bordem and even the need for recollection as you have mentioned but have still been unable to make a definite connection. There seems to be no rationale as to “why” but only a deep hardwired “need” within the individual affected by Alzheimers to roam. Do they find it soothing? Is it an avenue to increase their frustrations? Maybe, who knows. Personally, I don’t think we will ever fully understand the “why” portion and agree our focus should be on managing the behaivor.
Great tips by the way! Another tip you may wish to try is camouflaging the doors or doorknobs(paint doors the same color as the walls or cover knobs with decorative cloth) this will make exits less noticable. You can also paint a black square/circle in front of the door or use a darkened mat, Alzheimer’s people often preceive this as a hole in the ground and will refuse to cross.
There is no instruction manuel in caring for a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, management and coping techniques are often found through trial and error. Be Creative!!!

]]> Comment on Alzheimer’s Caregivers Need Support Too by Joanne http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/03/22/alzheimers-caregivers-need-support-too/comment-page-1/#comment-1468 Joanne Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:23:32 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=87#comment-1468 I totally agree with this article but "how" does one ask for help? I'm not talking about how one would find the appropriate links or services, I'm talking about "how" a caregiver of a loved one affected by Alzheimer's mentally prepares themselves to "ask" for help. In today's society the act of asking for help is perceived as a weakness or failure. How we currently treat an individual severly affected by Alzheimer's by caring for them within locked units holds negative connotations. Asking for help generally means that you were not able to do what you were trying to accomplish and now need assistance from others. As this article relays, often caregivers are family members. How can a family member admit defeat, open themselves up to the possibility of negativity or ridicule and in the end relinquish care? Should governments be placing more funds in support programs? Should more funds be utilized for education sessions to abolish the negativity associated with this disease? How do we change culture? Any thoughts? I totally agree with this article but “how” does one ask for help?

I’m not talking about how one would find the appropriate links or services, I’m talking about “how” a caregiver of a loved one affected by Alzheimer’s mentally prepares themselves to “ask” for help.

In today’s society the act of asking for help is perceived as a weakness or failure. How we currently treat an individual severly affected by Alzheimer’s by caring for them within locked units holds negative connotations. Asking for help generally means that you were not able to do what you were trying to accomplish and now need assistance from others. As this article relays, often caregivers are family members. How can a family member admit defeat, open themselves up to the possibility of negativity or ridicule and in the end relinquish care?

Should governments be placing more funds in support programs? Should more funds be utilized for education sessions to abolish the negativity associated with this disease? How do we change culture? Any thoughts?

]]> Comment on Sundown Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease by Joanne http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/02/15/sundown-syndrome-and-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-1467 Joanne Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:37:56 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=81#comment-1467 There's lots of literature out there attempting to define Sundown Syndrome but as each person here knows, there is no step by step manual to help manage this condition. Sundowning is very individualized and for that reason very complex.It's only thru trial and error do caregivers learn to manage and adjust. Most caregivers can sucessfully manage sundown syndrome through the art of distraction. Distraction techniques work intially in the early to moderate stages of Alziheimer's however as the disease progresses so does the success of this art. One necessity however has remained constant.....the need for support. Stick together and stay strong! There’s lots of literature out there attempting to define Sundown Syndrome but as each person here knows, there is no step by step manual to help manage this condition. Sundowning is very individualized and for that reason very complex.It’s only thru trial and error do caregivers learn to manage and adjust. Most caregivers can sucessfully manage sundown syndrome through the art of distraction. Distraction techniques work intially in the early to moderate stages of Alziheimer’s however as the disease progresses so does the success of this art. One necessity however has remained constant…..the need for support. Stick together and stay strong!

]]> Comment on Brain Injury Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia by charlotte home care http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2011/07/18/brain-injury-linked-to-increased-risk-of-dementia/comment-page-1/#comment-1406 charlotte home care Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:04:54 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=122#comment-1406 This an interesting development. It seems like I have been hearing a lot about new discoveries when it comes to the causes Dementia. I hope they make strides in finding effective preventative measures. This an interesting development. It seems like I have been hearing a lot about new discoveries when it comes to the causes Dementia. I hope they make strides in finding effective preventative measures.

]]> Comment on Sundown Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease by susan http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/02/15/sundown-syndrome-and-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-1404 susan Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:03:42 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=81#comment-1404 My 90 year old mom has dementia and has sundown syndrome that usually starts about 3pm. She becomes confused and agitated. She will start asking questions about who is going to stay with her and think she is somewhere else other than her home. We are giving her ativan after lunch which seems to lessen the spells.Usually it passes in about an hour. My 90 year old mom has dementia and has sundown syndrome that usually starts about 3pm. She becomes confused and agitated. She will start asking questions about who is going to stay with her and think she is somewhere else other than her home. We are giving her ativan after lunch which seems to lessen the spells.Usually it passes in about an hour.

]]> Comment on Sundown Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease by lynthia brown http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/02/15/sundown-syndrome-and-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-1360 lynthia brown Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:36:33 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=81#comment-1360 My 93 year old Mother has in the last 3 weeks become very irrate form around 5ish on she doesn't no where she is suppose to go to bed, very scared to sleep alone so now i sleep with her. she will get up and come to the room where i am watching tv or on the pc wanting to know if i will sleep with her. I tell her at dinner time that I am going to sleep with her, my husband had to have surgery and i spent the night with him in the hospital, had to come the next night because she had gotten so upset she cried when i came home although I had a lady stay with her the night I stayed at the hospital and she stays with her every day while i work. mother was very upset, the next day i left to go back to the hospital and when she found out i was leaving she acted like she was sick. half the time she thinks i'm her older sister who died in 1976 or her mother, i can deal with this but it's the late afternoons when she doesn't no where to go to bed or sleep by herself that is getting to me, any body got an answer for this. My 93 year old Mother has in the last 3 weeks become very irrate form around 5ish on she doesn’t no where she is suppose to go to bed, very scared to sleep alone so now i sleep with her. she will get up and come to the room where i am watching tv or on the pc wanting to know if i will sleep with her. I tell her at dinner time that I am going to sleep with her, my husband had to have surgery and i spent the night with him in the hospital, had to come the next night because she had gotten so upset she cried when i came home although I had a lady stay with her the night I stayed at the hospital and she stays with her every day while i work. mother was very upset, the next day i left to go back to the hospital and when she found out i was leaving she acted like she was sick. half the time she thinks i’m her older sister who died in 1976 or her mother, i can deal with this but it’s the late afternoons when she doesn’t no where to go to bed or sleep by herself that is getting to me, any body got an answer for this.

]]> Comment on Sundown Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease by Pam http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/02/15/sundown-syndrome-and-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-1134 Pam Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:04:25 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=81#comment-1134 My husband has this syndrome and it is getting worse. Today he was getting into bed at 4.05 p.m. when I told him it was far too early, and he hadn't had his tea, he got very wild with me, and yelled, and abused me. He does not usually do this. I am finding this situation so hard to deal with. He is 83 and during the day mainly sits and nods off, but once 4.00 p.m. comes he is a changed person. How do we deal with this. I have tried reasoning with him, but to no avail. My husband has this syndrome and it is getting worse. Today he was getting into bed at 4.05 p.m. when I told him it was far too early, and he hadn’t had his tea, he got very wild with me, and yelled, and abused me. He does not usually do this. I am finding this situation so hard to deal with. He is 83 and during the day mainly sits and nods off, but once 4.00 p.m. comes he is a changed person. How do we deal with this. I have tried reasoning with him, but to no avail.

]]> Comment on Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia by ellen http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/12/01/difference-between-alzheimers-disease-and-dementia/comment-page-1/#comment-1035 ellen Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:21:45 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=95#comment-1035 From what I know, Alzheimer's kills you anyway, eventually. When a person reaches a certain stage, then there's not much you can do. In your situation, it sounds like you did the best possible thing. Don't feel guilty about it, people like your Mom know they're off and don't like it. They don't want to face getting worse, either. My mom was lucky enough to die at ninety three before her condition became really severe. but there is some suspicion among family memebers that maybe she was given something to make her condition worse. Anyone out there know if you can stimulate Alzheimer's artificially? From what I know, Alzheimer’s kills you anyway, eventually. When a person reaches a certain stage, then there’s not much you can do. In your situation, it sounds like you did the best possible thing. Don’t feel guilty about it, people like your Mom know they’re off and don’t like it. They don’t want to face getting worse, either. My mom was lucky enough to die at ninety three before her condition became really severe. but there is some suspicion among family memebers that maybe she was given something to make her condition worse. Anyone out there know if you can stimulate Alzheimer’s artificially?

]]> Comment on Stem Cell Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease by sandra kenendy http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2011/03/11/stem-cell-treatment-for-alzheimers-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 sandra kenendy Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:45:57 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=106#comment-1029 My father is 68 and has alzhemers. I have had 3 children and saved their blood cord. What can we do? Please help. My father is 68 and has alzhemers. I have had 3 children and saved their blood cord. What can we do? Please help.

]]> Comment on Sundown Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease by Marie http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/2010/02/15/sundown-syndrome-and-alzheimer%e2%80%99s-disease/comment-page-1/#comment-588 Marie Fri, 13 May 2011 02:29:45 +0000 http://www.alzheimers-disease.net/?p=81#comment-588 I am looking after my father and did not know about this syndrome. Now it is coming clear to me. It seems that I make a change myself during that time of day. I get ready about this time to "protect" myself because I know "it" is coming. Good to know, I am looking after my father and did not know about this syndrome. Now it is coming clear to me. It seems that I make a change myself during that time of day. I get ready about this time to “protect” myself because I know “it” is coming.

Good to know,

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