For those reading the word Alzheimer’s” for the first time, this article is just the right thing for you.
A lesser-known fact about the disease: this mental health condition was named after Dr. Alios Alzheimer in 1906. She noticed some abnormal changes in the brain tissues of a woman who died due to unusual and unexplained mental illness.
According to The National Institute on Aging, “It is a kind of an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that affects the patient’s memory with time and diminishes the other skills and ability to carry out everyday tasks.”
The organization further confirms that people with late-onset types start experiencing the symptoms in their mid-60s. And the ones with early-onset Alzheimer’s, the symptoms begin to show at the age between mid-30s and 60s. However, the early-onset type is very rare but does exist. This mental condition is caused due to dementia amongst seniors or older adults.
But what exactly are the symptoms of this condition, and how can you help your loved ones to deal with the situation? To know more about the disease and its treatment, keep scrolling. Here’s what you need to know about it!
Symptoms of the disease
You might have a grandparent or another elderly person at home who is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s but hasn’t been diagnosed yet. You should know that the symptoms of this mental condition often start mild and get worse with time, thereby needing comprehensive care from a professional who can offer home care or one in the senior living community. These symptoms are usually termed “mild cognitive impairment (MCI)”. It means that the symptoms are not strong enough to be diagnosed.
According to health experts usually, this disease is linked to memory issues. Patients start forgetting about important tasks or have trouble remembering some things. However, the initial symptoms might vary from person to person.
The patients start having difficulty in doing everyday tasks. Impaired reasoning or judgment and spatial issues are some of the other symptoms of the disease.
Also, the patients have trouble driving the car, cooking, and making payments. They would always ask the same question repeatedly: might they get lost, lose their things, or put them in an odd place? As the disease starts building its roots in a person’s mind, the symptoms begin to change. Such patients could quickly get panic, violent, angry, or worried over nothing.
How to take care of the seniors who have Alzheimer’s?
Now that you know about the disease and its symptoms, let’s learn about how you can provide appropriate care to your parents or grandparents going through this condition.
Firstly, taking care of such patients is not that easy. It would be best if you have a lot of patience to help them deal with the situation. Secondly, there are so many things you need to consider before you decide to take care of those patients.
Some of them are listed below.
- Communication is the Key: It might seem hard at first to communicate with the patient. But once you crack the code, it’s the best way to comfort them. Sometimes the patient might have difficulty in finding the right words, don’t get irritated, and help them gently.
- Consider Senior Care Homes: There are so many senior homes out there to help them with their needs and cope with the situation. Although, you may also want to consider something like the services offered by Care For Family. They are an in-home care provider and this type of care is often preferred to care homes (when possible) as it gives the patient some independence and, most importantly, the comfort of their own home whilst still giving them the high levels of care that they need. The experts at Themoments.com believe that complex behaviors such as aggression, agitation, and anxiety can be dealt with only with proper care and attention. The advanced care system and other psychotherapy sessions can help the patient live a sustainable life.
- Stay Calm During the Hallucinations: In some situations, the patient might experience some hallucinations. It is very common for a person who is dealing with this mental condition. It gets triggered by a certain smell, taste, sound, or vision. Basically, these are the false beliefs of the patients which can’t be talked out. Please wait for the patient to calm down and then make sure that it doesn’t get triggered again.
Wrapping Up!
No matter how much you try to cure Alzheimer’s, it will spread its tentacles across the human mind and try to control it with every passing second. As the patient grows old, the condition starts getting severe and serious.
The least you can do for your beloved parents or grandparents is to provide them a comfortable, safe, and secure environment to easily cope with the situation. Also, make sure that they do not harm themselves or others in the process.
If any of the seniors in your home is dealing with Alzheimer’s, you know what to do!
