Alzheimer's Social Life

She may do well with a pet, even She may be happier with one or two people now. She is developing a style that allows slower, less stressful interaction. But someone struggling with following even one conversation finds it too stressful. You can do it, now.

It's hard for people with dementia to keep up with the multiplicity of thinking required to be happily in a group. No, your Grandma has changed her social pattern because she no longer feels comfortable in it. Now, THAT's odd and intriguing, isn't it? They feel the same sense of connection, link to pleasure and emotional richness as if they were still doing the stuff they enjoyed.

Actually a recent study carried out in England demonstrated that, because people with dementia forget they aren't following their one-time routine, they still feel as if they do. Not really. In reality, people with dementia don't change what they do because they forgot what they used to like. And secretly they hope it will restore health. They think it would help to bring back former joys.

Of course they want that. As a longterm Alzheimer's dementia caregiver, I see a lot of wishful thinking going on in families.Typically, family want a good life to continue for their elder with dementia. Or should you? Maybe you should make her continue her old routine. You wonder if she's depressed.

She doesn't seem to be social like she used to. You could understand that. It's not just the memory thing. Your Grandma has changed since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's Disease Prevention and Treatment

Meals were made at home from natural ingredients including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and we were not continually exposed to a barrage of unhealthy chemicals and pollutants in our homes and the environment. Our diet did not include all the refined, processed and fried foods. Alzheimer's was a very rare condition prior to 1950. Normally the brain is able to break down the amyloid plaques so they can be removed properly, but this function becomes limited as inflammation affects the normal plaque clearance process in the brain.

The disease is characterized by the accumulation of a protein known as beta amyloid which blocks communications between the neuron's synapses. We can add Alzheimer's Disease to the list, as the brain is susceptible to the ravages of inflammatory chemicals which are released into the blood as a result of poor diet and environmental assault. Alzheimer's Disease Caused by Brain Inflammation The Standard American Diet is known to promote a low grade inflammation throughout the body, and is linked with heart disease, stroke and cancer. While there is a genetic component to the disease, it is largely the result of lifestyle, poor diet and environmental factors which cause systemic inflammation in the body.

Fifty years ago, Alzheimer's Disease was virtually unknown to medical science, yet today we see a skyrocketing incidence of this devastating affliction. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and affects our ability to form memories, communicate and perform the most common daily tasks. Alzheimer's Disease cases have been rapidly increasing over the last half century, and are currently the seventh leading cause of death in America.

Alzheimer's Care - Stay Informed

We asked for an ambulance to be called. Therefore, she just left her sitting in the chair and did nothing. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she was confident no stroke had occurred. She explained that she had noticed a change in my aunt, but she didn't think it was a stroke.

We called for the nurse on duty. Our first thought was that she had suffered a stroke. She had a faraway look in her eyes. She was barely able to respond when we spoke to her.

This particular day we found her slumped over in her chair in the dining room. She was normally talkative, friendly, and happy to be interacting with other residents. My aunt was in the early stages of Alzheimer's when we arrived for a visit one day and were alarmed by what we found. Poor record-keeping or lack of attention of one employee can compromise the care of your loved one.

In situations like this, the overall performance of the staff is only as good as the worst employee. The ever-changing environment of a memory care facility necessitates constant attention to details. With an average of 80 residents in the home, the demands on the staff are huge. The staff is caring, efficient, and involved with each resident and the resident's family. We believe this is one of the very best facilities in our area.

My aunt lives in an assisted living community that specializes in memory care. Our family learned this lesson the hard way. Obviously, some the specific duties may change, but do not think your job as an Alzheimer's caregiver ends. However, some may assume the responsibilities cease once the Alzheimer's sufferer is moved into a care facility.

Everyone who has ever cared for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease understands the enormous responsibilities required for the person's 24-hour care.