ramblingsbyamy

Alzheimer’s or Dementia is an awful disease which involves a variety of changes within those afflicted with the disease. No cure exists and depending on the stage, the Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient’s thinking and reasoning skills are severely affected.

Learn all you can about Alzheimer’s or Dementia once a solid diagnosis is made. Try to secure a power of attorney. A trusted family member should have access to all bank accounts, and legal information. When we begin to see signs of Alzheimer’s or Dementia things can progress rapidly, so get a power of attorney as soon after a diagnosis.

Allow dementia patients to live on their own if they can care for their own needs. However, this is a rapid progressing disease and these patients should not be alone for extended periods as no one can predict that rate of cognitive impairment.

Check in on the dementia patient daily if he or she does not live with you or have a family member or a neighbor check this person. If there is, a spouse or close neighbor to help watch over the patient it should be okay, but if that person lives alone, make an excuse to visit everyday to check on the progress of the Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Watch for those dangerous points, which are red flags that this person who has Alzheimer’s or Dementia has regressed to the point when they are no longer able to stay alone. These include not eating properly, over mediating themselves, not remembering simple stuff, like the day, as well as any odd behaviors, which are not usual to that person.

At the point when they are unable to make simple decisions, then a family member needs to step in. Move the Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient in your home or a nursing home when they can no longer live on his or her own. Prepare the Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient to have a say in where they live if possible. Allow them to help make their own choices, as they are able.

Perhaps they will resist but if you feel they are unable to care for themselves, you need to step in. Talk with their doctor. Most elderly people have had the same trusted doctor for years. That doctor can help you in determining their mental state. If the doctor recommends it, go to court to gain custody if needed.

Safety is very important and if their cognitive thinking and reason skills become damaged by the progress of the disease to the extent that they have become unable to care for them it is up to us as family members to step in and help. It truly is as simple of that.

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