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Saturday, July 3, 2010

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is not for sissy's ,it rob's you of your life, your very essence leaves your body,and you must rely on family to take care of you for every day living needs.

It also rob's the family of a normal life as well, everything you do revolves around the person with alzheimer's,you must take every single moment of their day in consideration before your own.Its not always pleasant or welcomed.

The parent becomes your child.And it breaks your heart, it makes you mad and it makes you sad.
There is no cure and no recovery from alzheimer's.

Imagine for a moment living your life in a fog, not remembering names, faces, events, your past, just short fast glimpse of things and people you remember.

It would be like the picture below in your mind every day for the rest of your life.



Alzheimer Disease: 10 Warning Signs

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease. Symptoms include loss of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and changes in mood and behaviour. People may think these symptoms are part of normal aging but they aren't. It is important to see a doctor when you notice any of these symptoms as they may be due to other conditions such as depression, drug interactions or an infection. If the diagnosis is Alzheimer's disease, your local Alzheimer Society can help.

To help you know what warning signs to look for, the Alzheimer Society has developed the following list:

  1. Memory loss that affects day-to-day function
    It's normal to occasionally forget appointments, colleagues' names or a friend's phone number and remember them later. A person with Alzheimer's disease may forget things more often and not remember them later, especially things that have happened more recently.
  2. Difficulty performing familiar tasks
    Busy people can be so distracted from time to time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve them at the end of a meal. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble with tasks that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as preparing a meal.
  3. Problems with language
    Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words or substitute words, making her sentences difficult to understand.
  4. Disorientation of time and place
    It's normal to forget the day of the week or your destination -- for a moment. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become lost on their own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get home.
  5. Poor or decreased judgment
    People may sometimes put off going to a doctor if they have an infection, but eventually seek medical attention. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have decreased judgment, for example not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy clothing on a hot day.
  6. Problems with abstract thinking
    From time to time, people may have difficulty with tasks that require abstract thinking, such as balancing a cheque book. Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have significant difficulties with such tasks, for example not recognizing what the numbers in the cheque book mean.
  7. Misplacing things
    Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or keys. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
  8. Changes in mood and behaviour
    Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit varied mood swings -- from calm to tears to anger -- for no apparent reason.
  9. Changes in personality
    People's personalities can change somewhat with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become confused, suspicious or withdrawn. Changes may also include apathy, fearfulness or acting out of character.
  10. Loss of initiative
    It's normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. A person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, and require cues and prompting to become involved.









13 comments:

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

My heart goes out to you, knowing you care for an in-law...

Lois Evensen said...

Bless you. I know it is hard to care for a loved one who leaves us slowly. My father left us in 1998 after living with us for his last five years. I know your work is hard and your days are long.

Needled Mom said...

It is such a ugly disease. Please know that we are all keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

Lib said...

Both my Parents lived with us and had Alz. Now we're helping caretake
DH Mom who has Alz. Sure wish there was a cure for it!
Hope you have a good wk.end!
Blessins',Lib

Sue from Ky. said...

Diane, the one piece of advice that the care giver needs to heed in Alzheimer's cases, is to take care of one's self. Don't hesitate to ask for help.The mortality rate in the caregivers is unreal. The stress from it can kill.There are groups who will help. Don't be too proud to ask.I did a study on this topic for Homemaker's in my area. You are right. It is a complex and complicated disease.Most of us will be affected by it in some way during our lifetime.We all need to learn what we can and be as prepared as possible.

Linda said...

Dear Diane, my heart hurts for you....my DH's Father had this and I understand what you are going through. I know you are doing your best...take each day as it comes that's all you can do and try to get a little time to yourself too. warm hugs, Linda

Oklahoma Granny said...

Alzheimers is the cruelest disease. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Brenda Pruitt said...

I hope you watch that movie I mentioned to you. I think Julie Christie was in it.
Brenda

Dolores said...

This is such a great post Diane. I'm so sorry you're having to experience this dreadful disease first hand!
You're in my thoughts and prayers.

Carole Burant said...

There's a saying that "no one can take your memories away" but unfortunately there is...that dreaded disease. My heart truly goes out to you, knowing that you are taking care of one such victim of the disease. I can't even imagine how much it's changed your lives and taken over your days but thank God for people like you who are willing to take care of them. xoxo

Nola said...

You know I've been there, too, so I feel for you! It is much harder on the family than on the patient, because the patient forgets all the ugly words and acts, but they stay with the family forever!

BetteJo said...

Oh Diane you've been so supportive of me and what I've been going through, but I know what you do on a daily basis is incredibly tough. I know you've been dealing with is more than most, please remember to take care of yourself too!

Alice Byrne said...

I can feel your heartache's, Diane. Having a family member with Alzheimer's is not easy. And what hurts the most is that at one point, these loved ones will die without even knowing us. =( But we must always let them feel loved and secured.