Friday, February 16, 2007
What can a family support system do for behavioral disturbances in someone with Alzheimer's disease?
Approximately 50 to 80 percent of persons diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease have some type of behavioral or psychiatric condition, such as agitation, psychosis, disinhibition or a combination of the...
I liked your article because it brought attention to the stress of being a caregiver of an Alzheimer's patient. My mother and I have been taking care of my grandmother for awhile. She's always had bi-polar disorder which made her difficult to deal with to begin with.
She started complaining about her eye a few months ago. Once she starts in about it she doesn't stop for hours. She asks the same questions over and over again. We've takin her to her primary care physician and to an eye doctor. It seems we can't get a straight answer. My uncle has control of her finances and is also bi-polar. He's impossible to talk to. He just seems to want to minimize this problem.
Hi
Minimizing a problem is a very common way of coping with difficult situations and events. To get information and support your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association can be a great source of help. Here is the link to In my Community
Christine
When there are other mental health issues in conjunction with Alzheimer's it's particularly hard.
Repeating questions is part of Alzheimer's, so ignoring the question and distracting them can help. Sometimes it doesn't but we can try. These obsessions are difficult for the caregiver, and people with exceptionally hard issues often need outside help.
I'd suggest you contact the Alzheimer's organization in your local phone book for some suggestions about local help. Because of your poor relationship with the POA holder, you may eventually need an elder law attorney. Sad, but frequently true.
Carol
You mentioned the eye problem. Could it be the lighting in the room that makes her see differently? Too much light in her eyes or too much darkness could make her have sundowning symptoms. Sometimes it may be due to her Alzheimer's. Try to leave a light on when it is dark in the sky outside, and try to adjust the lighting so it does not bother her. Sometimes if she looks into the light, her eyes will become disoriented like our eyes, and she would misunderstand and claim there is something wrong with her eyes.
You need to consolidate the power of attorney financially and caregiving wise. The uncle and your Mom need to discuss how to act like a team. Minimizing it does not help. Have you considered an assisted living home for dementia? This kind of place has controlled environment and may help her a lot. My father-in-law had been in his own house for 6 years with all kinds of anxiety and difficulties. Now he just went to an assisted home with specialized care for mid-stage or late dementia. He still has some anxiety, but the distraction/redirection in the home makes it better - he even eats with them on the table.
Please consider other alternatives. Or hire some part-time home care professionals to help out (CNA - certified nurse aid knows how to deal with it.) Hire a in-home care agency and they can help you to find the workers. Get home health care nurses to give her showers once or twice a week. Don't give her showers everyday because she hates water on her body.
Hope this helps,
Nina