I ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE. BUT THE ONE ITEM I FELT WAS LACKING AND MAY NOT ALWAY BE ABLE TO BE KNOWN IS; WHAT KIND OF LEARNING DID THE INDIVIDUAL, IN THIS CASE, YOU FIND TO BE BEST WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER. SOME PEOPLE LEARN BETTER WITH EXAMPLES, SOME WITH JUST WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND THIS NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN WORKING WITH FOLKS WITH EARLY DEMENTIA. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE LUXURY OF KNOWING THIS INFORMATION AND THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA IS NOT A RELIABLE SOURCE UNLESS YOU CAN DISCOVER IT BY THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION OVER TIME.
AS A RETIRED RN, WHO WORKED IN THE HOMECARE FIELD, I EXPERIENCED THIS A GREAT DEAL. THE OTHER IMPORTANT POINT WOULD BE TO KNOW THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION THE PERSON HAD AS A YOUNG INDIVIDUAL. YOU CAN;T ASSUME THAT EVERYONE IS INTELLECTUALLY EQUAL.
Ahhh, so very true! As a former teacher of 34 years, I, too, know this so well. Some are visual learners, some auditory, some tactic. And some, like me, always needed all three! In most cases, individuals--with or without dementia--don't even know the best method for them! But, there are ways to determine how to best help someone, but one does not necessarily need to perform "tests". The caregiver can watch for signs given off by the person with dementia. For example, does that person like working with their hands? If so, they are probably tactile learners.
With this said, I am not sure what effect dementia has on the person's learning style. I suspect that it plays havoc with it, though, since short term memory is involved. Your response has peaked my interest...I think I'll look further into this topic. Many thanks!
Dear Leah; I do feel your anguish;My Mom passed away 11/01/10 from Alzheimers Disease.-I do hope that I can help,by spreading more words & my bits of truth;The best care,& truth that my Mom got was by her #1 Nurse,Caregiver,Patricia-Mom even IMPROVED under her care!-Golden Rule;Routine is the Most Important of all!!!-Every day,exact time for any and everything...and huge amounts of love...(p.s.My Mom was the smartest,most caring,most loving & truly brilliant,beautiful woman that I have had the privelage to know)...best of all,she was my Mom!!....I miss her so very,very much,every single day.....
I am very sorry for your loss. It took me many years to decorate for Christmas after my own mother passed away... Still, to this day, I miss her==some 15 years later. Sometimes, I can almost feel her next to me... It sounds like your relationship was a truly loving one. You will always have that to lean on, and your memories. And, you can give her a mental hug once in awhile; I do that for my mom. Thank you for caring enough to continue working with Alzheimer's; your ideas and background of knowledge can prove to be invaluable to caregivers.
Dear Carol; It was so very kind & sweet of you to respond to my post! :) -Both me & and my Mom were blessed to have each other!-(FYI,my Mom & Dad adopted me when I was a baby-Mom named me her Moms name,whom passed away when she was 5 yrs old)-Mom & Dad could not have children,& were fostor parents(GREAT ONES!),for 13 children.-It was so painful,after loving each,to have to let them go...so they adopted me,& my brother(not related by blood-he was their first adopted,2 yrs earlier).-We are truly more family,than others I see how they treat each other.-EVERY day,I think of my Mom,& hear her beautiful laugh!!-She may be gone,yet I hear her every day....that is such sweet joy!!.
I loved your response. Family is not biological...it is emotional, and your comments prove that! I, too, can almost feel my mom near me; i know she is IN me...after all, I have half of her DNA! Mom used to say over and over that she woke up at 2:22 or 3:33 or looked at the clock and it said 5:55 or 1:11 or 12:12...always double or triple numbers. She always remarked that there had to be something important about those double and triple numbers. Well, I think there is. I often wake up or look at the clock and see the same doubles and triples. At those times, I am drawn to my mom; i often say, "Hi Mom. I know you're there, and I love and miss you!" I suppose that may sound crazy to many people...but, to me, it is very comforting to connect with her in this way. God bless you and your family!
Leah
I loved your response. Family is not biological...it is emotional, and your comments prove that! I, too, can almost feel my mom near me; i know she is IN me...after all, I have half of her DNA! Mom used to say over and over that she woke up at 2:22 or 3:33 or looked at the clock and it said 5:55 or 1:11 or 12:12...always double or triple numbers. She always remarked that there had to be something important about those double and triple numbers. Well, I think there is. I often wake up or look at the clock and see the same doubles and triples. At those times, I am drawn to my mom; i often say, "Hi Mom. I know you're there, and I love and miss you!" I suppose that may sound crazy to many people...but, to me, it is very comforting to connect with her in this way. God bless you and your family!
Leah
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Indeed, I even find your post "confusing". But I like your bullet-points near the end. Good advice and something I can use.
Like you, my dreams have become disconnected with the issues of my days (as they were when I dreamed more productively). So, am curious. Have you found your dreams have become (even if just once-in-awhile) "loopey"? and by loopey I mean, for example, the dream will center around some theme and my response. The theme varies but my response seems like a revolving door ... around which I am passing again and again and again (until I awaken). Sometimes I remember them, sometimes not.
Just curious that's all.
I too have the "D" and have a family history of AlzD so not sure if that is where am headed. Cranial MRI a year or more ago, indicates atypical atrophy for my age (65). Some measure of agitation & confusion starting as the sun goes down daily. Otherwise, still working everyday and reading my books. Trying to start an exercise regimen as they say that will help us "maintain".
Look forward to more from you my friend.
Peace.
Thank you for your wonderful response! I DO have some "loopey" dreams...ones that just seem to keep going around and around... They can be exhausting! And, I do sometimes have the dreams (like I used to have a lot) where I can actually go back into the dream and change the ending to one I prefer more... Those dreams, too, often wipe me out. TOO MUCH THINKING WHILE ASLEEP!!! LOL
I take Aricept, which may account for some of my very vivid dreaming--the wild colors and actions. At first, I was quite taken aback by them. I remember the first night I experienced the vivid colors; I closed my eyes--and swear I was awake still--when all these slot machines went winding around before my eyes...it was like some distorted memory had been pulled from the edges of my mind.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment and hope to hear from you again. Live life fully for as long as you can. Do you have time to join any organizations? They can be fun and keep your mind and, sometimes, body active.
God bless!
Leah