Speaking Alzheimer's

You got me... It is true. All the experts keep telling the family how to treat the loved ones with patience and special skills and even say that if you don't do this, it is so wrong... Our home care nurse is obsessive with telling people what is the right thing to do for my FIL with Alzheimer's and she thinks she is the only one that can do right about him or communicate with him. Well the news is we are human beings and not everyone has this professional training. Also another thing is, I'd rather be treated naturally as a patient instead of being pampered like an idiot. It helps if one has some special skills but this does not mean we cannot do it naturally and somehow make a mistake! One time my hubby yelled at his Dad a little after his Dad's Alzheimer's diagnosis due to some dispute about some unfairness. Yes, the patient is sick but the family also deserves the right treatments.

So yes the trees are good victims for this!!

Nina 

Thanks for your post SalGal.  I suspect you have given many of our caregiver readers a reason to raise their heads and square their jaws.  It must be so frustrating to constantly be told the best way to do things for a loved one. Especially when the advice seems so darn logical.

The flip side of all of this might just be that there are plenty of people out there who have no earthly idea how to handle their loved one (or themselves for that matter).  So, my two cents - I think that its important to have what to some might consider silly advice out there for those that don't understnad what to do with an Alzheimer's or Dementia patient.   If any of the information that experts provide helps one caregiver and one loved one have a stronger, safer, happier relationship and existence - why not!

For those who already "get it", they can help those that don't.  That's the point in the first place right?

Thanks for listening.  All the best, sue

PS - There are some pretty good tips and points in our Caregiver Center - check it out to see if you can use any of them for your own situation.

Hi there,

My name is Lynn. I am 57 years old recently & officially diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's. I have been looking for info to help my husband to deal with me in the future. The ugly future, when I don't know up from down. Reading your posts have unsettled me a tad. Actually, I feel like I have been kicked in the gut. I am not sure if you are pissed off with your position in life dealing with your Alzheimer's Patient or if you are REALLY(???) trying to take a light hearted look at this dignity robbing disease. I don't know if I can sit back and appreciate where you are coming from. I do understand however that you are being honest and mean no harm in your words. I think that perhaps you have hit too close to home and that I am thinking that this is how my husband and two grown sons are going to feel!  

I have to think more about this before I reply more in detail. I am not feeling well right now. I feel sick to my stomach and feel like crying! No, I am crying but it is OK. I needed to see someone vent like this. I really do think your posts are anger disguised as humor.

Remember, God Loves Us All.

Lynn