My father was diagnosed with alzhiemers and dementia a few years ago. He is an alcholic and his last drink was about 4 months before he went into the nursing home. Does this affect the diseases at all, like enhancing it or not or did it contribute to it?
Thank you
Sherrie
Hi, Myssy,
I looked up your question in "The 36-Hour Day" by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins, and here's what they say:
- People who have a history of drinking problems are at increased risk of deeloping dementia.
- This type of dementia has different symptoms than those of Alzheimer's. "The person can express himself well (language is rarely affected), but personality change, irritability, and explosiveness are common," Mace and Rabins wrote.
- It's important for caregivers to try approaches based on this form of dementia. The first step is to remove access to alcohol, because the person can't voluntary control his drinking.
- Get the person neuropsychological testing if you have questions about how disabled the person is or whether behaviors are deliberate or manipulative.
- A family's coping strategies that worked in dealing with the alcoholic person prior to the diagnosis of dementia/Alzheimer's may no longer work.
I hope this helps. Take care and keep us posted!
DOrian
Sherrie, Alcoholism can and does damage the brain. The extent of the damage depends on the amount of consumption and this varies among alcoholics. The damage can cause the brain to atrophy and the shrinkage can be detected in MRI or CT scans. When you factor in the Alzheimer's dementia, it is likely that the effects of prolonged heavy alcohol consumption would compound the dementia problems considerably. These are two separate diseases that are impacting the health of the tissue in the brain. I hope that this is helpful to you. -- Joe
You stated your father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As you may not be aware, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. For that reason, it would be important to understand what exactly is causing the dementia and if the alcoholism could be a factor. The best way to determine whether or not his alcoholism may have led to dementia is by consulting with his physician who can run a neurological test. A brain scan would be an important indicator for changes in the brain and underlying reasons for them.
Thank you again. My father doesn't drink any more , not since he has been in thr nursing home. It will be almost 2 years since he has been there. But now I'm having issues with him and the nursing home . He keeps going around and telling everyone that he has lots of money, but he does'nt. My grandparents had a living trust done up and his younger brother distributes it at 100.00 a month. ( he has the early stage of the adanvce stages of the diesease. So the nursing decided to help my dad call the sheriffs underwriters saying I was stealing money. I have ever reciept . I'm not concerned about that , but why are the insisting this with him? They don't watch him take his pills. I've caught them not doing that. 2 weeks ago he had 5 pills in his cup , they said again it was a new nurse, this is what they say all the time. I have nobody to talk to this about, I'm alone on this most of the time. I don't know if I can do this anymore. So what can I do or where can I get help for this , do I turn them into the state? The staff in the past have taken things from him and I have never gotten the items back. He has always given things away. He does not know to keep these things. I don't thing I should continue to buy things for him, just to turn around and have to buy it again and again again. Ppplleeeaaasseee HELP ME SOMEONE????!!!!
myssy
What I'd suggest is that you write a letter or email to the nursing home administrator and/or the director of nursing about your concern(s) and then have a follow-up conversation with him/her or them about how to solve the issue. Then follow-up with any future major concerns in an email or letter so you can have written documentation. If things don't improve, then contact the Alzheimer's Assocation chapter in your area or the local nursing home ombudsperson, who often can be found in your local office on aging. As a final result, report the problem to the state nursing home inspector's office.
Dad and I had to begin to take these actions when the nursing home wasn't replacing Mom's oxygen canister in a timely manner (she suffered from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as well as Alzheimer's). We got to a decent working arrangement by talking to the director of nursing and the nursing home adminstrator, and never had to move to the ombudsperson level.
Take care and keep us posted!
Dorian
Myssy,
How can the nursing home decided to call the underwriter and all that? Where is the family's right? Like Dorian said, please write to the director of the nursing home to complain. If it does not work out, you need to find a good nursing home that respects the family. They should know that the elders are incompetent even if it is in early stage of advanced stage. (If they are competent, why are they in the home???)
Good luck,
Nina
Hi Myssy
Alcohol abuse is recognized as a major health problem in the United States and in many countries throughout the world. Alcohol may cause cognitive problems and in certain conditions may cause dementia.
I have written a sharepost about the effects of alcohol and how dementia due to it differs from Alzheimer's. It may help you see the differences and similarities to Alzheimer's
How Does Alcohol Related Dementia Differ from Alzheimer's
Christine
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Thank you Dorian so much . This has helped. I just replyed to the AFA . You are more than welome to look at that one when they reply, if they do . There is so much going on right now with my dad and the nursing home. I'm at my wits end i feel like I'm going to have a nerves breakdown. Everyone tells me that I need to let it go. i can't I promised I would take care of him. He was a very abusive father to my mother. Im the oldest and I remember alot of the beatings. And other things.
Talk to you later?
sherrie/myssy