Watching the deterioration of a mind infected with Alzheimer’s is emotionally draining, physically exhausting and mentally challenging. The disease steals parts of the brain in random patterns turning a functioning person into an adult like toddler. What they can do one day, they can’t another, then they can again briefly, only to lose the ability once more.
The hard part is that the closer a person is to the Alzheimer’s patient, the worst they see. Many times, a person with Alzheimer’s can “pull it together” to impress others and seem relatively normal. But the caretaker, the person who is there everyday caring for all the needs of the patient, bears the brunt of the attacks, confusion, and deterioration.
Because the needs of the Alzheimer’s patient is so great, it is easy for the caretaker to dismiss their own emotional well being. For each transition into another progressive stage of the disease, the caretaker needs to take some time to process the dramatic shifts. Here are some areas to consider.
Confusion. One of the early signs of Alzheimer’s is confusion over family members, favorite locations, or regular activities. In the beginning it seems as if the patient is playing dumb or a joke about what they can and cannot remember. At first the patient goes along with the laugh but later this turns to frustration and then anger. The hard part is that the confusion is different nearly every time. One day a family member is recognized and the next they are a stranger. It is terrifying for the patient to be told they should remember something that they cannot. Caretakers should go along rather than fight the confusion. Think of it as a wave crashing onto shore, this wave of confusion will pass but another will be right behind it.
Anger. Known as Sundowner’s Syndrome, the Alzheimer’s patient becomes enraged late in the day resulting in temper tantrums that rival a two year old. It is as if the confusion of the day builds to a crescendo which is released in outbursts that are uncharacteristic, intense, and extremely hurtful to those around. Foul language, throwing things, abusive speech, and physically hitting are common. It is often impossible for the caretaker, especially if this is a spouse or child, not to take these words personally. But that is precisely what needs to happen. It helps to disassociate by seeing the outbursts like an acting performance instead of words from a person they love.
Disintegration. The negative progression of the disease means that one day the patient can button a button and the next, it is completely forgotten. One day the patient remembers to eat and the next don’t. Simple, everyday tasks, become impossible feats where everything takes much longer to complete than ever before. Like pieces falling away from a formed puzzle one at a time is the disintegration of the patient’s mind. This is difficult for the caretaker to absorb because the pattern of deterioration is unique to each patient. Sometimes it helps to see this process as a reverse of childhood. As the disease progresses, the patient becomes more infantile in their abilities.
Delusions. One of the scariest parts of watching the progression of Alzheimer’s is hearing and seeing the delusions. A patient can watch something on TV and be transformed into that reality as if they were the ones experiencing the program. Or they might call a hospital a prison, identify a friend as an enemy, or walk out of the house unaware of their nakedness. The temptation for the caretaker is to point out the delusional thinking as a way of comforting the patient. But this backfires into an angry rage where the patient believes that everyone is against them and can become paranoid. As painful as it is to watch, it is far better to accept the delusion and play along until the patient is in a safe location or has settled down.
Fluidity. Occasionally, the Alzheimer’s patient becomes fluid and fully aware of their circumstances to the point that they seem normal again. The fog from their confusion lifts, their natural mood is returned, and they are thinking clearly and logically. When this happens, the caretaker gets excited, relieved, and begins to wonder if they were imagining the whole nightmare of deterioration. The caretaker questions their reactions and judgement putting aside all of the negative experiences. This is where things can become traumatic for the caretaker. For they begin to believe that it is all over when suddenly out of the blue, the patient snaps. The unsuspecting caretaker is caught off guard as the Alzheimer’s patient sinks to a new progressive low point. The discouragement and depression that transpires with each event takes a huge emotional toll on the caretaker.
It is imperative that the caretaker gets help during this time. Support groups with others experiencing the same circumstances are one of the best ways to help cope with the dramatic shifts in reality. More importantly, the caretaker must pay attention to their own emotional needs setting boundaries when appropriate. This is not a task that can be done alone, it takes an experienced team to work with Alzheimer’s patients.
Christine Hammond lives in Orlando and is the award-winning author of The Exhausted Woman’s Handbook available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks.
from Psych Central Professional http://ift.tt/2cedBDN
via https://ifttt.com/ IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment