| "I am a Carer". There you go, "straight off the bat" | | | | sure that your loved one feels supported and is living |
| as they say, I write this article (the first in a series) in | | | | a full life. You can also ensure that you are taking |
| my role as a Primary Carer first and author second. | | | | steps to preserve your own well-being. Caring for |
| At present I am the primary carer for my elderly | | | | someone who has Alzheimer's disease or another |
| mother who is suffering from the advance stages of | | | | illness involving dementia can be very difficult, |
| Alzheimer's disease. It is desperately cruel disease | | | | time-consuming, and stressful - (serious |
| (most are, I know) in that it robs people (by and | | | | understatement here). Here are some more things a |
| large) of their dignity and their independence at a | | | | care giver can do to help the person with Alzheimer's |
| stage in life when they need it most. In the United | | | | disease while also reducing the substantial burden that |
| Kingdom, the Alzheimer's Society claimed in a recent | | | | comes with care giving: * Stay Informed - |
| survey that over 750,000 people suffered from | | | | Knowledge equals power. The more you know about |
| Alzheimer's and related dementia problems. In the | | | | Alzheimer's disease or any other signs of dementia, |
| United States it is calculated that an estimated 4.5 | | | | the better you can prepare yourself to deal with |
| million people suffer from Alzheimer's and that this | | | | problems that may arise. * Share concerns with the |
| figure has doubled since 1980. Further alarming | | | | person - A person who is mildly to moderately |
| statistics highlight the fact that it is possible that in | | | | impaired can assist in his/her own care. Memory aides |
| the US alone, the number of people suffering from | | | | and other strategies can be created by the person |
| Alzheimer's could more than double to between 11.5 | | | | with dementia and the caregiver together. This is |
| and 13 million sufferers by 2050. Alzheimer's disease is | | | | easier said than done I know but you have to give it |
| what is described as a progressive disorder of the | | | | a try. But, and this is a big but (no laughs here |
| brain that gradually destroys a persons' memory, | | | | please) it is essential that you realise that you are |
| ability to learn, reason, make judgements, | | | | probably dealing with a person who if they have any |
| communicate and carry out daily activities. As the | | | | cognisance at all, will be in denial. * Solve problems |
| disease progresses, sufferers may also experience | | | | one at a time - A multitude of problems may occur |
| changes in their personality and display such | | | | that may seem insurmountable at the time. Work on |
| behavioural changes ranging from anxiety, agitation or | | | | one specific problem at a time -- you do not have to |
| suspicion right up to and / or including delusions and | | | | solve every problem all at once. As the saying goes |
| hallucinations Although there is currently no cure for | | | | "Success by the inch is a cinch, by the yard it's hard" |
| Alzheimer's, new treatments are on the horizon as a | | | | and in this case this has never been more true. * Use |
| result of accelerating insight into the biology of the | | | | your imagination - One of the keys to handling this |
| disease. Research has also shown that effective care | | | | disease is your ability to adapt. If something can't be |
| and support can improve quality of life for individuals | | | | done one way, try another. For example, if the |
| and their caregivers over the course of the disease | | | | person only uses his or her fingers for eating, do not |
| from diagnosis to the end of life. Considering the long | | | | keep fighting; just serve as many finger foods as |
| term implications for Alzheimer's sufferers, the hidden | | | | possible! * Establish an environment that encourages |
| sociological impact will in reality be born on the | | | | freedom and activity within limits Try to create a |
| shoulders of those who will be caring for the | | | | stable, balanced schedule for meals, medication, etc. |
| sufferers for it is indeed a bittersweet irony that | | | | but also encourage activities that the patient can |
| those who care for the sufferers in reality suffer | | | | handle such as taking a walk or visiting an old friend. |
| more than the sufferers do themselves. This fact in | | | | Remember, the person with AD is not the only one |
| itself has been largely responsible for another survey | | | | whose needs must be taken into consideration. You |
| finding recently and that was the fact that Americans | | | | as a caregiver have needs and desires that must also |
| are equally afraid of caring for someone who has | | | | be met. First, try and find some time for yourself. |
| Alzheimer's as much as they are of developing the | | | | Even though this suggestion may seem like an |
| disease themselves. Approximately 1 in 2 American | | | | impossibility, find some time during the week where |
| adults are more apprehensive of caring for partner or | | | | you can have someone else watch the patient -- be |
| loved one who has developed Alzheimer's. Just less | | | | it a relative, friend, or neighbour -- and do something |
| than 1 in 5 American adults have indicated that they | | | | for yourself. * Avoid social isolation - Keep up |
| are more afraid of getting the disease themselves | | | | contacts with friends and relatives. It's easy to get |
| (17%). The real problem from a carer's perspective is | | | | burned out when it seems like you have no one to |
| that no two people experience Alzheimer's disease in | | | | turn to. Another way to establish contacts is by |
| the same way. As a result, there's no one approach | | | | joining the Alzheimer's Association or other such |
| to care giving. Your care giving responsibilities can | | | | support groups. Talking with other families who share |
| range from making financial decisions, managing | | | | many of the very same problems can be reassuring |
| changes in behaviour, to helping a loved one get | | | | as it helps you know you are not alone in your |
| dressed in the morning. Handling these duties is hard | | | | round-the-clock struggles. |
| work. But by learning care giving skills, you can make | | | | |