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Article #409: "Being a Primary Carer for a relative with Alzheimer's disease - The Long Goodbye"

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






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