Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most dreadful neurodegenerative diseases that generally come with aging. Alzheimer’s disease presents a stark contrast with other diseases, because it cannot be handled by the victim alone as it destroys the victim’s proper cognitive functioning. Here are some ways on how deal with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease.
Seek medical treatment
AD is the most common form of dementia that requires timely medical treatment. This irreparable and progressive brain disease requires care and treatment hand in hand. Even though at present there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, early diagnosis can do significant role in delaying the progression of the disease. With timely and proper treatment, Alzheimerâs patients can be equipped to perform their daily activities without a caregiverâs help for a longer period of time.
Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), PET scans, and CAT scans will enable neurologists in detecting this neurodegenerative disease. Some of the disturbing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, such as, gloominess, insomnia, and lots of other behavioral problems can be controlled by certain medicines.
Health care providers may also use other medicines to help manage some of the disturbing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, including gloominess, insomnia, and behavioral problems such as agitation and aggression. Cholinesterase inhibitors can be administered to delay the progression of the disease. Patientâs cognitive functioning – including thinking, remembering, and reasoning – can be saved from rapid deterioration with proper medication.
Create compassionate and supportive atmosphere
As Alzheimer’s is a terminal and degenerative disease that affects the brain, the sufferer will not be able to manage things on his/her own. The patient will have to depend on the caregiver (it can be an outsider or any close relatives such as spouse) for carrying out daily chores. The person suffering from this form of dementia often fails to remember the names of common objects and close relatives. Disputes and scolding will be of no use, and what is badly needed is a caring and supportive environment. Provide unconditional love and emotional support without expecting anything back. As this particular form of dementia aggravates as days pass, expect poorer behavioral attitudes and actions from the patient and be prepared to handle it pleasantly. Take care of the victim as you take care of a baby. Building up a safe environment is very important due to the uncanny behavior from the victim. Remove dangerous objects from the house and keep medicines out of the reach of the patient. Take all necessary measures to prevent the person from going out from the house alone, as he/she will have the tendency to wander aimlessly. Giving spiritual support will help in calming them a lot. Involve them in interesting activities and social relations. It is reported that patients with strong social support networks show less negative symptoms when compared to those who is deficient in social support.
Build a serene and peaceful environment
Caregivers are conferred with the responsibility of creating a calm and soothing environment. This is really important to handle patients with AD because if they live in a peaceful, safe, and soothing atmosphere, lots of behavioral changes can be controlled. Remove all the items and conditions that can stir up disturbance and bewilderment in the Alzheimerâs patient. Noisy atmosphere creates disturbances in the patient and it should be strictly avoided. Other factors such as vague lighting, mirrors, loud colors, certain types of decorative wallpapers, etc., are likely to create confusion and agitation in the patients.
Caregivers should be trained to behave politely and pleasantly with the patient. They should not get offended or roused by difficulty behavior from the patients. As patients can become unmanageable, aggressive and violent, it is necessary to take all the precautionary measures to protect the patient and caregiver from any potential menace. It is necessary to neglect the behavior however bad it is, and learn to respond to the emotions that is conveyed through those actions. The victims are more likely to react to caregiverâs body language. Hence, it is essential to compose yourself and present a calm attitude. Indulge in stress-relieving exercises to handle the patient mode fruitfully. Learn to understand the progression of the disease and plan ahead to create a comforting atmosphere.
Manage stress in the patient
According to research studies, stress plays a key role in the significant progression of Alzheimerâs. Therefore, it is inevitable to control stress in an Alzheimerâs patient. According to a study done by researchers at University of California, Irvine, stress hormones quickly aggravate the creation of those brain lesions that are the main characteristic of AD. As stated above, all the physical, chemical, or emotional factors that are likely to cause stress in the patient have to be removed from the surroundings. Any kinds of bodily or mental unrest to the patient has to be avoided at any cost. Management of stress can be achieved successfully by implementing a number of strategies.
Simple exercises are proved to be helpful in making the patient relaxed and composed. The patient can be involved in gentle physical activities like daily walking, jogging, and simple physical games. Before starting any exercises, it is better to consult a doctor to ensure that the patient is fit for doing these. You can take the victim to indoor shopping malls for walking. Some patients get relieved very much by getting involved in singing and dancing. Some people enjoy playing well-known games such as bowling, golf, ring toss, and horseshoes. Not only the patient, but the caregiver also is in need of these stress-relieving activities to look after the patient in a better way.
Schedule activities wisely
Daily chores have to be scheduled in a wise manner to make it easier for the patients. A timetable for each activity should be made in a manner that is not confusing to the patient. Study the behavioral patterns of the patient and plan activities accordingly. When the patient is in the most composed and pleasant mood, tricky tasks such as bathing or therapeutic appointments can be done.
