There is one thing that a disease like Alzheimer’s or dementia does that many other illnesses don’t do - it gives you time to say goodbye. With more sudden illnesses, like heart attacks and strokes, people don’t have the chance to come to terms with what is happening and let go gradually.
Many times, by the time that last day does come, people with a relative suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia will have healed family rifts. They take time to collect stories of the family’s past because they know those memories could be lost tomorrow. They say goodbye a thousand times in different ways. Still, we always think that the final day is sometime in the future and the day a loved one’s body catches up to his or her mind is a shock.
So, for the last time - Goodbye, William.
If you love to have a big family Thanksgiving and have a family member with Alzheimer’s, you can face some big challenges. Do you have the celebration in your home and have strangers invade your loved one’s space? Do you travel to a less familiar location and add confusion about his or her surroundings to the mix? Suddenly, the holiday celebration is something you don’t want to even think about. However, although you may not sail through the holiday without difficulties, there are a few things you can do to make sure the celebration is not completely overwhelming.
* If you are traveling to someone else’s home, you may want to arrange to arrive early and leave before all of the guests arrive or arrive late and stay only a short time. The combination of unfamiliar faces and places can really be a lot for an Alzheimer’s patient to handle.
* If you do opt to stay, make sure you there will be a spot that is not in the middle of everything where your loved one can relax. (A chair tucked into an alcove of the room where all the guests are sitting provides a bit of security without being too isolating.) Bring along something familiar and comforting, such as a music cd you play frequently.
* If you are having the celebration in your own home, you may want to serve dinner to your loved one before the guests arrive. This way, if he or she becomes too upset to sit through the meal with everyone else, you can suggest a short rest without worrying about whether the Alzheimer’s patient is hungry.
* While many Alzheimer’s patients love children, a group of them can be overwhelming. Prepare some quiet activities for the kids, like having an adult read some stories related to the holiday and Thanksgiving themed crafts. (Oriental Trading Company has some great crafts this year.)
* Another tip for an Alzheimer’s patient who is not in the advanced stages of the disease: Before the holiday, prepare an album with photos and names of all of the guests in it. Being able to refer to the photos and seeing who is approaching can help make your loved one a bit less worried about having his or her memory fail to provide the information.
Does anyone else have some tips on how they handle the Thanksgiving holiday?
This study on marijuana’s effect on Alzheimer’s disease is exciting news:Â
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found that the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, inhibits the formation of amyloid plaque, the primary pathological marker for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the study said, THC is “a considerably superior inhibitor of [amyloid plaque] aggregation” to several currently approved drugs for treating the disease.
If scientists can use this chemical to create a drug that blocks the brain enzyme that causes Alzheimer’s symptoms, Alzheimer’s could become tomorrow’s measles or polio. This is wonderful news for future generations, especially in families where several people have this disease.
By the way, researchers warn that this does not mean you should drop by your local drug dealer to pick up some dope. Smoking large quantities of marijuana can cause brain function problems.
To read more about the study, visit http://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/e_20060828/news.html.
The Alzheimer’s Association has identified ten symptoms of caregiver stress. Some are fairly obvious, like exhaustion or sleeplessness, but I was surprised to see anger on the list.
However, when you think about it, being exhausted and getting no sleep makes most people less understanding and Alzheimer’s patients can be challenging to deal with even when you feel great. With these other stressors affecting them, many caregivers get angry more easily, both at the patient and the disease that has turned a loved one into a stranger.
Photo Books
A lot of caregivers are using photo books to help the Alzheimer’s or dementia patient they are working with recall important people or events. At the very least, it can be a way for the patient to identify visitors. They can sneak a look at the book and be able to see that the woman walking in the door is “Your daughter Emily” and can greet her appropriately.
