Alzheimer’s Finding your Joy in the Middle of the Storm

www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5HXPxB837s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCOKIN7EbcM

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Be Their Advocate: The doctor’s hands are tied with the way insurances are set up, you need to stay on top of things.  Each person is unique on how their body responds to medications.  Watch how your loved one responds and stay on top of their medications.

Be very patient, supportive and validate them.  Rub their back, kiss their cheek, scratch their head,  anything that they like.  Remember they are going backwards, you are becoming their parent.  If they say they are scared, ask them what they are afraid of.

Example: My father had said that there was someone in his bedroom, there was nobody in his room, but he was convinced.  I took his hand and I walked with him into the bedroom, upon arrival he asked me if I heard the voices, I didn’t but I had to solution what he heard without him feeling like he was crazy.  I smiled and pointed at his hearing aids and told him that it was feedback from his hearing aids, in truth, there wasn’t any feedback, BUT he had to have answers, sometimes fudging the truth is the best solution.

Avoid criticising or correcting, you will hear the same story or question or statement over and over again.  The more you criticise, argue, or correct, the more unsettled they become.  Try to remember that they are feeling unsettled, and know they are bugging you, but they still want to understand.  Your frustration turns into their obsession, just go with it.

EXAMPLE:  “Missy, what’s that elephant doing under that chair?” he saw something under the chair, it could be a bug, a shadow, or a piece of paper, and his words are gone.  “What do you think he’s doing?” or “getting away from the sun.” if it sounds reasonable, s/he will move on, if not, it’s up for additional discussion. Just remember, that person is searching for ways to communicate with you, don’t shame him or her.

IN CLOSING:  I loved the movie, THE NOTEBOOK, don’t you? However, it romanticised Alzheimer’s, it doesn’t tell you the truth, but that’s Hollywood’s spin, they left out the ugly truth, and the truth about its emotional despair and hopelessness, and it does feel hopeless.  Find your joy in the middle of the storm of this illness.  When my family learned that my father was ill, my brother filmed my parent’s love story, this has become a source of comfort when I need to remember my father when he was healthy and happy, I would encourage you to do the same and remember to hold onto those short moments in making memories.   Please enjoy the (example) video.

https://vimeo.com/150733602