Alzheimer Site : Common Alzheimer Questions

It is hard when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It is a devastating condition that takes its toll on the loved one and the family members. The slowly progressing disease can wreak havoc on everyone's lives it touches. This is the constant thought that at some point Alzheimer care will have to be taken over by the family or the loved one placed into a long-term care facility. But before you can begin considering Alzheimer care you first have to understand the disease so that you will know what to expect later down the road.

It can be a difficult journey and the answers are never easy but there are some common questions about this disease. Alzheimer care begins immediately for the patient and you probably need some answers. This article will cover the basics of Alzheimer's disease and also help you understand how Alzheimer care is so important to both you and your loved one.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that afflicts over twenty-four million people around the world. It is terminal. The person suffers from a form of dementia that increases during the span of the disease. The person begins to have short-term memory loss followed by mood swings and anger at their condition. It then progresses to long-term memory loss and the patient begins to lose minor and then major control over their body. It is a devastating disease to have strike anyone. At present there is no cure, only medicines designed to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. There must be Alzheimer care from loved ones and trained professionals in order for the patient to live a comfortable life as the disease progresses.

Dementia is a disease of the mind. It is where the person begins to lose their cognitive functions due to disease or damage that has occurred within the brain. It is accepted that some forms of dementia will occur to the body as it ages but typically a diagnosis of dementia is for those cases in which the normal aging process is not a factor. Alzheimer's disease is the number one cause of dementia.

No, unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease at present. There are drugs that can treat some of the symptoms and new research is working feverishly to help design a drug cocktail that could halt the disease in its tracks. Alzheimer care is of the utmost importance when dealing with a loved one that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. A relatively new technique being used to help Alzheimer patients is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy focuses on the dementia of the patient by helping them regain, at least partially, an awareness of their surroundings that is so often lacking in Alzheimer patients. It will not treat all of the behavior problems but it can help with many and it is definitely something worth looking into if a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease does not have a physical test that can be run to determine if a patient has the disease or not. It is more like taking stock of all the symptoms and family medical history to determine whether or not the disease is present. A CT scan or MRI can be performed to identify the types of dementia present and can help rule out other neurological diseases that may be causing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

How do I care for someone in my family that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease?

The very first thing you must do when providing Alzheimer care for a loved one is to become informed about the disease. The more you know about the disease and its progressive stages, the better able you will be to handle the situations that will arise. You will need to stay in constant contact with your loved one's family physician and keep aware of all the current medications and treatment options that are available for Alzheimer patients. This is just the start though. You will also need to make changes to your lifestyle in order to help your loved one adjust to the changes happening in his or her life.

Right now there are four different types of medications available for Alzheimer patients as well as psychotherapy treatments for the disease. These medications are used to treat the different forms of dementia that are associated with the disease. The medications are: Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon and Exelon Patch. As far as care goes outside the realm of drugs, it is important to assess the patient's physical coordination and have occupational and physical therapists working with the patients to help improve motor functions and capabilities for caring for themselves.

My parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, what type of Alzheimer care can I begin with?

Alzheimer care begins with understanding the condition thoroughly. You will need to speak with healthcare professionals to determine the stage at which your loved one is currently at and learn all you possibly can about the disease. You will then need to make the determination on how long your parent is going to be able to care for themselves on their own in their own home.

It is important to the patient to remain independent as long as possible without risk to their well-being. After they are no longer able to safely care for themselves it will come down to a decision on whether or not to place them in a long-term care facility or bring them into your own home in order to provide care. It is not an easy decision to make.

Is it better to have my parent or grandparent receiving Alzheimer care in their home or a group home?

It is always better to have the loved one being cared for in their home but sometimes this is just not possible. The ideal solution is to have them in your own home where you can care for them yourself. A long-term care facility should be used as a last alternative because they will not be able to receive the same quality of care that you can provide and the transition from losing their own personal freedoms to those of a group home can be traumatic in its own right. A profound sense of loss can occur which furthers the confusion they are going through.

What type of Alzheimer care equipment will I need if I'm caring for someone in my own home?

The first step is to have an occupational therapist come into your home to assess your living conditions. You will have to install some safety features for your elderly relative so that they can try to care for themselves as long as possible. A professional may recommend cabinet locks and gates to help prevent wandering and any accidental ingestion of poisons or cleaning agents. He or she may also suggest handicap accessories such as bathtub railings. One thing that may be suggested that you may be surprised about is brightly colored serving dishes and plates. Studies have shown that brightly colored plates and glasses can help improve the patient's appetite since they are clearly able to see the difference between the plate and the food.

Thankfully there are Alzheimer care support groups that can be there for you during difficult times and can provide bits of wisdom and advice for dealing with this devastating disease. One group is the Alzheimer's Association. They have links to support groups in every state so you can find one closest to you.

Just enter your name and email to get your FREE Alzheimer gift immediately !

Your name and email address will not be sold, shared or disclosed to anyone. We promise to respect your privacy.

Today's Tip On Alzheimer

If you're caring for an Alzheimers patient, then you are not alone. There are 5.2 million Americans suffering from this debilitating disease, which is also the seventh-leading cause of death in the country. For patients over 65, the dangers are even more real, as statistics show it's the fifth leading cause of death in the senior age group. Whether you've been trying to cope with the Alzheimer care you've been giving or you're just getting started, here are some practical tips to help you during this difficult time.