Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s in Macomb County?

I recently came across an article regarding Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease is becoming more and more prevalent as our population ages. It remains as a medical mystery to many physicians and specialists treating the disease.

The complete text of this article can be found by clicking on the link to the remainder of this entry.

Personality and Behavior When your loved one changes….
Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is an illness of the brain. It causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. This affects a person’s ability to remember things and think clearly.

People with Alzheimer’s Disease become forgetful and easily confused. They may have a hard time concentrating and behave in odd ways. These problems get worse as the illness gets worse, making your job as caregiver harder.

It’s important to remember that the disease, not the person with Alzheimer’s Disease, causes these changes.

There are three main challenges that you may face as you care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.
changes in communication skills changes in personality and behavior changes in intimacy and sexuality Changes in personality and behavior
Because Alzheilmer’s Disease causes brain cells to die, the brain works less well over time. This changes how a person acts. You will notice that he or she will have good days and bad days.

Here are some common personality changes you may see:
Getting upset, worried, and angry more easily Acting depressed or not interested in things Hiding things or believing other people are hiding things Imagining things that aren’t there In addition to changes in the brain, the following things may affect how people with Alzheilmer’s Disease behave.

How they feel:
Sadness, fear, or a feeling of being overwhelmed Stress caused by something or someone Confusion after a change in routine, including travel Anxiety about going to a certain place Hallucinations and delusions
During a hallucination, a person sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels something that isn’t there. For example, the person may see his or her dead mother in the room. He or she also may have delusions.

Paranoia
Paranoia is a type of delusion in which a person may believe-without a good reason-that others are mean, lying, unfair, or “out to get him or her.” he or she may become suspicious, fearful, or jealous of people.

In a person with Alzheilmer’s Disease, paranoia often is linked to memory loss. It can become worse as memory loss gets worse.

click here to read full article http://cambridgehealth.org/index.php/when-your-loved-one-changescoping-with-alzheimers-disease
Gabriella Williams | Communications Director, Cambridge Health www.cambridgehealth.org.