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She was glad when they didn’t try to remind her of what she had just said or that they had come last week, or ask her if she remembered this person or that one. She liked it best when they just held her and loved her.
She was glad when they didn’t try to remind her of what she had just said or that they had come last week, or ask her if she remembered this person or that one. She liked it best when they just held her and loved her.
Dementia does not mean crazy.
Dementia describes a group of symptoms that can be caused by many diseases; in this way it is an umbrella term that applies to many disorders and is not the name of a disease that causes the symptoms.
Dementia describes a group of symptoms that can be caused by many diseases; in this way it is an umbrella term that applies to many disorders and is not the name of a disease that causes the symptoms.
Dementia describes a group of symptoms that can be caused by many diseases
Dementia describes a group of symptoms that can be caused by many diseases
Severe memory loss is never a normal part of growing older.
Severe memory loss is never a normal part of growing older.
or they may become restless, easily upset, and irritable.
or they may become restless, easily upset, and irritable.
they may become restless, easily upset, and irritable.
Often little things enormously upset people who have dementia.
Then when I asked him to take a bath, we had a real fight. He insisted he had already had a bath.”
Then when I asked him to take a bath, we had a real fight. He insisted he had already had a bath.”
It is important for those around the person to remember that many of his behaviors are beyond his control:
The changes that occur are not the result of an unpleasant personality grown old; they are the result of damage to the brain and are usually beyond t...
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The changes that occur are the result of damage to the brain and are usually beyond the control o...
This highlight has been truncated due to consecutive passage length restrictions.
The changes that occur are the result of damage to the brain and are usually beyond the control o...
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We can continue to love a person even after he has changed
Even when the disease itself cannot be stopped, much can be done to improve the quality of life of people who have dementia and their family members.
Even when the disease itself cannot be stopped, much can be done to improve the quality of life of people who have dementia and their family members.
Injury to the brain can cause changes in emotions, personality, and the ability to reason. The illnesses that cause dementia are biological:
People who have brain damage do things that don’t make sense to us
John Barstow can remember he was angry with his wife, but he cannot remember her explanation of why she did what she did. In fact, he may not even remember what she did that made him angry.
John Barstow can remember he was angry with his wife, but he cannot remember her explanation of why she did what she did. In fact, he may not even remember what she did that made him angry.
If the brain interferes with a person’s ability to perform any step in a task, the person will not be able to do the rest of the task
Researchers have found that our brain stores and processes memories of emotions differen...
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Researchers have found that our brain stores and processes memories of emotions differen...
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Behavioral and psychiatric symptoms are often caused by damage to the brain and are not something the person can control or prevent.
Behavior that upsets you is rarely deliberate and almost never intended to “get your goat.” Because the brain itself is damaged, the person is severely limited in his ability to learn things or understand explanations. It is futile to expect him to remember or learn and frustrating to both of you to try to teach him. The person does not want to act like this and is trying as hard as he can.
Behavior that upsets you is rarely deliberate and almost never intended to “get your goat.” Because the brain itself is damaged, the person is severely limited in his ability to learn things or understand explanations. It is futile to expect him to remember or learn and frustrating to both of you to try to teach him. The person does not want to act like this and is trying as hard as he can.
A person’s feelings also affect his behavior. The person who has dementia probably feels lost, worried, anxious, vulnerable, and helpless much of the time.
If we can find ways to make a person who has dementia feel more secure and comfortable, behavioral symptoms may decline.
The person you are caring for may be unhappy but doing the best he can
If the person does not recognize the problem, accept his point of view. Arguing with him will not help.
but know that repeatedly and gently giving information that is within the person’s abilities will help him function more comfortably
but know that repeatedly and gently giving information that is within the person’s abilities will help him function more comfortably
As the disease progresses, the person will be unable to remember what you tell him even for a minute. You will need to repeat yourself and remind and reassure him over and over.
As the disease progresses, the person will be unable to remember what you tell him even for a minute. You will need to repeat yourself and remind and reassure him over and over.
Although it is easy to treat a person who is so dependent like a child, this may make him angry and precipitate an outburst.
Although it is easy to treat a person who is so dependent like a child, this may make him angry and precipitate an outburst.
After the outburst is over, think about prior upsets and look for a pattern
After the outburst is over, think about prior upsets and look for a pattern
People who have dementia communicate better when they are relaxed. Try to appear relaxed yourself (even if you have to pretend) and create a calm environment. Never rush the person who is trying to make himself understood.
It is not hard to understand this behavior when you consider that, to know how much time has passed, one must
be able to remember what one has done in the immediate past. The person who forgets quickly has no way to measure the passage of time.
The ability to read a clock may be lost early in the course of the disease. Even when a person can look at the clock and say, “It is 3:15,” he may be unable to make sense of this information.
The “grandchild test” is one way to decide if a person who has dementia should be driving: if you would not allow them to drive your child or grandchild, then they should not be driving
Nibbling Sometimes a person seems to forget that he ate and will ask for food again right after a meal. He may want to eat all the time. Try setting out a tray of small, nutritious “nibbles” such as small crackers or cheese cubes. Perhaps he will take one at a time and be satisfied. If weight gain is a problem, put out carrots or celery.
