how do you deal with an elderly parent who ha allhimers?

Answer 1

Remember that whatever happens, chances are that their actions are the result of a disease and it's not them. Don't take it personally. Try to laugh at situations to ease the pressure.

Get help from an Alzheimer's support group. If your parent is living with you, find out if there is 'respite care' where you live, where you can get a break occasionally and someone else looks after them for a short while. Maybe getting someone to help you out at home will help.

Try to get them as much affection as possible - even if it's just brushing their hair -and a diet with lots of fresh food, particularly fruit. These things have been shown to really help people with this disease.

Take care of yourself first, because if you get down, noone will get anywhere! (: Find time just for you.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

I had to deal with my mom after she had a stroke. Everyone said is she moving in with you? I said no, though she did for a couple months. Then she wanted to go back to her house and I went over to take care of her 3 times a day for 9 years. It was a lot of running but if she was here I would never have gotten away from her. But after the first 4 months I was wore out and called home health care to come in and help me. They went over 3 times a week for 4 hours at a time. I would have never been able to keep my mind if I had not done that. Then as my daughters got older they would help and I could reduce the times that I had to hire someone. Also I had a very good friend that was a nurse and on disability who would help if I needed her for a weekend or just a day off. You HAVE to have help from somewhere. It does cost money but it saves you from insanity. There are people that will come in and care for elderly in your home. Some places even have daycare for the elderly. Saying your feeling trapped is putting it mildly.

Answer 3

You have to be very, very patient and realize that they were not always this way. Make sure that they have someone who is responsible with them at all times. At night you may want to have locks put on all of the doors to any rooms where they could go and hurt themselves, i.e, the kitchen.

One of the biggest keys to helping them is to still treat them like you would if they did not have the ailment and always be prepared for the mood swings and memory loss, it will never be the same from day to day.

When they go to the doctor, make sure you take notes of every procedure they do and what medicines they give them. This will help you in case they begin to physical deteriorate quickly or if there are any adverse side effects.

This advice is only because I have dealt with it personally and it really hurt to see my granny,who at one point in her life was as sharp as a tack, turn into a rambling and almost belligerent person. My dad used to say "Once a man, twice a child", and with Alzheimer's it is exactly what happens. Just know that you still love them and that it's going to be a battle of emotions to watch them go through it. And everything else will come.

Answer 4

With a great deal of patience, care, and understanding. Any one of us may be there someday.

And hit the net and the local phone book. There are a lot of support groups for dementia and related conditions. It's better for you, anyway, if you know what you're up against and to know exactly what resources are available. Knowledge will give you much more confidence in accepting and dealing with your parent, and drugs which slow the progress of the disease are getting much better. Get as informed as you can and good luck. We can't make them young and healthy and vital again. It's enough to keep them loved, comfortable and safe.

Answer 5

I work in a nursing home and I can tell you every resident is different, you just have to remember that this person was a "normal" person at one point in their life they went to work they had a family they were functioning members of society. Now they are not that person anymore but you need to treat them with respect and keep them involved in daily activities as much as possible. People with alzheimers often end up in nursing homes because they become too difficult for the general population to manage and it becomes a saftey risk for the person. Either way do not feel bad if you put someone in a nursing home, they are being stimulated in a way that you cannot at home and they are safe. The nursing home I work in has a secure unit for the alzheimers resident that requires codes to get in and out of and the resident's all wear security braclets that set off alarms if they go too close.
Good Luck!

Answer 6

My grandmother whom I lived with got this when I was 13. She died in a nursing home when I was 22. She was in a coma at that time about three years. Nursing staff aides at the house set up my grandmother to get out of Grandfather's care. He was no longer able to do for her . She needed to be feed, she didn't talk, nor did she recognize any of us and she needed 24/7 care. It's like having a ?200 pound child to take care of. At the start of this journey, you notice they are forgetful and babel to themselves. Conversations become difficult and only choppy sentences happen and then with no sense. It was very difficult for my grandfather and when they took her away..which was a good thing...he went into a deep depression and became an alcoholic in his old age. I was surprised he was always a brave man, but this was too much for him..losing the love of his life. For me, I stayed in denial. Others parted ways so they didn't have to confront there own emotions with the matter. I'm much older now and can say, you can do the big three's. Access the situation..Adjust..then Adapt.

Answer 7

WELL, AS BAD AS I HATE TO SAY IT, SOMETIMES YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. AND YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY THAT CAN PROVIDE CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE 24/7. I DON'T KNOW YOUR LIFE, BUT LET'S FACE IT, MOST PEOPLE HAVE JOBS, KIDS, SCHOOL AND ILLNESSES OF THEIR OWN. IT'S NOT BEING SELFISH, ITS BEING REAL. MOST PLACES HAVE A POLICY THAT YOUR PARENT CAN LEAVE THE CENTER FOR TEMPORARY LEAVES OF ABSENSE, SOME OVERNIGHT. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT THOUGH, I WOULD PERSONALLY HIRE HOME HEALTH CARE NURSES TO COME LOOK AFTER YOUR PARENT DURING THE TIMES WHEN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN'T. SEE IF THEIR INSURANCE OR MEDICAID WILL PAY FOR THIS. THIS DISEASE ONLY GETS WORSE. YOUR PARENT MAY SOON BECOME TOTALLY DEPENDENT UPON YOU TO GROOM, BATH, DRESS AND FEED THEM. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE SIBLINGS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HELP SHARE THESE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH YOU. P.S. GET YOUR PARENT TO THEIR MD NOW TO GET ONE OF THE NEW MEDS THAT TREMENDOUSLY SLOW THIS TRAGIC DISEASE DOWN. IT HAS ALSO BEEN PROVEN THAT BEFORE THEY GET TO FAR INTO THE DISEASE, GET THEM TO DO SIMPLE WORD PUZZLES, CROSS WORDS AND THAT GAME WHERE YOU FIND THE WORDS AMONG A BUNCH OF OTHER LETTERS AND THEN CIRCLE IT, AND THAT ALSO HELPS IT TO SLOW DOWN AND PRESERVE BRAIN POWER. SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THE ABOVE REALLY MAKE A REMARKABLE DIFFERENCE. YOU MAY ALSO LOOK INTO GETTING A PRIVATE SITTER. THE NEWSPAPER IS A GREAT PLACE TO LOOK FOR ONE. THEY ARE NOT NURSES BUT CAN DO BASIC CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE. YOU MAY NEED A SITTER TO HELP YOU OUT FROM TIME TO TIME.

Answer 8

It is called PATIENCE.
It is hard to see our family members as they get older and if they develop alzheimers.
We can't see the illness but we have to deal with the affects of it and it is hard to comprehend.
The average person is not trained in caring for such and should seek some information and or training in how to care for the patient.
Seek information and support.
Time out from the care of the patient diagnosed with alzheimers is very important as it as a taxing job.
Good Luck

Answer 9

this is a hard thing. there are soem emds that can help slow things but its a lot of work and may be too dangerous at some pioint to keep them at home.
go to a support group for caregivers mentalhealth can give info and
research this site for caregivers.
www.alz.org/

and

Alzheimer's Foundation
www.alzfdn.org Alzheimer's Foundation of America Reach out to us for help.

Answer 10

you just deal with it. there is no right or wrong answer. it isnt easy but if you love your mom or dad, which i'm assuming you do, you will do what you have to do to. the whole family, needs to be involved though. it takes alot of support to take care of someone with the disease and you need to be strong, because your mom or dad wont be.