My 57 yr old sister is showing symptoms of Alzhiemers disease. How to cope?

Question

She is starting to have problems finding words or she just simply gets stuck on 1 word. On the positive, she is much happier than usual. I keep filling in the missing words and try to make it easier to have conversations with her, but I really have to be honest, I am so sad inside. What to do to cope easier. Mom died at 66 with the same thing. God, if I end up with this, I will kill myself first.

Answer 1

I can understand How you fill...Bless your heart..I seen a little of this in my Daddy.....It starts out whit them thinking that they see things that they dont....Daddy would say some things that made me question Him about what He was saying.....It scared me so I started reading up own Memory Lose first....Memory loss is caused by a lot of different things....I found that out...after reading all that I had read I found out that malnutrition plays a big role in memory lose....I also found out that a lot of people that diet a lot in their life is prong to have worse memory lose than the ones that have never worried about their weight much or should I say was fortunate enough to not have too.For some resion Her brain is not getting the vitamins or nutrients that it needs...I Read up own memory lose all you can and in the mean time ask her Doctor about getting her started own some Vitamins...Have her tested to see If her Iron and blood is built up like it should be...I am sorry for you in what you are Facing ....Bless your heart...But If it would not offend you I would love to start a prayer chain for Her what that means is that I have a lot of prayer partners...And The Lord that I trust in Say when 2 or more come together IT WILL BE DONE so I do not no Her name so I will Say in my prayer...Some one Special....And for you My heart is with you and .....Things are going to get better....Do you believe in Jesus...I dont no but if you do trust in Him...And let Him no what it is you need ....He will restore you and give you strength....Please go to a church of your choice and have the church pray for you and your sister...You need people around you for support . some one who can pray for you and with you....Trust in God I noticed you mention His name and you said quote.....God IF I END UP WITH THIS....I WILL KILL myself....GOD had rather here you say Lord WE are going to beat this we will not give into what has taken our Mom Let it take us.....That is what God wants to here....Try it trust in our Lord....With all you need ....All you want....Bless The U.S.A. And the City of Israel...And all....

Answer 2

My grandmother had alzhiemyers. We were seperated by the miles between San Francisco and Los Angeles. A year or so had passed since she was first diagonsed and I had no idea what extent the disease had progressed. She mostly didnt remember me, but she would say stuff like, "don't cry. You know, I could get to know you". An hour later she would ask me where her husband was. "Do you know him?" I'd choke back the years because my grandpa had died 15 years ago, and of course i had known him. After a three day visit, i was dehydrated from crying so much.That was 2o years ago. Today, as in all fields of medicine, there is new technology. New treatments and medication that may slow the process of this horrible affliction, might be available. Your sister should be taken to a doctor (hopefully she has insurance or an HMO) to have her situation evaluated. The doctor would then be able to offer treatment if it is suitable for her. I say to you, good luck and never give up. There is always the hope of a cure. Brillant people devote their lives to medical research and finding cures. Enlist the help of a senior day care facility where your sister could be in a caring, understanding environment for a few hours a day and you could give yourself a breather from the agony you experience watching your sister regress into a little, helpless child. My heart goes out to you because ive known that pain.

Answer 3

Alzhiemers has recently been linked to deficiencies of nutrients in the body.The April, 1997 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reported a study that showed the progression of Alzheimer's dementia being significantly slowed by using high doses of vitamin E. Results of other clinical trials using various antioxidants such as: vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, selenium, and rutin (a bioflavanoid antioxidant) have also been encouraging for patients with Alzheimer's dementia. This along with a healthy lifestyle can slowdown the negative effects of this degenerative disease.The Mediterranean diet, rich in cereals, wine, fruits, nuts, legumes and whole grains, fish and olive oil, has been linked to lower incidence of heart disease, protection against some cancers, and a longer life. The diet's main nutritional components include beta-carotene, vitamin C, tocopherols, polyphenols and essential minerals. A new study published on-line in the Archives of Neurology indicates that it is these antioxidants and polyphenols that appear to offer protection, not simply an improvement in heart health.

Answer 4

I lost my mom to Alzheimer's, too. I am so very sorry you are going thru this. It is so incredibly painful - it felt like every time I saw my mom I'd lose a piece of her. It was heart breaking. I lost my aunt to this, also. I loved both women so much. I worry for my sister who is also 57. I worry for me. I had high hopes that by now there would be some sort of cure.
I know how you feel about the hopelessness and feeling like if you got it you would kill yourself. I have thought what if I kill myself and they find the cure the next week? And then I thought, what if I don't kill myself in time and I'm so gone that I don't care if I have it?
I still have a little time - I'm younger than my sister.
Sorry this is so long - but I also lost a sister to suicide. That was the most painful thing of my life. So I know what the family goes thru when the family member chooses to leave.
I don't have an answer for you. You go one day at a time and you plod along. My heart goes out to you and your sister and I pray that they find a cure soon for all of us!

Answer 5

Get examined if it is going that may assist you cope with the curiously very quite threat which you will advance this ailment, yet undergo a pair of substantial themes in recommendations: formerly each little thing, Alzheimer's is generally basically undesirable for the affected guy or woman on the very placing out up, using sentiments of bewilderment. as right now by way of fact it is going to alter into greater desirable severe, the affected guy or woman is generally basically mildly stricken, or happy & oblivious, and the discomfort & suffering is all on the component of the loosen up relatives individuals. Secondly, it quite is a concepts worse for you in case you forget approximately to fund your 403b, do no longer advance any ailment, and stay to be one hundred twenty! shop such as you will stay to be one hundred twenty, yet stay on a daily basis such as you basically have six months left. the destiny is very extraordinarily much impossible to predict, yet you are able to right be effective some element unexpected and unplanned for may be alongside in a minute. indoors the early ranges of Alzheimer's, a member of my companion's relatives individuals who had no longer seen her in an prolonged time known at her with a large smile, and presented "right. You look basically like your self!"

Answer 6

I am only 27 years old but I've taken care of a woman with Alzheimer's disease so I know how hard it is on you. I only know it's hard on you because I saw how her disease affected her family. I never knew her before the disease but I loved her. I loved this woman with all my heart. I loved how she would come up behind me and cover up my eyes and say, guess who. I loved how she liked to tidy up and sometimes raked food into the pop machine. I loved how she would fiddle with her hair in the mirror. I remember only one time that she cried. She couldn't remember where she was. That broke me. I will carry this woman in my heart forever, not because of who she was for the 60 something years before I met her but because of the 3 years that I knew her. I'm sorry that you're having a bad time but find a way to love her where she's at now. We all change.

Answer 7

Wow, i really do know what you are going through. My grandpa has Alzhiemers disease and he is getting progressively worse. It's such a cruel disease. The best advice I can give you is to just enjoy the time you have. But there is still hope for Alzhiemers patients, thanks to Ronald Regan. There are breakthrews and drugs that patients can take that really do help. Don't give up on her and just give her your love.

Answer 8

My 24 yo daughter had a stroke and is suffering from a really damaged memory. It's very very sad because she has a 2 year old daughter she can no longer care for.

I find a support group very helpful. Perhaps you could join either a support group or an online group.

Yahoo has a support group and it's easy to join using your Yahoo ID.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/alzheimers/

Answer 9

I think the only natural remedy is YOGA......yes, it improves the blood circulation and oxygen flow to the BRAIN....Search for deep breathing yoga exercises in search engines and start practising from NOW

Answer 10

You need to get her some help. If you catch this early enough, there are new medicines that will slow this down - but the key is to catch it early......