How do you deal with a family member with dementia?

Question

I have a family member whom I thought was bi-polar, but is consistently declining mentally and quite irrational so I'm leaning towards the problem being dementia. Can anyone tell me how you deal with this from personal experience? This family member was my best friend and I'm losing her and I can't seem to deal with the pain. She is becoming more disconnected with society as she lives and breaths what's on the news, and the irritability is more constant. Help!

Answer 1

Hey,
I am so sorry about your close family member! I know someone in my family who has dementia. Hers is later going to lead into Alls-timers, which is where she cant even remember me. It is a tough experience and hopefully medication or whatever she is doing will help. My best advice is to spend a lot of time with her, as it is probaly hard for her too. Also pray for her. The Lord does fabulous miracles. Love her, nourish her and make sure you spend as much time as you can with her. I hope this helps. God Bless!

Answer 2

I don't have a family member who suffers from dementia, but i am a student mental health nurse i also work in a home where elderly dementia sufferers live and i wanted to give you some advice, dementia is a illness that is individual to each and every person no 2 cases are the same the time it takes from beginning to end is different for every one, the reminiscing of old times is a wonder full activity. Always think of what your relative CAN do not what they cant do. It is very important that those who care for her get time away, i know this sound bad as im sure you want to be there every minuet but the stress upon family carers can grow to the point where you get ill yourself, the Alzheimer's society are amazing! get as much advice as you can about how to care. They will teach you communication ways, as there things you shouldn't say like, "your mother has been dead for years" we cant drag them into our reality. I always imagine myself now at 26 and someone telling me "your not 26 your 86" and how my reaction would be to them, that's how a dementia sufferer feels when we try to take away there reality, but some times its hard if someone asks continuously where there mother is its impossible to just ignore them so the Alzheimer's society teach us all techniques to deal with these daily issues, sorry i have rambled on a little i just know what a long road ahead it is, i wish you and your family well xx

Answer 3

my great aunt had dementia really bad she lived for a long time after signs showed up but they began to treat her more or less the way you would a child. she had bad days where she would stare of into nowhere and she had good days where she spent most the day crying because she could see for a minute haw bad she really had gotten. i had to remember when i was around her that i still loved her and that she was still aunt jackie. it wasnt so hard with her.
my grandfather was always such a strong man he built his house at 70 years old and when his liver failed he began showing signs of dementia and it was the hardest thing in the world to see him act the way he did, at first i didnt want to be around him, then i dont know it was like just something to get used to hed still crack a joke every once and a while and wed talk until he lost the conversation, but after he died i was glad that i stayed, because he needed me even when he wasnt really sure who i was. and i was glad i was there for him.

Answer 4

Im sorry to hear of your sadness. My mother has had it for 10 years and im 38 and It is the worst thing to watch the person slip away. Look up a support group in your area for more info. You can learn alot from people that are in the same boat as you.
Good luck and good hope.

Answer 5

Hi Linda,
I am so sorry you are going through this. It takes someone really strong to go through this so just want to say stay strong. We had to submit my grandmother into a specialized home for dementia and alzheimers. You def need help providing care and special needs should be handled by professionals, in house or inpatient care. get some help and God Bless you!!