Does anyone know anything about chronic dementia?

Question

I've been taking care of my elderly father for about two months. Lately he has become increasingly combative. I have promised him that he wouldn't end up in a nursing home. Does anyone have any idea home to make things easier for all of us?

Answer 1

Combativeness due to dementia can sometimes be helped by adding an antipsychotic treatment, like Zyprexa. Your best bet is to have him see a psychiatrist who specializes in geriatrics.
Non-medical, behavioral intervention at home includes:
Giving only one part directions ("sit down" rather than "sit down and get dressed"). Complex instructions are frustrating for the patient.
Ask only questions that can be answered "yes" or "no".
Keep your sentences simple.
Speaking to the patient without distractions. Turn off the TV, radio, and send the kids and pets out of the room.
Appealing to the patient's emotions ("you'll feel better after you shower", or "you'll feel better after you eat").
Establish a routine and stick to it.
Give him a choice "the red one, or the blue one?", or, "this, or that".
I hope this helps. Your local Alzheimer's Association may be helpful for advice or respite care, even if he has a different type of dementia.
I hope this helps!

Answer 2

He should be on anticholinesterase such as Aricept, Exelon, or Razadyne. There is also Nameda that works in combination with Anticholinesterase inhibitor. Use of zyprexa may help but is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the long run. A good resource is the local Alzheimers association. They can give leads for local support avaliable for your area to give you all a break. You may be eligible for some home care depending on your insurance. When there is a negative behaviour tell him what he wants to hear. This may calm him down. Like a kid they will scream if they do not get what they want but if you tell them what they want to hear they will forget about it in few minutes. Also he is living in the past do not try to correct him as he will get upset, But you can talk about remote things over and over. They also do not understand the concept of time 5 mins and 5 hours are the same so plan ahead

Answer 3

Hi,
One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events, asking for the same information over and over, increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own. If you want to know more about how to solve this memory related issues you absolutely have to visit this site http://memoryloss.toptips.org
Hope it helps.

Answer 4

Have him checked thoroughly by a doctor. My grandfather with vascular dementia got aggressive toward another patient in his care facility, and it turned out he was a pint low on blood. They gave him a transfusion and he settled right down.

That's not likely to be the your dad's problem too, I guess, but if there are any hidden physical problems, they could be making him more aggressive.