My mom loved to crochet when I was young-but is afflicted with alsheimers.I'd like to see her enjoying the craft she loves-I'm thinking maybe it would be good for her but at the same time-I worry about it frustrating her.Please help me to help her by serious imput on this issue-no rude replies, please.
2007-09-11 16:26:09 · 24 answers · asked by Dudleydoo 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
The more you focus on bending like the read in the wind with her affliction, the more you will feel confident with your decisions.
Its just a dance. One step forward, one step back. Just take out the crocheting needles and start doing it with her and if she reveals that she wants to do it... Then, she will do it.
If she does not, she will not.
Its just her immune system attacking the myelin sheath around the nerve cells from the inside out. Thus, memory begins to disappear, but her emotional memory will remain for quite some time, even when she doesn't remember your name.
Parkinsons is the same disease, but is located in a different position of dying brain cells, which starts with the physical appearance of losing ones coordination.
MS is the same thing but lesions that form in little pockets from the spine to the base of the brain.
All are auto immunes. Its contraversial to the causes. Murcery or flu shots containing murcery are suspect as its a very powerful neuro toxin. Another is Splenda and Aspartame, because its also a very powerful neuro toxin. Viruses are also considered a culprit for tricking the immune system into sending a blue print to the immune system to start attacking the self.
I believe these diseases are not genetic or inevitable. I believe you can have a genetic disposition, but not necessarily ever have it triggered in ones life time.
The point is, your being there for her. That's admirable and hard to cope with. I am losing my Mother in law to the same disease.
2007-09-11 16:35:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both my grandma and my husband's grandma were busy with handwork prior to Alzheimer's...you never saw them empty handed.
Early on, Grandma M could still do a little work but she would grow frustrated when she forgot simple directions. We kept a lot of her familiar things around her as much as possible. She would talk about her old projects which seemed to give her comfort.
Grandma R would just lash out in anger when she failed to remember.
Each reacted different than the other, so I would say, try a simple project with your mom. If she reacts positively, you've given her a great gift. If she finds it difficult than you know you tried.
Maybe she will be happy to have some items with her. I know Grandma M would have a story for everything...whether she made it or not, it would bring up a memory that was interesting to hear. Sometimes they were totally off-the-wall fairy tales... ;o) Sometimes they would be insights to her life which were always fascinating. The trick was to figure out which was real and which was fantasy....
Grandma R didn't care about her surroundings and that poor, kind, sweet little lady was an angry, violent soul who ultimately faded away in her confusion.
Be prepared for any type of reaction. Bless you for trying. She is a lucky Mom to have someone who cares. Good luck.
2007-09-11 16:59:47 · answer #2 · answered by Bobaloo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh yes definitely. My grandma lives with us. She has the big ALZ. She never embroidered as an adult but as a child her mother taught her. Now she embroiders so much we are running out things for her to embroider and people to give it to.
It is so important to keep people active. Make sure she gets some exercise, make sure she is clean and healthy and fed well and keep her busy. And give her lots of love, that is really all you can do. They have meds but let's face it, they are mostly for the beginning and they don't work for a big majority of patients and sometimes the side effects are worse than the cure.
My grandma cannot remember how to cook but she likes to do the dishes, it makes her feel needed. She cannot figure out the washer and dryer but she can (mostly) fold clothes and she is proud when she is done. Whatever you do find her something that makes her feel needed and wanted. And so what it you have to go behind her again and redo it, she did for you when you were little, just time to trade places. The circle of life and all.
Good luck and God Bless, it is gonna be like raising an infant only in reverse and with larger messes, but even one smile makes it all worthwhile.
Take care.
2007-09-11 16:35:38 · answer #3 · answered by James Watkin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My mother also had Alzheimer's/Dementia. If she hasn't done it for a while, she may not remember how. Maybe if she did simple stitches, it would be okay. My mother loved to bake cakes all her life, but towards the end, it was difficult because there were so many different ingredients and steps to follow. It was frustrating to watch her and try to explain gently the mistakes she was making. We lost her on June 30 this year. Be patient with her. Love her and nod a lot. She will keep repeating herself and her stories.
2007-09-11 16:33:30 · answer #4 · answered by Jessie H 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You should try to have her do things she enjoys. Now if she is in a later stage of the disease, this could get difficult. However, if she is in an early onset, crocheting could be fun and carefree for her.
Just be patient with her. Always remember that she cannot help what she does throughout this disease process. It is, unfortunately, going to get worse.
One suggestion, try to keep things on a schedule for her.
2007-09-11 16:32:02 · answer #5 · answered by kleink15 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as she is physically able to try it and doesn't get frustrated, go for it. My mother had Alzheimer's and died recently, she seemed to enjoy putting jigsaw puzzles together and doing SearchAWords. Before the Alzheimer's she did lots of knitting and crocheting. I think she stopped because of other complications: arthritis and heart problems.
Good luck and be patient with her.
2007-09-11 16:35:10 · answer #6 · answered by Reference Librarian 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perfect ideas. And the other are right, keeping her brain stimulated is the prescribed therapy for the disease. Like aerobics is good for the body, intellectual pursuits keep the mind fit.
Also consider talking to Alzheimer's Associations...there are computer programs that they are designing that has been shown to decrease the progression of the disease. Good Luck!
2007-09-11 16:36:34 · answer #7 · answered by J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IS NO GAME, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF YOU AND THERE WILL BE SOME VERY HARD TIMES FOR YOU AND MOM TO GET THROUGH. SHE IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU THERE FOR HER. SHE WILL BE THE ONE TO LET YOU KNOW WHETHER SHE WILL CATCH ON TO IT AGAIN.....MANY TIMES PEOPLE WITH THAT ILLNESS REMEMBER THE PAST BETTER THAN THE PRESENT. BE PREPARED TO HAVE PLENTY OF CROCHETED ITEMS FROM HER BECAUSE IT IS JUST POSSIBLE THAT SHE WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT AND GO GUNG HO CROCHETING AWAY. BUT, EVEN THAT TOO WILL PASS IN TIME. PRAY FOR STRENGTH AND WISDOM AND SHOW HER YOUR LOVE AND HELP HER IN ANY WAY YOU CAN DEAR AND THAT IS ALL YOU CAN DO.
2007-09-11 16:35:56 · answer #8 · answered by Gottaloveher 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
give it a try. if you see she's frustrated put it away. she doesn't even need to make anything just the act of it may be helpful. My f-i-l used to play cards, now we end up playing kids card games with him but that is fine and we find he has good days more often when we get him doing things like the simple card games. It may work for your mom too.
2007-09-11 16:33:46 · answer #9 · answered by Pandora 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Excellent!
My aunt had Down's, and never learned to actually make items with her crocheting, but it kept her busy hour after hour, day after day in her rocking chair, sitting near the sunny window. All she did was to make a chain, but it was satisfying to her, and something no one needed to help her with.
Every night after she went to sleep, grandma and grandpa would undo her rug-yarn chains, and re-roll the yarn back into balls for the next day.
Your mother will likely be able to recall the basic stitches, once someone shows her a few times. Once it's with you, your fingers seem to work on their own.
2007-09-11 18:38:03 · answer #10 · answered by Hope 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋