Family Biographies and History

Search billions of records on Ancestry.com


DEMENTIA

This is a work in progress
and will be continued

UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA FOR CAREGIVERS

Helpful Tips For Dementia Caregivers

The Dementia patient may act in bad character. My husband was as gentle as a lamb.
Bad character may be acting as a bully to the caregiver or harassing them to get their own way.
To bully (to treat abusively)
To harass (to annoy persistently)
See your patient's Neurologist/Psychiatrist as soon as possible
They may need evaluation and help

How long did your patient have dementia before you realized? They can hide it
My husband was lost less than 2 miles from home while driving a car. He told
the officer that he had memory problems. Enroute to get a haircut, but never made it.
I'd guess that he had been having problems for several years, but I never noticed.

His long shopping trips may have been frightening for him. I don't doubt
he was lost many times and I never knew.

Looking back, my husband would fade in and out. Alert one day and having problems
the next. Being afraid to leave him alone, I'd take him along shopping, to my dentist
and to my doctor. His request many years ago was that I never put him in a
nursing facility. I cared for him at home without help until his last days.
Perhaps he suspected what the future held for him.

Dementia is difficult to understand unless you participate in the patient's care 24/7

Take the patient to a Neurologist/Psychiatrist for a full examination.
Tom's Dr. has had 33 years experience.

On his early visits, Tom could not draw the numbers that appeared on a clock face.
He could not tell time.

A medical ID bracelet is extremely important! Less than $30.
Include name, address, telephone number, illness diagnosis and medical needs
Use both sides for information.
Very important, leave the ID bracelet on them when they pass. I left Tom's on his wrist.
The bracelet belonged to him and him alone.
If you have a lax conscience, go ahead and take it.

Psych Central

Early Dementia Behavior

The Difficult Road For Caregivers

Asking For Respite Help (you will need it)  Respite Help

Prescription Drugs That Cause Dementia

Drugs That Cause Other Memory and Dementia Problems

Dementia, Delirium & Depression

Dementia Disease Explained

Drugs & Dementia

Parkinson's Dementia

Research is ongoing for more information

BACK TO HOME PAGE



© 11 March 2013
Joan Hapeman Somers
All rights reserved