How to Cope With Someone Who is Afflicted With Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's is a terrible and frightening disease and as of today there is yet a cure or a sure fire treatment for this debilitating disease. Most people know what it is and most of them simply don't want to even approach the topic, act as if it is something that if ignored long enough will simply disappear. Unfortunately that is never going to happen and there are those of us that may have to deal with it on a personal level at some time in our lives, whether it is we that get the disease or it is someone we love. So it's important that we understand how to deal with it.
First we need to understand that with Alzheimer's it is not just the fact that people forget to do things, it affects the entire processes of a person's life. Someone with this disease will forget how to find their way home or they might forget what a washing machine is and how to use it, is a couple of examples. Everything a person learned over the course of their lifetime is rapidly taken away from them.
It's important to understand that when a person begins showing the first signs of the disease that they are going to start becoming increasingly angrier when they find it difficult to do something they were able to do with ease not very long ago. They also will begin to become angry over the fact that they can't seem to remember someone they love or what they had planned to do that particular day. Also remember that if you are a relative of this person you are bound to feel angry ans well, because you know that you are starting to lose someone you love.
If the person who is afflicted with Alzheimer's is someone you truly love, you need to understand that you are going to experience great feelings of being alone, because more than likely those around you who simply doesn't want to listen to you about this. The main reason is they don't understand, it makes them feel uncomfortable and frankly it frightens them. When you feel totally lost and you can't go on, there is still someone who does care and if you believe, it is God and if you are open to it, let Him give you the help that you need. If you open your heart to this, you can and will be shown the strength and what to do to make it through this trying time for both you and your relative who is ill.
When you are a lone with the person you love who is suffering with this disease make sure that you pay attention to the moments where the old person you once knew comes shining through. This will happen and you need to be there when they do have these lucid moments. You need to learn to appreciate those loving moments. Because when you experience those times, they will help you get through the other moments that will will full of sadness.
Each day must become a treasure to you and to the one who is suffering from the disease. You need to realize that even in this state every day is precious no matter how hard it might be. You will soon realize that there will be times, even when they are at their worst that you will see a glimmer of acknowledgment and knowledge in the eyes of your loved one when you are trying to talk to them or if you show them family pictures. When you see that glimmer, you will realize that even that is a moment you should remember always.
You need to understand that with such a difficult and devastating sickness there are going to be great times of frustration a long with anger and feelings of great guilt. The person you are caring for will not be able to acknowledge your suffering and will only continue to need your help more and more and it will be expected that you will do it without any judgmental thoughts or feelings. You can do what you possibly can within your own limits but you should try and get extra help from others when it begins to get to be too much for you to handle on your own. You need relief and time off for yourself, even if it's just for a few hours a day. When you feel better and relaxed you will be able to cope far better than if you take all of the burden upon your shoulders.
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