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ALZHEIMER'S: Keeping Calm Counts

Discovering a caregiver's most important asset

BY:MYRA DEMBROW

If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, your strongest asset might be a positive attitude.

 

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, found a link between younger, less-educated caregivers who seemed overwhelmed or depressed and dementia patients who showed hard-to-manage behavior, such as asking repetitive questions, wandering off, demonstrating anger or behaving destructively. “These symptoms are part of the disease,” says the study’s author, Kaycee Sink, MD, a Wake Forest assistant professor of gerontology, “and the caregivers aren’t causing them. But certain styles of caregiving may bring them out.” For example, if you’re feeling overburdened, you’re probably irritable. Your irritability may provoke a patient’s difficult behavior, says Sink.

 

The study, reported in the May 2006 issue of The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, looked at nearly 6,000 dementia patients and their caregivers, most of whom were a spouse, daughter or daughter-in law. “We’re not trying to blame the caregivers,” explains Sink, “but to better understand the complex puzzle.”

 

Comments

Listen to yourself

On November 29th, 2008 pkotlan says:

I live and care for my 87 year old father with AD. Sometime he gets angry and I snap back at him in an angry tone, too. It seems to me that if I can control my tone of voice and temper, his anger is lessened. I just keep telling myself that my name isn't dammit and he is demented. Somtimes it is overwhelming and none of my family live near us. You are right about a positive attitude but he never has recognized a positive attitude. He is better since the has been taking Namenda. I am hoping to move us closer to one of my sons who is his POA and who he respects. Then maybe I can get a job and hire some respite. I have found that since he sleeps very late, if I work outside in the yard and garden vigorously for a couple of hours, it is a better day for both of us.

respite

On December 1st, 2008 alzawy says:

You might check with your state's department of family services (by what-ever name). They may know of programs whereby you can get respite care without having to take an additional job. You already have a full-time job, so it doesn't seem fair that you would have to get a second one. Also, some churches or other community groups might have free respite care given by volunteers.

Like many others, your dad is hard to deal with, but you can take a great deal of satisfaction in that you are figuring out ways to make better days for both of you. Best wishes!

Positive Replies

On December 16th, 2008 kasewow says:

Mom hides food, cookies, cake, etc. When I said, "Oh Mom, you just can't keep cake in the silverware drawer," she became quite annoyed. In retrospect, it would have been much better for both of us if I'd have said, "Let's wrap this cake up & save it for a snack" or just placed it on a plate & stored in refrigerator. I am learning from my daughter how to be positive & patient.