Alzheimer's care tends to fall on the immediate environment, leaving a lasting mark on them. However, it most affects those who take care of the helpless patients on a daily basis. Condemned to dealing with him for years - they isolate themselves, completely forget about themselves, about the joys of life. How to deal with it?

The caregiver of the Alzheimer's patient takes the burden of constant on-call duty, which, as the disease progresses, requires more and more physical effort and mental resilience. Usually, the caregiver is the spouse, and since Alzheimer's disease affects the elderly, over 60 and beyond, he is often not fully energized himself. That is why the help and support of family and friends is so important. We only have a few day homes for Alzheimer's patients that can accommodate several dozen people. And we suffer from this disease about 250 thousand. men and women.

In Poland, over 90 percentAlzheimer's patientsstays at home from the beginning of the disease until the end of life, and theircaretakersare people from their immediate family. This solution has obvious advantages - a home is a place that the patient knows best, it is here where the patient feels the safest.

The carer also needs support

When we learn that a loved one suffers from Alzheimer's disease, the first reaction is usually resentment, rebellion. Then comes the terror: how will I manage it? Meanwhile, accepting the diagnosis is the first condition for dealing with a difficult situation. Then it is worth finding out as much as possible about the disease: from doctors, from professional books and from members of associations associating people with such problems.

You don't have to be ashamed that our loved one has Alzheimer's. Caregivers are often worried about the reaction of those around them. So they isolate the sick and at the same time themselves. Meanwhile, psychologists advise them to talk about their problem to as many people as possible. Maybe one of them will go for a walk with the sick person, play cards with him, look at photos from the old days? When asked, they will do it willingly. However, not knowing much about the disease, they are afraid to offend their relatives and therefore do not offer help. It is good if the neighbors or the staff of the nearest stores know about the problem. If the sick person leaves home and gets lost - they will help him find his way back. A person suffering from Alzheimer's shouldalways have your address and telephone number with you - preferably on a special tag attached to your clothes or on a bracelet.

You must do it

The ten golden rules of the guardian

  • Become a member of a support group.
  • Accept any help someone offers you.
  • Don't be afraid to ask others to keep you company when you have to leave the house.
  • If you are working, do everything possible not to quit your job.
  • Don't expect to be able to do whatever you did before; don't stress - it just has to be like that.
  • Get some rest - get support from family, friends and people from the association.
  • Socialize and develop your interests.
  • Remember that you have the right to pleasure - you will be better at fulfilling your duties if you are satisfied.
  • Don't blame yourself for losing your patience sometimes. In the moment of a breakdown, call and talk to someone who will understand you.
  • In order not to prove that you will explode in a moment - leave the room and come back when you are calmer.

Friendly home of a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease

At the beginning, it is enough to facilitate the patient's daily activities: remove small pavements from the floors, and fix the larger ones so that they do not slip; remove small obstacles, e.g. stools, from the route of daily walking; remember to put things back so that the patient can find them more easily; remove the bolts, latches, so that it cannot accidentally close. It is also important to help the patient with orientation in space - you can, for example, mark the way to the bathroom with colored arrows. Later, you should take care of the patient's safety, for example: keep sharp objects, medications, cleaning agents in closed cabinets; hide matches and lighters; prevent the use of mechanized household appliances; disconnect the water and gas supplies when the patient has to stay home alone. Let the sick person do small things. Let's include him in our social life. This will strengthen his belief that he is still a full member of the family.

What do we know about Alzheimer's disease?

  • Belongs to the group of so-called dementia diseases.
  • Usually takes 6 - 14 years and varies.
  • It usually appears in people aged 60-65.
  • Its effect is the gradual loss of neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. They all die with age, but in Alzheimer's disease this process is very fast. Neurons die and are replaced by deposits of a certain protein (beta-amyloid) that prevent the flow of information between other nerve cells. In advanced stagesthe patient's entire brain is streaked with beta-amyloid plaques.
  • There is no effective cure for Alzheimer's disease. Means available on our market - they slightly slow down the development of the disease.
Where to go for help

Polish Association to Help Persons with Alzheimer's Disease, Warsaw, ul. Hoża 54/1, tel. (022) 622-11-22 Local Alzheimer's organizations - addresses can be found at: www.alzheimer.pl Polish Alzheimer Foundation, Warsaw, ul. View 10, tel. (022) 827-35-86.

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Category:

Psychology