While my mother was caring for my grandfather, I noticed that she did not have any support nor did she have the educational knowledge to have care for him in a better way. There were times when my mother had to restrain my grandfather by strapping him down to keep him was wandering off. I can't say that this was wrong, she did only what she thought was best for him. She had no family support from her sibling's. As I continue to write, I have come to realize that there are tools family, caregiver, and friends need to help support and educate them while they cope with their love one illness.
Increasing your Knowledge of the disease and it's management.
- Get involved with your local organizations that serve the Alzheimer's community in your area, such as your local office for the Aging, or regional Alzheimer's chapter.
- Learn about programs and services available in your community, and take advantage of them!
- Join a support group for caregivers, or participate in Internet support networks.
- Ask your doctor to help you locate services appropriate to your loved one's needs, and ask if he or she can recommend quality programs.
- Visit a local library or book store to find books about Alzheimer's disease and coping as a caregiver.
- Also visit the section on this site entitled " Resources and Support".
Caregivers educational programs are beneficial
Caregiver interventions come in many forms, and ongoing research funded by the National Institute on Aging is investigating which programs and programs components are most beneficial. Strong evidence backs the use of interventions that go beyond education to include various forms of support.
Examples include:
Programs that educate families as a group about psychological issues faced when a loved one has Alzheimer's;
Programs that combine extensive individual and group counseling with participation in support groups;
Home-based training programs that teach caregivers how to manage behavioral problems with Alzheimer's.
Studies show that such programs can significantly delay the time to placement in a nursing , which is often precipitated by unmanageable behavioral problems. Participating in these type of of interventions can reduce depressions, anger, tension, fatigue and confusion in caregiving. I hope that information can help someone who family may be experiencings a love one who suffer from Alzheimer disease. For more information go to http://www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-treatment-family.asp
2 comments:
Good information. I used to work with adults with developmental disabilities and people with downs syndrome are at greater risk for alzheimers and at a younger age. There was a client on my caseload. She was so cute and in her early fifties she developed alzheimers. It can be challenging to make that diagnosis with someone who already has a cognitive disability if they don't have good verbal skills. It really is a horrible disease.
It might be interesting to investigate the science involved in stem cell research. Apparently stem cell research could hold the cure or at least treatment for Alzheimer's. I know that Laura Bush's father suffered from this disease and the press asked how the president could be against stem cell research with a father-in-law that could benefit. I think maybe Laura uses her head a bit more than her highly functioning moron of a husband.
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