When its someone you love, you dont want to believe it is anything more than the eccentricty that comes with old age. You certainly find it difficult to admit its dementia.
Whether you’re experiencing possible symptoms or are concerned for someone you care about, here are the following list of signs to look for:
- Memory loss affecting day-to-day abilities – forgetting things often or struggling to retain new information.
- Difficulty performing familiar tasks – forgetting how to do something you’ve been doing your whole life, such as preparing a meal or getting dressed.
- Problems with language – forgetting words or substituting words that don’t fit the context.
- Disorientation in time and space – not knowing what day of the week it is or getting lost in a familiar place.
- Impaired judgment – not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing on a cold day.
- Problems with abstract thinking – not understanding what numbers signify on a calculator, for example, or how they’re used.
- Misplacing things – putting things in strange places, like an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
- Changes in mood and behaviour – exhibiting severe mood swings from being easy-going to quick-tempered.
- Changes in personality – behaving out of character such as feeling paranoid or threatened.
- Loss of initiative – losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities.
- A disregard for hygiene.
- An aversion to showering.
- A sudden issue with simple technology that previously was not a problem
- Compulsive shopping- I have had many people tell me their loved one started compulsively buying dozens of bottles of shampoo, or underwear, or toilet paper. They are usually fixated on one item.
- Accusing people of Stealing
Some rules for coping for carers.
1. Never argue, in particular never argue logic. Go with their fantasy.
2. Use rewards to achieve desired behaviour. “Mum, I’ll take you to play the pokies if you shower first”.
3. Calm them down with physical touching, hand holding, back rubbing.
4. Don’t tape a conversation to remind them of an agreement or a promise.
5. Don’t argue or fight with them. Pretend your caring for a toddler. Treat them in the same way. They might forget the fight quickly, but the emotions remain with them and they dont know why they are angry.
6. When you feel they are about to get aggressive, change the subject. Talk about something complimentary, something good they have accomplished in the past.
This is a horrible and debilitating disease and not only impacts on the patient, but on all their loved ones. Watching someone you love slowly disintegrate before your eyes and feeling as though there is nothing you can do about it. For anyone who takes on the role of carer, it is a lonely, thankless journey that will take it’s toll on you if you let it. You need to take time out for yourself and have someone close, a friend or a relative that you are able to vent to.
Yours truly,
Dr. Gursimran