Living with Dementia
When receiving a diagnosis of a dementia many fears arise. Families are often concerned about how to structure their day. Must everything change? Will the person become violent? Start to wander?
People with dementia have symptoms that can vary enormously throughout the week or even day. They have times when they perform very well and other times they are overwhelmed and have extra disability.
The caregiver's role is to “fill in the blanks” by helping the person with things they are unable to do at that moment. As Arizona's leading provider of Alzheimer's clinical resources, Banner Alzheimer's Institute offers these suggestions about living with dementia:
Some factors that can trigger extra disabiity:
If a problem behavior occurs, try to figure out what was happening up to 24 hours before and spot the trigger. If the behavior does not resolve in an hour or so or with rest, contact the person’s physician
If you are in danger, call 911
For more information
This advice was adapted from "When Memory Fades. . . The Caregiver's Challenge Begins,'' offered by Banner Alzheimer's Institute.
