WHEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY DRIFT AWAY

Caregivers may find that during the course of Alzheimer's disease some friends and family may drift away.It is a common experience that many people can identify with, not only  because of Alzheimer's disease but other chronic diseases.

This can create many conflicts,a great deal of emotional hurt and in many cases roots of bitterness may grow, that could make life even more difficult and hinder your ability to provide quality care.

What should you do when the people you once laughed with,socialised with,trusted and loved desert you in the middle of a crisis? You feel abandoned,betrayed and alone.Suddenly the people you thought were good friends stop coming around when you need them the most.

Here are tips to cope.

First try to understand that your friends or family may feel rejected, if they cannot be part of the decision making.Others may feel helpless and would rather not be around because they feel guilty that there seems to be nothing they can do.Others however, may have a fear that they may "catch" the disease or in some instances family members  may feel that they too will get Alzheimer's disease and cannot cope with the thought that they may be like your loved one.

The first step for you is to check yourself , see if you may have contributed to their withdrawal?Have you yourself withdrawn  from others because of the workload? Did they ask you how they could help and you repeatedly refused? Maybe they are struggling with their own issues.

Make every effort not to take their actions personally.

Give them the benefit of the doubt and get connected to them again.Yes, swallow your pride and give them a friendly call.See what's happening.You may think well, why should I call them, they are the deserters.My take is, that if you are to make it through this disease, you need all the support you can get.

Reassure them that you are not expecting them to solve your problem.

If with your contact there is still no change.Let them go. Accept your losses and move on.Continue to be  a good caregiver.

Appreciate and love the one or two friends or family who continue to show commitment and care

Purge yourself from bitterness anger and hurt caused by their rejection.It will only destroy you.

Find other Support groups in your area or on-line
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"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand."

Today I am Sad........ Today I am Glad

This post is dedicated to the memory of all the persons who endured verbal, physical and any other abuse as they took their journey through Alzheimer's disease.

Today I am sad.Today my heart bleeds for all the elderly with and without Alzheimer's disease who are being hurt each day by their husbands, children,relatives and all those who should know better.Is ignorance an excuse ? Is it because they do not know about the disease? Is there any excuse for this torture and cruelty. My answer is a resounding NO!
So you may say, but you do not understand, they resist bathing , play with their feces, get moody and  aggressive and need so much attention. Yes I know, because I have been a caregiver to my mother for the last 9 years and I know the challenges you face, but abuse is not the answer !

Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain not the heart. P
eople with it still have feelings, though their memory has faded and they can no longer control  a lot of what they do, they still feel  pain, hurt resentment and anger.By the same token, they also feel love, kindness and compassion.

Today I feel sad because another person with Alzheimer's  disease has died  without getting the love, care and support that they needed through the hardest and darkest time of their life. They died because families and neighbours ignored the abuse.No one took the time to help !


Today I am glad for those wonderful caregivers, families and friends who make the sacrifices and commit themselves to care for  loved ones, strangers and people around them with Alzheimer's disease.I am glad for all those who have overcome the ignorance about the disease by seeking and searching for knowledge and information that will help them to give better care.

BE YOUR BROTHER'S KEEPER

Today it's you tomorrow it may be me. None of us know when sickness or tragedy may strike.So too wIth Alzheimer's disease. The statistics show that several islands in the Caribbean have aging populations including Barbados,Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.The United Natiions considers countries that have more than 10 % of its population over 60 as aging, the aforementioned islands fall into that category.Going forward it is expected that these percentages will rise dramatically. Given that Alzheimer's disease affects mainly persons over sixty five years old,it is expected that the percentage of persons with Alzheimer's disease in these islands will also rise.

In light of this and given the size of the islands, you could  expect that someday, you will come in contact with someone who is affected by the disease.It may be your mother father, sister, brother co-worker, neighbour, friend or some other close relative as a matter of fact one day it may be you. What will you do? How will you respond?

If you notice that someone is exhibiting the signs of Alzheimer's disease then it's time to lend a helping hand. Do not scorn, hurt or swindle them. Do not shout and scream when they ask the same question over and over again or resist bathing. Be your brother's keeper, show love and compassion.

Many caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease are crumbling under the weight of caring for their loved one.Day after day they need a a helping hand, someone to give them support , a little break  to socialise and enjoy life.Will you be that person?

DO NOT

IGNORE THE SIGNS

10 WARNING SIGNS IT MAY BE ALZHEIMER'S

     

MEMORY LOSS

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss,especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

CHALLENGES PLANNING  OR SOLVING PROBLEMS

Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

DIFFICULTY COMPLETING FAMILIAR TASKS

People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

CONFUSION WITH TIME AND SPACE

People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving.

New problems with words in speaking or writing

People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock")

Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

Decreased or poor judgment

People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean. 

Withdrawal from work or social activities

A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced. 

Changes in mood and personality

The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. 

FROM :http://www.alz.org

WELCOME TO ALZHEIMERS CARIBBEAN

Alzheimer's Disease is a growing concern in the islands of the Caribbean. Almost all countries in the Caribbean have experienced a rapid transition from a rather young population to an increasingly older population over the past decade. As the population of these beautiful islands age, there has been an increase in the occurence of Alzheimer's disease which affects persons mainly after the age of 65. The challenge for families and friends, communities and governments whether it is in Barbados,Trinidad and Tobago,Jamaica, Guyana or the other islands is how to respond and cope with the dementia epidemic? What measures will be adopted to meet the socioeconomic demands of dementia and how families, friends, coworkers, neighbours and everyone in the society can ensure that persons with the disease maintain a high quality of life, are given adequate care and are allowed to maintain their dignity and respect through out the journey. We believe that education is key not only to those affected but on a national scale. It is our objective to provide information, tips and products that are designed specificaly to offer  hope and make life easier for  persons with Alzheimers Disease their families, caregivers and friends.