I know it's been a couple of weeks since posting but there's been a lot going on lately. Having moved mom into the adult care home, I'm now trying to re-adjust my home from the things I took from her and just being over-whelmed. I looked at my house and just yacked. I decided to start with 1 room at a time to organize & clean and that seems to be working for me. It's a little less daunting this way and I can focus better. Bit by bit it's coming together.
Thankfully, I had a massage scheduled for last Fri. and boy did I need it. Sergio at "You love massage" told me that I had 1 new knot in my upper back/shoulder region. Wow, only 1!
In dealing with all of moms' issues I decided to start sharing some items regarding Dementia with you. I know a number of friends and acquaintances who are dealing or have dealt with this. It's tough to deal with for the rest of the family members and I can only imagine what it's like for the individual in it.
It must be frightful, unnerving, frustrating and down-right angering for the individual. To constantly be told that you've been told something and never remembering. To not remember that your mother had passed away years ago as did your son and that you flew out to identify his body and collect whatever he had. It has to be mind wrecking. To fall all of the time and not remember where you are or how to get home anymore. Not being able to cook anymore because you nearly burnt the apt. down because you can't hear the timer. Most of this due to the symptoms of dementia.
As for the family of the individual, it's all of the above too. To keep being labeled as a thief and/or liar. to keep tabs on their money for them and accused of stealing it. Knowing full well that you wouldn't be working so hard if you were stealing her/his money. Having to send back every strange item bought off the tv because they don't even remember what it was they bought. Having to check every out-going piece of mail 'cuz they keep sending, each & every ya-hoo with a hand out, cash through the mail. Having to have a secret savings account for them because of their constant throwing money away. Buying into each scam out there, thus getting on every "hit list" there is. Being told you never see them or call them when you were just there. Makes you wanna rip someones lips off!
It's so hard not to get angry with them. You know perfectly well that it's the dementia but it still hurts and gets under your skin. Luckily, G. & I are able to sound off to each other...and do so often. It's not easy for anyone involved at all.
I started by trying find out if there was a difference between Alzheimer's and dementia. Well, in an article I found in the Alzheimer's Reading Room dated August 6th, 2014, the statement that dementia is the symptom and Alzheimer's is the cause.
The article states that dementia, is a diagnosis of severe memory loss. Severe enough to
interfere which ADL or activities of daily living. I still believe that that explanation is way too simplistic. Oh well, just my opinion. Anyways, Alzheimer's is the disease. a disease of the brain with the severity of cognitive problems being the symptoms. Apparently, there are several different forms of dementia affecting the brain and therefore body functions and apparently, 50% of us will suffer from this disease in 1 form or another as we reach 85 years of age.
Now, it's important to note here that although Alzheimer's and it's symptoms of dementia seem to appear in the later years or during old age, it isn't a "normal" part of the aging process. There are some forms of dementia that are reversible such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies but they need to be accurately diagnosed and treated. But and it's a big but, 70-80% of dementia is caused by AD and not reversible.
Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately diagnose AD while the patient is alive to date, so the Dr.'s will typically pronounce with possible or probable AD. There is some hopeful research going on some clinics to better diagnose the presence of AD happening.
For those of you dealing with any part of this disease, my heart goes out to you and yours. Keep a stiff upper lip and talk to someone. I promise you, it helps to be able to vent and get some understanding from others.
Keep dancing, people.
Peace
Thankfully, I had a massage scheduled for last Fri. and boy did I need it. Sergio at "You love massage" told me that I had 1 new knot in my upper back/shoulder region. Wow, only 1!
In dealing with all of moms' issues I decided to start sharing some items regarding Dementia with you. I know a number of friends and acquaintances who are dealing or have dealt with this. It's tough to deal with for the rest of the family members and I can only imagine what it's like for the individual in it.
It must be frightful, unnerving, frustrating and down-right angering for the individual. To constantly be told that you've been told something and never remembering. To not remember that your mother had passed away years ago as did your son and that you flew out to identify his body and collect whatever he had. It has to be mind wrecking. To fall all of the time and not remember where you are or how to get home anymore. Not being able to cook anymore because you nearly burnt the apt. down because you can't hear the timer. Most of this due to the symptoms of dementia.
As for the family of the individual, it's all of the above too. To keep being labeled as a thief and/or liar. to keep tabs on their money for them and accused of stealing it. Knowing full well that you wouldn't be working so hard if you were stealing her/his money. Having to send back every strange item bought off the tv because they don't even remember what it was they bought. Having to check every out-going piece of mail 'cuz they keep sending, each & every ya-hoo with a hand out, cash through the mail. Having to have a secret savings account for them because of their constant throwing money away. Buying into each scam out there, thus getting on every "hit list" there is. Being told you never see them or call them when you were just there. Makes you wanna rip someones lips off!
It's so hard not to get angry with them. You know perfectly well that it's the dementia but it still hurts and gets under your skin. Luckily, G. & I are able to sound off to each other...and do so often. It's not easy for anyone involved at all.
I started by trying find out if there was a difference between Alzheimer's and dementia. Well, in an article I found in the Alzheimer's Reading Room dated August 6th, 2014, the statement that dementia is the symptom and Alzheimer's is the cause.
The article states that dementia, is a diagnosis of severe memory loss. Severe enough to
interfere which ADL or activities of daily living. I still believe that that explanation is way too simplistic. Oh well, just my opinion. Anyways, Alzheimer's is the disease. a disease of the brain with the severity of cognitive problems being the symptoms. Apparently, there are several different forms of dementia affecting the brain and therefore body functions and apparently, 50% of us will suffer from this disease in 1 form or another as we reach 85 years of age.
Now, it's important to note here that although Alzheimer's and it's symptoms of dementia seem to appear in the later years or during old age, it isn't a "normal" part of the aging process. There are some forms of dementia that are reversible such as thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies but they need to be accurately diagnosed and treated. But and it's a big but, 70-80% of dementia is caused by AD and not reversible.
Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately diagnose AD while the patient is alive to date, so the Dr.'s will typically pronounce with possible or probable AD. There is some hopeful research going on some clinics to better diagnose the presence of AD happening.
For those of you dealing with any part of this disease, my heart goes out to you and yours. Keep a stiff upper lip and talk to someone. I promise you, it helps to be able to vent and get some understanding from others.
Keep dancing, people.
Peace
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