A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can initially be very devastating. Alzheimers patients often feel angry and fall into the "Why Me?" syndrome, wherein caretakers of the patient feel helpless and have no clue about what will become of the ailment in the future. Alzheimer care can be a 20 year long running odyssey for the 5 million patients and their families, so it is absolutely critical to seek outside help.



The challenge of Alzheimer's from a medical perspective is that the disease progresses at different rates in each patient, with each suffering from different symptoms. A few behaviors seen in Alzheimer's patients are wandering off, or thinking they can drive when they really cannot. Other earlier signs of alzheimers include misplacing keys, forgetting names and becoming irrationally upset without remembering why. In the worst stages, the patient can no longer speak or recognize friends and family. "Each individual is so unique, so different, there is no black and white or this is how you take care (belongs to the one who is patient)," asserts Connie Kudlacek, who is the former head of the Alzheimer's Association chapter located in Midland. "Rather than thinking about the worst case scenario, we should concentrate on the positive aspects and look for way in which to nurture their individuality and offer them ways to succeed, even in the advanced stages."

Why is it so emotionally strenuous to care for someone with Alzheimers? Professor Jacquelyn Frank at the Frank of Ulndy's Center For Aging and Community offers a perspective. When you're caring for Charlie, you realize that he's not Charlie anymore. It's the experience of losing and mourning. She describes the "ambiguous loss" of providing care for someone who is physically alive but socially degenerating, as well as the "anticipatory grief" in response to losing a loved one before they've actually passed away. According to Frank, an Alzheimers support group can often help a person keep their chin up in the face of adversity, by allowing one to verbalize all the confusing emotions they're feeling.

One way to help treat Alzheimer's disease is by reducing the patient's frustrations. Everyone, even Alzheimer patients, have their favorite routine; the secret is finding out what that routine is and when they want to do it. You should produce a routine to have more predictable manageable day for Alzheimer's patient . For someone caring for an Alzheimer's patient, it's useful to limit decision-making that can be stressful. Too many choices can be intimidating, such as a closet full of clothes, but a choice between two outfits may be do-able.

When caring for someone with Alzheimer's, you must be able to adapt to changes. At first, it's often difficult to deal with the mood swings of an Alzheimers patient. All of a sudden, they will reject what used to be their favorite food or will refuse to wear a particular color. Patients may display behaviors like refusing to shower, or going on as usual despite "blackouts" that happen. Remember that in cases like these, the individual can't help this, so try not to take it personally. Try to be subtle in your approach. Isn't it easier to buy identical outfits since your loved one insists on not changing his clothes. While he/she is having bath them you can switch it.

On average, a Cancer or Heart Disease patient may require 3 to 5 years of care, while an Alzheimers patient may need up to 20. The gradual deterioration of the Alzheimer patient can be partitcularly demoralizing for the person caring for someone they care about. Since a cure hasn't been found, experts say educating yourself about Alzheimers is the key.