Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia; it’s a disease that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, eventually becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Approximately 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with the disease.
At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we help many patients who are suffering from Alzheimer’s. Confusion, anger, memory loss, and erratic outbursts are just some of the symptoms that lead to heartbreaking emotional pain for the patient as well as their family. The more we can educate a family and support them through this disease progression, the better prepared they can be to help their loved one as they walk their end-of-life journey with Alzheimer’s.
Early Diagnosis is Key in the Disease Progression
As soon as you start seeing signs of early onset Alzheimer’s, you should seek a full diagnosis from your loved one’s doctor. Quite often, the initial symptoms of the disease can be easy to miss, but according to the Alzheimer’s Association, these are ten of the early signs:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and special relationships
- Problems with speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and inability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgement
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Changes in mood and personality
There are so many benefits to an early diagnosis. The sooner you find out what is causing your loved one’s symptoms and behaviors, the better opportunity you have to learn about the disease, set realistic expectations, and treasure your time together. An early diagnosis can also reduce your stress, confusion, and frustration since you’ll have a better understanding from the get-go.
In some cases, the symptoms might be reversible and or treatable. Appropriate medical care—especially when started early in the disease process—can stop or slow the rate of further decline.
Your Loved One Still Needs Your Support
On “bad days,” when your loved one doesn’t remember who you are or has gone into a tirade, it can be a challenge to fully love them. It’s important to remember that even though they may seem different, they’re still your loved one, and they still need your support. As difficult as this disease is for you to deal with, it’s just as arduous for them. Hold on to the little glimmers and find support to get you through those tough days whenever you can.
You Don’t Have to Go at This Alone
No matter how tiring or painful the progression of Alzheimer’s can be, you never have to go through it alone. Our social workers are available to you if you need to talk through your emotions, and our nurses are just a call away and can visit your loved one if medical attention is ever required. We also offer Alzheimer’s support groups to our patients’ families and even those who are outside of our care. We know that the disease is far-reaching and affects so many people; that’s why we are ardent about bringing people together so they can see that they’re not alone in this journey.
We Take Special Care with Alzheimer’s Patients
With every patient at Ardent, we create a care plan that caters to their own specific needs. Whether a patient is on hospice or palliative services, we have special techniques that address the difficulties associated with Alzheimer’s. When we’re caring for patients with Alzheimer’s, we keep every visit very routine; their nurse is always the same person, he/she will always show up at the same time on the same days, and medication is taken at the same time every day, for example. We don’t deviate from their schedule, because it lowers the chance for confusion and gives them some stability in such a sensitive and erratic situation.
Always Have Hope
As difficult as Alzheimer’s can be to cope with, we always encourage our patients and their families to have hope. Treatments continue to improve as the medical community studies and learns more about the disease and its progression.
Remember that your loved one will have bad days sometimes, but they’ll also have good days. Hold on to hope. Your loved one is still there with you, even at times it may be more difficult to see. Having patience and showing them love can make all the difference in their disease progression.
We’re also here to help and support you through this journey. For more information on how we can help ease some of the stress that Alzheimer’s can bring, visit us online or call (559) 408-5945.
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