A few years ago, Dr. Paula Creighton from McMaster University Medical School came to Bracebridge to present information about dementia to her medical colleagues and to family members.  Her visit was sponsored by the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka and her presentation was entitled “How to be a Family Caregiver and Survive”.

 

Dementia is a complex condition with debilitating health consequences.  Research has brought new medications that can, in some cases, delay the progress of the symptoms, but not reverse or cure them.  Some of the warning signs for possible dementia are: memory loss that affects day-to-day functions such as dressing, eating, movement, toileting and hygiene, shopping, housework, banking, food preparation and driving.  Other signs are: disorientation of time and place, misplacing things, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, poor or decreased judgment, problems with abstract thinking, changes in mood and behaviour, changes in personality, and loss of initiative.

 

Dr. Creighton suggested some steps a caregiver could take in caring for a person with dementia.  First, seek out information that is pertinent to your situation - you don’t need to read everything that has been written about the illness, but prepare yourself for future changes.  This includes obtaining a diagnosis from your family physician or referral to a specialist.  Second, be proactive in planning for the future.  This includes making sure their legal and financial affairs are in order, and completing Wills and Powers of Attorney for Personal Care and for Property.  Safety around the home is another issue to be looked at, such as secure storage of medications, use of the stove, driving, and use of credit cards and cheques.

 

Many of the behaviours that are part of dementia, such as agitation, repetition, wandering, or confusion of night with day, are very upsetting to caregivers.  Suggestions for coping came from Dr. Creighton and from caregivers in the audience.  One point was reinforced several times - don’t try to correct the person, but try to understand their reality and ‘get into their world’.  Try to be flexible with schedules but give consistent care.  Reinforce their positive behaviour and use distraction to focus their attention on something less disruptive.

 

Programs that invite socializing also help to cope with the condition.  Both walking programs and pet therapy help the person with dementia to communicate.  Looking at photographs from the past can bring meaning to their life.  Several caregivers expressed concern that their family member was not eating.  Suggestions to encourage a good appetite included playing soft background music and having frequent smaller meals.  If dressing or hygiene is a problem, give them one item at a time to put on and take them to the toilet at least every 3 hours.  If your family member is prone to being active at night, expose them to bright light during the day, increase their level of activity and exercise, and limit fluids and caffeine late in the day.  Family members who wander should register with the Wandering Person’s Registry available through the Alzheimer Society.  You can also put a cloth over the doorknob so your family member does not see it and try to exit.  Remove mirrors from all locations in the house when the person no longer recognizes him or herself, but place one on the door as this may deter wandering.

 

One point of advice that both Dr. Creighton and Linda, a caregiver to parents with Alzheimer Disease, offered was to accept the person for who they are now.  If you can, remember that the person with dementia has no control over their behaviour and they are not trying to punish you.  For information about Alzheimer Disease and related dementias call the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka at 645-5621 or 1-800-605-2075.