Personality Changes Alzheimer’s Disease

As your loved ones Alzheimer’s progresses, you may notice that they go through big personality changes. One of the most common is they become more aggressive and tend to shout and become physical with you and your family members. Seen more often in men with Alzheimer’s than women, this behavior often occurs suddenly, with little warning and no apparent reason.  Because it is probably difficult to understand where your loved one is coming from, it’s easy to become frustrated, but patience and understanding is necessary to calm him or her down and find out why they are so upset.

Aggression can be caused by several factors including physical discomfort, poor communication or an uncomfortable environment.  When your loved one becomes aggressive, try to get to the source of their anger to see if you can make them more comfortable and less upset.  Are they tired because they haven’t been sleeping well?  Are the medications they’re taking causing side effects that make them angry or ill?  Does it seem like they’re experiencing physical discomfort and pain? 

Take note of environmental factors that could be making your loved one uncomfortable.  Are there a lot of loud noises or people in the room?  Do they look lost or confused?  These feelings are enough to make anyone annoyed, but for a person with Alzheimer’s it can be particularly overwhelming and cause an angry outburst.  They may also be frustrated because of their lack of ability to communicate with you.  Keep your instructions simple and don’t ask too many questions or state too many things at once.  Are you acting negatively to towards them or are you irritable yourself?  Your loved one may be picking up on your own aggression.

The best way to respond to the aggression of a person with Alzheimer’s is to remain calm, patient and understanding.  Try to identify the cause and focus on their feelings, not the facts.  They may not be able to distinguish between wrong and right and may be confused about what really happened.  Don’t take their behavior personally and try to remain positive and reassuring.  Suggest a different, relaxing activity and limit their distractions so they can concentrate on remaining calm. 

During an aggressive outburst, it’s important to assess the situation and the danger involved, both for your loved one and yourself.  If he or she is acting out physically, stand back and call for assistance. If they’re trying to run away, be more assertive and make sure they remain in the house.  Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using force or restraint because your loved one may become more upset and physical.  The anger does not normally last very long and will only be escalated by equally aggressive behavior.

Brian Willie is an elder law attorney from Orange County CA who has taught thousands of Alzheimer’s families how to pay for the devastating cost of Alzheimer’s care without going broke. You can learn more at http://www.ultimatealzheimersrescue.com/

Articles and Alzheimer's Disease

There are many topics about Alzheimer’s that are extremely important for you to research and learn as much as possible about. There are literally thousands of articles about Alzheimer’s Disease. This may be one of the most important article about Alzheimer’s you’ll ever read.

Managing the costs of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be difficult, especially since Medicare rarely covers the expense.  Since Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, the type and level of care a person needs changes over time and the payments will begin to add up.  To make sure you’ll be able to afford the proper care for your loved one, look towards the future and plan ahead the moment he or she is diagnosed.

No matter what stage Alzheimer’s your loved one has, it’s almost certain that they’ll need several medications each month.  The cost of prescriptions, combined with ongoing medical treatment, can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars that doesn’t include the cost of hiring professionals to come assist in your home. There are also several personal care supplies, such as adult diapers, creams, clothing, foods and hygiene products that you’ll need to purchase on a weekly basis. 

There are several financial resources available for caregivers to help cover the costs associated with Alzheimer’s.  Medicare covers some doctor’s fees and prescriptions and may even pay for certain in home services, but only to an extent.  Should you decide that you cannot care for your loved one and that a nursing home may be more beneficial to them, keep in mind that Medicare does not cover the cost of residential living. You’ll need to learn how Medicaid works to fill in the gaps.

It’s possible that your loved one has their own source of income that they set up for retirement or in case of sickness, so when a diagnosis is made, discuss the costs with him or her and plan how they will be paid for.  If necessary, fill out the documentation that will allow you to have access to and control their assets should they be unable to do so themselves.  If your loved one does not have enough money to cover all the expenses, discuss finances with your family and see how much money each person can donate. 

It may be helpful to hire an elder law attorney to provide advice on different government funds and assistance available.   The most important thing is to make sure your loved one receives all the care he or she needs and deserves.  Alzheimer’s can be an expensive disease but, if you plan ahead, you can comfortably afford the expenses and provide a high quality of life for your loved one. 

Brian Willie is an elder law attorney from Orange County CA who has taught thousands of Alzheimer’s families how to pay for the devastating cost of Alzheimer’s care without going broke. You can learn more at http://www.ultimatealzheimersrescue.com/

Alzheimer’s Disease Difficulty Eating

As Alzheimer’s progresses, simple, day-to-day functions become increasingly difficult and mealtimes could present significant challenges for your loved one. They may experience a loss of appetite or interest in food or could forget that they have already eaten. If you notice that your loved one is having difficulty maintaining a healthy, regular diet, there are several things you can do to encourage independence and make mealtimes easier. 

Begin by setting up a regular mealtime and sticking to it so that your loved one always knows when he or she will be eating.  They will be less likely to overeat or forget that they’re supposed to be eating if they’re used to a schedule.  You man need to begin preparing each meal for your loved one as it may be unsafe for them to use a stove or dangerous kitchen utensils.  Limit distractions during mealtimes and keep the table settings simple so that your loved one can focus on their food and eating rather than the television, a table setting or the telephone. 

Keep in mind that your loved ones food preferences may change and be prepared to adapt to their new tastes.  Avoid choking hazards, such as raw vegetables, popcorn, and nuts, and educate yourself on how to perform the Heimlich maneuver and CPR in case there is an accident.  Alzheimer’s patients can become overwhelmed and confused easily, so serve one food at a time, rather than an entire plateful, so they can concentrate on eating.  Encourage your loved one to take his or her time chewing and swallow carefully and check the temperature of their food to be sure it’s neither too hot or too cold, as they may no longer be able to distinguish the difference. 

Though there may come a point when your loved one is unable to feed themselves, it’s important to encourage independence and allow them to eat as much on their own.  Offer finger foods, such as chicken fingers, cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes and cheese slices, if they’re having difficulty using utensils and don’t worry about neatness. If your loved one has a habit of pushing his or her plate or glass around the table, invest in spill proof cups and plates with suction cups so they are easier to manage.  Demonstrate how they should be using their utensils and remind them how to chew so that they are less likely to choke.  Most importantly, make a point to eat every meal together so that you not only get to spend quality time with one another, but so you can keep a watchful eye and make sure they’re actually eating their food and doing so in a safe way. 

Brian Willie is an elder law attorney from Orange County CA who has taught thousands of Alzheimer’s families how to pay for the devastating cost of Alzheimer’s care without going broke. You can learn more at http://www.ultimatealzheimersrescue.com/