Alzheimer’s Do’s and Don’ts One Must Follow

Alzheimer’s do’s and don’ts list is essential for people to take care of their loved ones suffering from this mental illness. Alzheimer’s disease¹ is one of the seven most dangerous mental diseases around the world.

It is absolutely unexpected and extremely stressful to find out that your senile grandparents or other family members are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In America, approximately 6 million people have dementia or Alzheimer’s.

There are several kinds of mental health issues worldwide, and Alzheimer’s requires proper care and medication following certain Alzheimer’s dos and don’ts.²

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is a type of mental illness that causes the loss of memory and a person’s ability to remember day-to-day things in life. Alzheimer’s do’s and don’ts are essential to follow.

It is an advanced mental disease of Dementia that is caused due to an injury to the brain or disease that leads to cognitive dysfunction³, memory loss, and inability to think and communicate.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s: The Difference

The term Dementia and Alzheimer’s are not the same mental condition; they are vastly different. Alzheimer’s is a type of Dementia that results in gradual impairment of memory and cognitive dysfunction. Dementia⁴ is a kind of syndrome that includes several symptoms like memory loss and lack of reasoning.

People living with Dementia sooner or later have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which still doesn’t have any permanent medical cure, but with proper care, it could be manageable.

Causes of Alzheimer’s

There are no particular or certain causes of Alzheimer’s disease. A few factors such as age, family history, or genes could be the reason behind the development of this mental disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

We often forget things but not forever. People who have Alzheimer’s show certain symptoms of forgetfulness that get worse with time.

Here is the list of symptoms that could be noticed in an Alzheimer’s patient. They are as follows:

• It gets difficult to solve issues and problems
• Inability to speak and write
• It gets hard to operate daily appliances like microwaves or vacuum cleaner
• Extreme memory loss, for instance, forgetting a person’s face or missing an appointment
• Disorientation with places and time
• Severe mood swings
• Lack of personal hygiene
• Distancing and withdrawal from friends and families

Facts about Alzheimer’s

There are several known and unknown facts about Alzheimer’s that are important to know. Here are five important facts about Alzheimer’s that are important for everyone to know. They are as follows:

1. There are three stages of Alzheimer’s, namely, Early (memory lapsing), Middle (behavioral change), and Late Stage (difficulties in communication and contracting other diseases)
2. It is one of the most common reasons for frequent deaths across the world.
3. A patient who has Alzheimer’s may lack a sense of smell.
4. Women are prone to Alzheimer’s disease when compares to men across the world.
5. According to research, learning and getting more education have proven to reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer’s.⁵

Alzheimer’s Do’s and Don’ts

A person with Alzheimer’s cannot manage themselves on their own. They need regular care and attention to treat this mental illness. Although there is no medical cure for Alzheimer’s yet with regular treatment and following Alzheimer’s do’s and don’ts, it is easily manageable.

Certain Alzheimer’s do’s and don’ts a caretaker or family members must take care of when dealing with people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Don’ts of Alzheimer’s

Here is the list of don’ts that one should follow when visiting or meeting a person with Alzheimer’s. They are as follows:

• Don’t talk to them like they are a baby.
• Don’t question them often:’Who am I?’, ‘What is your name?’, or ‘Do you remember me?’
• Don’t remind them of their forgetfulness.
• Don’t be aggressive with them.
• Don’t give lengthy explanations.
• Don’t let 2-3 people visit them at once.
• Don’t ignore them.

Do’s of Alzheimer’s

Here is the list of things one should do when interacting with or taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s. They are as follows:

• Short and precise talk
• Give them to understand things
• If needed, repeat the instructions several times
• Cooperate with them and never force them to do things
• Distract them with stories and other topics
• Agree with them often
• Try to avoid confrontations
• Be responsive to them
• Be cheerful around them
• Always be forgiving
• Please have patience while taking care of and talking with them
• Involve them in fun activities and tasks
• Have a daily routine for them to follow
• Try to understand the problem
• Give hugs
• Share anecdotes
• Be their friend with a positive approach
• Enjoy the silence with them
• Make them feel heard and seen.

Conclusion:

As it is known that there are no permanent cures for Alzheimer’s, one can only take certain measures to avoid suffering from the disease in old age. The measures to prevent Alzheimer’s include regular exercise, no smoking, cognitive development training and workout, antioxidants consumption, and lively social life.

Alzheimer’s is a continuous chronic mental illness that requires constant care and attention. It is a disease that gets worse with time but dealing with the symptoms early on helps in improving cognitive function and providing a better lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Scheltens, Philip, et al. “Alzheimer’s disease.” The Lancet 397.10284 (2021): 1577-1590. ↩︎
2. Strauss, Claudia. Talking to Alzheimer’s: Simple Ways to Connect When You Visit with a Family Member or Friend. New Harbinger Publications, 2002. ↩︎
3. Millan, Mark J., et al. “Cognitive dysfunction in psychiatric disorders: characteristics, causes and the quest for improved therapy.” Nature reviews Drug discovery 11.2 (2012): 141-168. ↩︎
4. Leys, Didier, et al. “Poststroke dementia.” The Lancet Neurology 4.11 (2005): 752-759. ↩︎
5. Cutler, Stephen J. “Worries about getting Alzheimer’s: Who’s concerned?.” American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias® 30.6 (2015): 591-598. ↩︎

Last Updated on April 30, 2024 by ayeshayusuf