| There are various definitions of Alzheimer 's disease | | | | During the early stages understanding simple speech |
| including: | | | | remains unaffected, but finding the correct words |
| - "The slow onset of memory loss leading to a | | | | can be a problem and the Alzheimers sufferer will |
| gradual progression to a loss of judgement and | | | | often leave sentences unfinished. The taking of |
| changes in behaviour and temperament." | | | | messages particularly over the telephone can be |
| - "A living death" | | | | difficult and this is often one of the first signs of |
| - "The global impairment of higher functions, including | | | | dementia. |
| memory, the capacity to solve problems of day to | | | | As the disease worsens communication will become |
| day living, the performance of learned | | | | more difficult as comprehension skills decrease. |
| percepto-motor skills (for example tasks like washing, | | | | Eventually their whole speech can become gibberish |
| dressing and eating), and the control of emotional | | | | until eventually the Alzheimer sufferer will cease to |
| reactions in the absence of gross clouding of | | | | talk altogether and will withdraw into his or her small |
| consciousness." | | | | world. |
| Memory Loss | | | | Sleep |
| Memory loss occurs in all cases of Alzheimer's | | | | Although the amount of sleep required by an |
| disease. The most recent memories are the first to | | | | Alzheimers sufferer is unlikely to change, their sleep |
| be affected, the things we've done in the last few | | | | cycle may do. So, instead of wanting to sleep at |
| hours or days. Later, as the disease progresses, the | | | | night and be awake during the day, this could |
| past memory also deteriorates. | | | | become reversed. This isn't a problem of itself |
| The fact that memory loss is such an important | | | | except for the carer who will have his or her nights |
| feature of Alzheimer's, the testing of a person's | | | | disrupted. |
| memory is an easy and cheap method of diagnosing | | | | The carer is advised to keep the patient active and |
| the condition. Questions asked should be extremely | | | | awake during the day as much as possible, even |
| basic, for example: | | | | though it is tempting to seize an opportunity to do |
| - What day is it today? | | | | some chores and enjoy some peace and quiet should |
| - How old are you? | | | | the sufferer fall asleep. A warm drink at bedtime |
| - Where are we now? | | | | may help, although any problems with incontinence |
| - What year is it? | | | | should be considered. Ensure there are no other |
| - What month? | | | | reasons for the restless nights, such as joint pain or |
| - Count backwards from 20 to 1. | | | | night cramps. In the event the latter are a problem, |
| These questions will test a person's short term | | | | administer mild painkillers. In the worst case scenario, |
| memory, and also orientation; disorientation being | | | | many people use a night sitting service to ensure the |
| another problem experienced by Alzheimer's suffers. | | | | sufferer is closely supervised while the carer gets a |
| Disorientation | | | | few nights of undisturbed sleep. |
| Disorientation, or not knowing who or where you are, | | | | Malnutrition |
| is closely connected to memory loss. Typically, an | | | | Eating and drinking can be a problem with Alzheimer |
| Alzheimer's sufferer will forget birthdays, become | | | | suffers. More accurately the lack of food and drink |
| unsure of what day it is, and even forgets their own | | | | and the resulting malnutrition is the problem. |
| name. You can understand why Alzheimer's has been | | | | A sufferer may develop an irrational fear of the food |
| called 'a living death'. | | | | you are providing, or they may simply forget or |
| Because it is the short-term memory that goes first, | | | | refuse to eat. Two likely causes of the latter are |
| suffers who go out alone have often returned to a | | | | ill-fitting dentures, especially if the sufferer has lost |
| house they lived in years ago, thinking they have | | | | weight; and constipation. A well balanced diet with |
| come home. | | | | plenty of roughage and a high fluid intake will help |
| Disorientation inside the home can become a problem | | | | prevent constipation. |
| too but not until the disease is in its later stages. It is | | | | General Advice For Carers |
| important that nothing is moved or changed in the | | | | It is difficult to judge who has the worse time, the |
| home to preserve continuity. If their environment and | | | | Alzheimers sufferer or the carer. In the early stages |
| routine remains unchanged, an Alzheimer's sufferer | | | | of the disease it is probably the sufferer, in the latter |
| will remain more content and confident; change the | | | | stages it is undoubtedly the carer. |
| environment however and their confusion and | | | | Help minimise disorientation by not moving anything in |
| disorientation becomes readily apparent. This is why | | | | the home. To do so will make their confusion worse. |
| treatment at home rather than in hospital is preferred | | | | Admit an Alzheimers suffer to hospital as a last |
| and transfer to hospital should be a last resort. | | | | resort. Once you do so disorientation and confusion |
| Personality Change | | | | will increase markedly. |
| One of the cruellest aspects of Alzheimer's disease is | | | | Do not let a sufferer out alone, they may have |
| the change in personality many people experience. | | | | difficulty finding the way back home. |
| Often, the general behaviour and personality of | | | | Do all you can to help the sufferer maintain dignity. |
| Alzheimers suffers in the later stages will be in | | | | - A warm drink or a tot of their favourite alcoholic |
| complete contrast to their usual behaviour they | | | | drink may aid sleep at night. - Try to keep the |
| exhibited in earlier life. | | | | patient active and awake during the day. |
| Mood swings, from being ecstatically happy to | | | | - Keep a cold drink nearby to remind the sufferer to |
| extremely sad, verbal and sometimes physical | | | | take fluids. |
| aggression, and extreme anxiety and nervousness | | | | - Keep disruption to routine to a minimum to prolong |
| often affect the Alzheimers sufferer and, of course, | | | | the Alzheimers sufferer's independence as long as |
| the carer who can help best by offering continuous | | | | possible. |
| reassurance and patience. | | | | Closely supervise medication. It is very easy for the |
| Personal Hygiene | | | | Alzheimers sufferer to forget they have taken their |
| Personal hygiene often becomes a major issue with | | | | medication, and take it repeatedly. Alzheimer's |
| the sufferer forgetting to wash and bathe. Body | | | | disease is progressive and incurable, although there |
| odour, and stained and soiled clothing and hands can | | | | are drugs that can slow the progression. It is one of |
| be a cause of great stress and result in a cruel loss | | | | the saddest diseases in that it is difficult to care for |
| of dignity. | | | | or regularly visit someone who no longer knows your |
| Communication | | | | name or recognises you. |