Coping With Alzheimer's

When a person that you love comes down with Alzheimer's disease, it is a life-changing experience. It can be truly heartbreaking to see the person that you love beginning to lose their memories, and as the disease wears on, it becomes more and more troublesome to care for your loved one. In this article, we'll give you some basic advice for coping with the trauma that you may go through in this difficult time.

When you first find out that your loved one has Alzheimer's disease, it's important to surround yourself with information about the condition. Heavily research the experiences of others and medical information regarding the disease so that you have a better understanding. The more you know about the condition, the better suited that you'll be to deal with it. You may want to consider joining a support group - it can be very helpful to surround yourself with people that know what it's like to go through the experience and they can usually offer the most pertinent advice. If you can't find a local support group, you may find the relief that you need through joining an online support group.

If you are beginning to care for someone with Alzheimer's, you should do your best to discover which times of the day the problem becomes the most severe, and when your loved one is the most relaxed. You should try to plan your day so that you can get the things that you need to do done within the period of time in which it's most easy to concentrate on yourself. You also need to consider what types of long-term plans you're going to have for caring for your loved one; it's a large financial and emotional burden to handle, but the disease is degenerative and it's a tough fact that you will have to face. It's better to be prepared than confused, and you really need to take charge when helping a loved one with Alzheimer's. Check with medicare, your insurance agency, and other organizations in order to check exactly which types of medical burdens you can bypass financially.

If the burden of caring for your loved one by yourself begins to become too much, you may want to consider the use of an adult day-care in order to give yourself some time. Be sure to heavily investigate any type of care that you may be recruiting for your loved one, but it's important for you to be able to live your own life while still caring for the patient.

These are just a few tips for preparing to care for a loved one that has come down with Alzheimer's. The task that you'll be facing is definitely a trying one, physically, emotionally, and financially. Remember that you are not alone; the problem that you face is one that is happening to thousands upon thousands of families in America alone. Be sure to maintain a balance between caring for your loved one and taking care of the personal responsibilities that you must face in your own life, and never give up.

 

Alzheimer's Disease On The Web

Helping one child at a time (Collinsville Herald)
Many worried parents have frantically asked doctors why their baby isn't developing properly, only to hear the heartbreaking news that their child has autism. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, the percentage of children born with the disorder is growing.

Alzheimers Association presents program (Fond du Lac Reporter)
RIPON The Alzheimers Association will present a free program titled Have You Lost Your Keys Lately from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Ripon Public Library, 120 Jefferson St.

Tri-County Community Calendar for Aug. 27, 2008 (Tri-County Journal)
Etc. SHOOTING MATCHES: noon to dark SUNDAYS, SEPT. 7 THROUGH OCT. 5, Knights of Columbus grounds, 2757 English Road, Pacific. Matches open to the public.

Stateline Area Health Notes (Beloit Daily News)
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday by appointment only at the Rock County Health Department, 61 Eclipse Center, Beloit. Information, call (608)364-2010.

Health Calendar (The Naperville Sun)
Thursday, Aug. 28

Tri-County Community Calendar for Aug. 20 (Tri-County Journal)
Etc. BLIZZARD RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. TODAY (WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20), American Legion Post 320, Fourth and Meramec streets, Pacific. Donors receive a coupon for a Dairy Queen Blizzard.

Putnam plans safety net for disabled (The Charleston Gazette)
WINFIELD, W.Va. - Putnam County residents with Alzheimers disease or other cognitive disabilities might soon have a safety net if they become confused or lost.County commissioners approved a request from Sheriff Mark Smith to apply for a grant to impl...

Ken Branagan dies (Latics MAD)
Former Latics stalwart Ken Branagan has died after a long battle with Alzheimers Disease. Branagan was 78 and he passed away on the night of Saturday the 9th.

Stateline Area Health Notes (Beloit Daily News)
BLOOD DRIVES noon - 7 p.m.,Aug. 19 at Central Christian Church, 2760 Milwaukee Road, Beloit; 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at First Baptist Church, 617 Public Ave, Beloit. The blood drives are for the Rock River Valley Blood Center. Information, call 1-866-889-9073.

Riding for Alzheimers (Thursday, August 21, 2008) (Wheat City Journal)
The 13th annual Alzheimer's Motorcycle Poker Derby took place this past weekend. A total of 78 riders hit the road Saturday morning, taking a 238 kilometer ride that took them out to Carberry, Glenbo