Broad Street Solutions in Senior Care: “Changing your mindset”

THE HOME CARE CHALLENGE

Many people who have experienced Alzheimer’s Disease with a loved one are often under the impression that Alzheimer’s and Dementia are one and the same.  They tend to put all cognitive symptoms into one bucket, and unfortunately this lack of understanding prevents people from really addressing the symptoms in a productive manner.  We become frustrated by a lack of memory or executive function or behavioral issues that we don’t know how to fix. 

The reality is that Dementia is an umbrella term for a variety of different cognitive conditions, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common.  But even then, Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias can impact people differently depending on someone’s personality, their history, their relationships, as well as the stage of progression.

Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s: Why is it so important?

Because most of these cognitive conditions cannot be changed.  You cannot force someone to remember, or to see reason, or to communicate the way you may have been used to.  Instead, it is through understanding how these symptoms are affecting someone’s experience, and to try and empathize with that experience, that we can truly provide the right kind of support.  In fact, if we know that we cannot change the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other Dementias, it is through changing ourselves that that we enhance quality of life for our loved ones.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease, and why is it so often confused with other forms of Dementia?

Alzheimer’s accounts for 60% to 80% of Dementias, which is one of the reasons why people tend to use the term ‘Alzheimer’s’ as a blanket term, families across America are impacted by some form of dementia and it’s estimated that over 6 million adults living in the United States suffer from Dementia or Dementia-like symptoms

Alzheimer’s Disease specifically impacts memory, and the connection between short term memory and long-term memory.  The resulting experience is that people with Alzheimer’s may not remember where they are in a conversation, they may not remember loved ones, or their memory may be from things they experienced years before. This can be difficult for family members trying to rationalize why they can’t remember.

While Alzheimer’s is the most common form of Dementia, it is important to know that there are other forms, and they can impact the brain in very different ways. It is also possible for people to have more than one form of Dementia.  Other common forms of Dementia include:

Lewy Body Dementia – Often coinciding with Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia can cause hallucinations, and can impact mood including depression or apathy, and can also cause confusion or poor attention which is where it can be confused with Alzheimer’s Diseases.  Given its common association with Parkinson’s, it can often coincide with movement disorders or poor regulation of body functions.

Parkinsonian Dementia – Not to be confused with Lewy Body Dementia which is the specific presence of Lewy Bodies in the brain, individuals with Parkinson’s can demonstrate signs of dementia that are often confused with Alzheimer’s.  Slowed memory, ability to maintain focus and slowed executive function can appear to be a loss of memory. However, there is an important distinction between slowed memory and lost memory.  With patience, individuals with Parkinson’s can often recall memory, it just takes more time.

Frontotemporal Dementia (“FTD”) – Which impact the Frontotemporal Lobe of the brain, and can lead to dramatic personality changes, including inappropriate or impulsive behaviors.  It can also impact the speech centers through a condition called Primary Progressive Aphasia which impacts the ability to come up with words or to be able to form those words.  As with other Dementias, it can be confused with Alzheimer’s Disease but people that have FTD may actually have no memory loss, it is more about their ability to communicate or rationalize with the external environment.

Vascular Dementia – Often the result of stroke, symptoms of Vascular Dementia can vary depending on what part of the brain was impacted by stroke.  Some of the symptoms are memory related and can appear very similar to Alzheimer’s, other times, it can impact speech, behavior and mood.  As with any Dementia, it is important to understand how the brain might be impacted so you can better understand the symptoms.

How to provide the right Home Care Support for Alzheimer’s Disease

Imagine that you simply cannot remember from one moment to the next.  Suddenly the person you have been with all day, may look like a stranger. It could be frightening, potentially angering, especially when that person is acting frustrated that you don’t understand who they are.  Perhaps that person is grabbing you to direct you to do something but from your viewpoint, it makes no sense and is not what you want to be doing.

The first step in providing the right home care support for Alzheimer’s or any form of dementia is to understand what your loved one is experiencing, so you can approach the situation with empathy. By looking at it from this perspective, you can change the way you approach someone with Alzheimer’s. You can focus on areas that are basic to caring human interaction, you can smile more, or embrace more, and you can be more patient.  When someone is frustrated, we can acknowledge that they are frustrated and redirect to something more core to someone’s happiness.  The method of redirecting is often rooted in our history, areas of interest like music or art, sports or history, even aspects of former hobbies or professions. 

A Real Life Example…

In our home care agency, we experienced a situation with a client who has advanced Alzheimer’s and lives alone.  Her life became very frightening, not recognizing people who entered her home and often not aware of what time of day it was and what she should be doing.  She would occasionally get fixated on certain topics where she could not keep her train of thought.  The result was anger and frustration, which could not seem to get resolved.  Her Care Professional understood this and rather than try to explain to her client the source of her irritation and why it was not logical, she would respond to her with song.  She new that her client grew up loving music and singing.  The client’s focus would shift, quickly transitioning into singing the same song, where she remembered every word.  Through singing, they can move through the challenges of the day and truly enjoy the experience.

There are core interests unique to everyone.  While Alzheimer’s Disease can take away specific memories, it does not take away these core interests.  Ultimately it takes patience and understanding, to identify the triggers and how to resolve them, but empathy allows you to maintain an open mind.

 

Additional Support for other Dementia’s including Alzheimer’s

What is universal in supporting all Dementias including Alzheimer’s Disease in understanding how it is affecting someone’s experience, empathy to be able to see this perspective and patience to understand triggers and how to best manage them in a way that maintains safety but also add to quality of life.  Some additional tools can include the following:

Acknowledging and redirecting - Can help with many behavioral issues and mood swings

Developing a routine – Having a daily routine can help in creating consistencies but also to help to identify areas of interest that bring enjoyment

Physical Activity  -  Appropriate Physical activity and exercise can help not only drive enjoyment but can help mange sleep cycles tat can be critical for behavioral issues like Sundowning.  Please consult your Physician and/or Therapist to determine what is an appropriate exercise routine

Occupational Therapy – Occupational Therapists can help develop routines and exercises that are enriching but also can help manage certain memory issues as well as physical challenges that impact the daily life.

Speech Therapy – Speech Therapists can help to create exercises that help to improve recall and speech formation to improve the overall ability to communicate, and avoid withdrawing.

In-Home Alzheimer’s or Dementia Care

As a family member of someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or other Dementia, it’s important to educate yourself on ways to support the individual. Oftentimes as the disease progresses, additional support by trained professionals is warranted. Finding the right level of support is not a simple decision. Many factors need to be examined to determine whether in home Alzheimer’s or dementia care would be beneficial.

Dementia Care at Home: Additional Resources

To help determine what resources are available and appropriate, a consultation with a Care Manager or Patient Advocate may be a very prudent step. RNs who have studied Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are well skilled in evaluating the situation and thinking of both resources, and in developing daily routines that can help in the support of someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

 

BROAD STREET’S SOLUTION:

At Broad Street we focus on supporting clients with more complex underlying health conditions. We do this through our experience Care Managers with backgrounds in Nursing and Therapy. In addition to Client Specific training, our Care Managers work collaboratively with experienced and qualified Care Professionals and Nurses, to provide the best possible solution for your needs.

If you have any questions about how to provide care for someone with Alzheimer’s or any other Dementia, along with any other complex underlying health conditions, please don’t hesitate to call us.  We are here to help you find the Home Care Solution that works for you.

Broad Street delivers the very best in concierge Home Care services, please  contact us  today to learn more.

Broad Street Solutions in Senior Care

Home Care is all about people, probably more than any other service that exists.  It is filled with complexities and uncertainties, because every human being is different. But if we embrace that fact, we can then redirect our focus and approach every situation and every person uniquely.  Because we know that within all of that complexity lies the potential for great relationships, relationships not based on perfection but based on genuine care.

At Broad Street, we spend the time to understand the details, to prioritize the needs and attributes as well as work through the constraints challenges and constraints.  It is through this process that we continue to learn and work through the issues and adapt. Life is inherently unpredictable.  But with greater understanding, we can better anticipate and manage towards not only a more reliable solution but towards creating a great and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.