When a Family Member Has Alzheimer’s

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Watching a family member age can be hard. Seeing someone who was once so lively and talented start to become lost and confused over ordinary things can be a source for worry as well as heartbreak. When a family member has Alzheimer’s, worry and heartbreak start to become the norm.

Growing up my Grandmother had Alzheimer’s. When I hear stories about who she was before, it makes me sad that I really didn’t get to be around her very much when she was really HERSELF. Most of my memories of her are unfortunately memories of her confused or frustrated due to her struggles with Alzheimer’s.

When a Family Member has Alheimer’s…

In every family, aging relatives can become an unfortunate source of worry. You used to love the way your parents played with the kids, but on their last visit, you noticed that they were behaving oddly. They seemed confused by ordinary things. You even found your mom wandering aimlessly in the lounge at night, because she couldn’t find the way to her room anymore.

The accumulation of little problems and surprising decisions – did your mom just put salt in her coffee? – can convince you to book a medical appointment in her name. And before you’ve got time to prepare for the worst, the doctor delivers the sad diagnosis: Grandma has got Alzheimer’s disease. How you handle it as a family can greatly impact her health and yours.

It’s a shock for everyone

Let’s be honest. It will be a cause of discussion and debate for everyone. Family members might even try to blame each other for not seeing it sooner. Unfortunately, when families receive bad news, they can experience hectic times and disagreements over what to do and how to help. But don’t let words spoken in anger or fear affect your relationships.

You can’t control what people are going to say, but you can control how you react to it. Accept that in times of crises, some individuals might say things they can’t take back. Let things go so that you can move together toward the best solution.

Evaluate the situation objectively

Alzheimer’s is a diagnosis that turns your world upside down. But you need to leave the emotional pain on one side to tackle some other important matters.

As protecting her assets is in her interests and yours, you can work with experts to make sure that all legal and financial management matters are in good hands – this site can help you to understand the level of support you need.

Ultimately, whether you need to consider financing long-term nursing or helping your relative to maintain a safe standard of independent living, you need to answer those questions via a professional.

Can we stop it?

Your first instinct might be to look for alternative treatments to stop the progression of Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately, as of today, there is no cure to the disease. However, you can help Grandma to stay active, both physically and mentally to slow down the degradation.

Introducing a healthy diet can help to give the brain the food it needs to protect its cognitive health – even though it won’t reverse the first signs of Alzheimer’s. Similarly, socializing and learning new skills can also make a great deal of difference.

How can the family handle it?

Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease that affects your relationship with the person. The nature of your relationship might have to change. It might be upsetting if your mother no longer recognizes you as her daughter or when she forgets your name.

But you need to remember that while the condition can lead to confusion and the loss of independence, she continues to experience emotions. Make time for happy memories with your loved one by focusing on new activities that respect who they are now.

Remember to Cherish

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can throw your family out of balance. However, you need to remember that it isn’t a death sentence. With the appropriate management and care, your family can help your loved one to transition to a new phase in life smoothly and happily.

Just don’t forget to cherish every moment! When a family member has Alzheimer’s it can be easy to let yourself be so sad about how much that person has lost or what you have lost in them, but don’t forget to keep loving on them!

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