“It’s almost as if today was the best day of the rest of his life,” confessed Madhavi Phadke, director of philanthropy at Westford, Massachusetts, to The New York Times. The executive realized that her mother, Chanda Bhawalkar, became increasingly retracted. She had been an avid reader and messages were sent with her friends from her native, Maharastra, in India. However, at almost 80 years, he began take more time in his room and seemed distant. He became nervous when he received visits, something surprising in someone who had always maintained an active social life. Those were the first symptoms of the Alzheimer’s disease.
The American media, through the reporter Mohana Ravindranath, made a report on the dementia And as the patient’s relatives must face the Symptoms of the disease. Doctors suggest organizing logistics from the beginning: designate a trusted person to make medical decisions on behalf of the family, plan future care and write financial guidelines. But you also have to prepare for the emotional weight of seeing how a loved one loses parts of himself.
In his note, the newspaper asked dementia specialists and families who have faced the disease that shared advice to move forward after diagnosis. The first is to accept that a family member can no longer think or remember things. “Often, families try to reason or discuss with their loved ones because it is difficult to accept false facts, or they can hold on to the false hope that correcting the person will help him recover his cognitive abilities,” said James Noble, a specialist in dementia at the Irving Medical Center of the University of Columbia and clarified: “Not only does it work, but it is often counterproductive.”
“It is much simpler and much better for the loved one if you adapt to your reality by following the game or forgive your confusion,” said Ipsit Vahia, geriatric psychiatry head of the McLean Hospital of Belmont. As soon as possible after diagnosis, families must speak with the patient about the symptoms of dementia and how to live their last days, including their medical preferences for when the disease progresses. The questions may include which parts of their daily routine would like to keep, if they would prefer to stay at home or move to an assisted life center.
Dementia care usually lasts years after diagnosis and the person responsible in care has “a long journey” ahead. It is also usually stressful, because the caregiver sees how the relative moves away. Finding the emotional support of other caregivers of people with dementia is fundamental, as it is to be aware of the medical needs themselves.
Given this uncertainty, families highlighted the importance of celebrating small victories and finding joy and humor whenever possible.
Melanie Levy, who runs a gymnastics business in Sacramento, California, recalled that her father, who lived alone and rejected most of the help for her dementia, continued enjoying playing percussions and listening to albums in accordance with her health declined. “Knowing that” he organized a jazz club in his room “, even for non -existent people, he gave him” joy and comfort “because he meant that he did not feel totally alone. Even, he also connected with some relative relatives because he had forgotten his anger,” he added.
The families described dementia as something that advanced in steps, and stagnated for months or even years before the patient experienced a sudden worsening and another stagnation. While others said that their relatives worsened more precipitously and unpredictablely, the aforementioned advice can be adapted to all cases.
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