Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or another form of age-related brain disease. Brain diseases affect people from all walks of life. We recently learned that former first lady Rosalynn Carter is living with dementia.
When Mrs. Carter’s family announced her diagnosis, they pointed out her longstanding advocacy for family caregivers. Thirty-five years ago, she founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers after experiencing the demands of caregiving herself. When her father passed away when she was 13, she began a lifelong journey of caring for both her and her husband’s family, as well as President Carter himself in recent years. Now that they are both receiving palliative and hospice care at home, her dementia diagnosis has likely complicated an already stressful time for their family.
During Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month, we acknowledge that coping with dementia can be difficult for seniors and the family members who support them, especially if a spouse who has served as a primary caregiver becomes ill themselves.
What is Dementia?
It’s important for family members to recognize the signs that a loved one is struggling. According to expert Teepa Snow, dementia is an “umbrella” condition that covers more than 120 different types, forms and causes of brain change. Some changes are typical in the aging process and no cause for worry. Nontypical changes don’t necessarily mean dementia, but they are worth investigating.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers examples of typical age-related changes vs. the concerning characteristics of memory loss:
- Making a bad decision every once in a while vs. displaying consistently poor judgment and decision making
- Missing one monthly payment or making occasional errors with household finances vs. not keeping up with paying bills or managing the household budget
- Forgetting something temporarily (a word, an appointment, a person’s name) but remembering it later vs. having difficulty holding conversations or losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time
- Sometimes needing help with household tasks like changing appliance or TV settings vs. having trouble completing daily tasks that previously posed no problems
- Losing things from time to time vs. misplacing items and being unable to retrace steps to locate them
Seeking Help for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Snow notes that 50% of people living with dementia are unaware that they are experiencing brain changes. It also may be difficult for those living with the person to recognize signs of trouble since the changes can occur gradually. As cognitive changes begin to affect daily functioning, family members may take on new caregiving roles or attempt to manage their loved one’s changing behaviors on their own.
Many people do not identify themselves as caregivers, even if they regularly do errands, grocery shopping, wound care, prescription management, cooking, cleaning and personal care for a loved one. Yet those who take on these tasks deserve support and acknowledgment for the hard work they’re doing.
If your family is taking care of one or more family members living with dementia, help is available. Kadan Homecare caregivers are trained and experienced in providing personal care and physical assistance for seniors experiencing cognitive changes. They are skilled in supporting the entire family as they adjust to a loved one’s dementia and brain health challenges.
