report family member of dementia patient

How does a dementia diagnosis affect a family?

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learning that a loved one in your family has dementia is a pretty big pill to swallow, and its effect can be overwhelming. A dementia diagnosis carries a lot of emotion, and it can trigger negative emotions and conflicts that you and your family thought that you had long since buried.

How do you deal with a family member with dementia?

Facing Dementia in the Family 1 Allow yourself time to adjust. The shock of the diagnosis can be paralyzing. ... 2 Set up routines and expectations. ... 3 Find an experienced dementia care counselor—for both of you. ... 4 Give each other space. ... 5 Pace yourself. ... 6 Make time for daily exercise. ... 7 Definitions. ...

How do you react to a loved one’s dementia diagnosis?

Just as some people may react to your loved one’s dementia diagnosis with extreme emotions, others may appear not to react at all. It’s okay if you’re one of those people, but you need to realize that you’re likely bottling up your emotions and that you need to talk about them before they start to affect you negatively.

What legal documents do I need to sign for dementia caregivers?

Dementia caregivers: Get these 4 legal documents signed: Advanced Healthcare Directive, Power of Attorney for Financial Matters, Will, and Living Trust. October 22, 2015 Jeffrey W. Greathouse, J.D. These are the most important papers to get signed

What do you do if you suspect dementia in a family member?

You might discuss how you're feeling with a trusted friend or family member, talk to your doctor, or use a support service like the National Dementia Hotline to speak to a professional about what's been happening.

Who is responsible for a person with dementia?

Conservator: A person appointed by the court to make decisions on behalf of the person living with dementia; referred to as the guardian in some states. Custody: Legal responsibility for a person.

What are some of the accusations that people living with dementia can make?

A person with dementia may make accusations against people around them, including their family, friends and carers. The most common accusations are that others are trying to steal from them or harm them. They may also accuse their partner of being unfaithful, or of being an impostor.

Should you tell someone with dementia that they have dementia?

It is recommended that a person with dementia be told of their diagnosis. However, a person has a right not to know their diagnosis if that is their clear and informed preference.

Can someone with dementia be forced into care?

Can you force someone to move to a care home? You cannot force someone who is deemed to be of sound mind and able to care for themselves to move into a care home if they don't want to. It is vital that, throughout discussions regarding care, the person's wants and needs are addressed at all times.

When is it time to put a dementia patient in a home?

"Someone with dementia symptoms may forget where they've walked, and end up somewhere they don't recognize," Healy says. "When your loved ones are continually putting their physical safety at risk, it's time to consider memory care." 3. A decline in physical health.

What stage of dementia is anger?

The middle stages of dementia are when anger and aggression are most likely to start occurring as symptoms, along with other worrying habits like wandering, hoarding, and compulsive behaviors that may seem unusual.

What is Sundowning behavior?

Late afternoon and early evening can be difficult for some people with Alzheimer's disease. They may experience sundowning—restlessness, agitation, irritability, or confusion that can begin or worsen as daylight begins to fade—often just when tired caregivers need a break.

What are the 6 stages of dementia?

Resiberg's system:Stage 1: No Impairment. During this stage, Alzheimer's is not detectable and no memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident.Stage 2: Very Mild Decline. ... Stage 3: Mild Decline. ... Stage 4: Moderate Decline. ... Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline. ... Stage 6: Severe Decline. ... Stages 7: Very Severe Decline.

Can dementia get worse suddenly?

Dementia is a progressive condition, meaning that it gets worse over time. The speed of deterioration differs between individuals. Age, general health and the underlying disease causing brain damage will all affect the pattern of progression. However, for some people the decline can be sudden and rapid.

How long do dementia patients live?

Studies suggest that, on average, someone will live around ten years following a dementia diagnosis. However, this can vary significantly between individuals, some people living for more than twenty years, so it's important to try not to focus on the figures and to make the very most of the time left.

What should you not do with dementia?

I'm going to discuss five of the most basic ones here: 1) Don't tell them they are wrong about something, 2) Don't argue with them, 3) Don't ask if they remember something, 4) Don't remind them that their spouse, parent or other loved one is dead, and 5) Don't bring up topics that may upset them.

How does family caregivers help with dementia?

Interventions can ameliorate these effects and thereby improve the quality of the life of people with dementia .

How many people have dementia?

There are an estimated 30 million people with dementia worldwide currently,1and this figure is likely to double every 20 years.2People with dementia generally require high levels of care, most of which is provided by informal or family caregivers.

How many hours do caregivers spend on dementia?

Caregivers in developing countries spend a median of 3 to 6 hours a day with the person with dementia, and 3 to 9 hours assisting with activities of daily living. Eleven to 25% of caregivers spend more than 11 hours per week providing informal additional support.10As people are more likely to live in large households, care is distributed among a greater number of individuals, and there is some evidence that the main caregiver experiences less strain.10However, the effect is small and only applies only for cohabitating primary caregivers.10Additionally, while there may be a number of care managers involved, most of the hands-on dayto-day caring is still likely to be left to an individual.5

What are the effects of being a caregiver?

The effects of being a family caregiver, though sometimes positive, are generally negative, with high rates of burden and psychological morbidity as well as social isolation, physical ill-health, and financial hardship. Caregivers vulnerable to adverse effects can be identified, as can factors which ameliorate or exacerbate burden and strain. Psychosocial interventions have been demonstrated to reduce caregiver burden and depression and delay nursing home admission. Comprehensive management of the patient with dementia includes building a partnership between health professionals and family caregivers, referral to Alzheimer's Associations, and psychosocial interventions where indicated.

What would happen if there was no caregiver for dementia?

Without caregivers, people with dementia would have a poorer quality of life and would need institutional care more quickly, and national economies would be swept away by the advancing demographic tidal wave. However, this support comes at a cost of caregiver distress and poorer quality of life.

Where do people with dementia live?

More than 60% of people with dementia live in developing countries .1The 10/66 Dementia Research Group assessed the care arrangements of people with dementia in South-East Asia, China, India, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Nigeria. While the typical profile of the principal caregiver was similar to those in the USA, the proportions of female caregivers tended to be higher (mean of 78%, range from 59% in China and SE Asia to 95% in Nigeria), spousal caregivers were as common as child caregivers (mean of 40% in both cases across the groups), and daughters-in-law comprised a mean of 11% of caregivers overall (influenced by India where 24% of caregivers were daughters-in-law). One of the main differences between caregiving in the developed and developing world is the living arrangements, whereby persons with dementia in the developing world live in much larger households with extended families.10

How much did Alzheimer's cost in 2005?

In 2005 the care provided by caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias cost the US at least 83 billion USD.7Comparative figures for Australia were approximately 3.2 billion AUD (approximately 2.6 billion USD) in 2002. 85.

How to talk to a person with dementia?

If you must ask a question, keep the phrasing simple and leave plenty of time for the person to answer. In fact, all of your communication should be simple, loud enough to hear and clearly spoken. Avoid current slang terms, and try to keep the sentences short if the person is easily confused. Always offer reassurance, and be prepared to repeat statements and questions as needed. Engage the person in conversation regularly to help curb loneliness.

How to help someone with dementia?

Being around other people going through the same thing can help you and the person suffering from the dementia. It will also give you another chance at an activity that everyone can enjoy. If you can’t get out of the house, there are Internet chat groups and rooms . Telephone helplines are also available with the support you need to get through the frustration and tips to help as well .

How to avoid a meltdown in dementia patients?

As you and the dementia patient get to know one another, start picking up cues to her discomfort. These will be the signs that help you set the meltdown avoidance plan into motion as the disease progresses. When you start to see those cues, check the environment for uncomfortable conditions. Look at the clock, and consider the routine to rule out medication, hunger, thirst or sleep. Adjust the temperatures, provide a little company or get visitors out of the room. As you get to know the disease, you will find that certain things almost always set the patient off, so those are the things you correct first to avoid a meltdown.

How to distract dementia patients?

If everything is fine, it is time to distract the patient. Use a favorite item or conversation topic. Maybe it’s time for an activity like a walk outside-fresh air is great for dementia patients, and exercise can help too-or another favorite activity. Soothing the patient is important if nothing else works.

What causes dementia patients to be violent?

One of the most well-known and daunting parts of caring for a dementia patient is cause by agitation. When the patient becomes agitated, he can display violent and disturbing behavior that is uncharacteristic of your loved one. Caregivers often feel responsible for the behaviors, but the guilt helps no one.

How to slow the progression of dementia?

Keep regular appointments with physicians and hire home care if needed to keep your loved one in the best shape possible . Good health is one important way to slow the progression of the dementia as well. Dementia patients are not untouchable people in our society.

What causes dementia?

Brain tumors. Brain infection. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Thyroid disease. Kidney disease. Liver disease. Some of these conditions only cause a temporary form of dementia that can be overcome with physical therapy, medication and time. Other forms of dementia are degenerative, so they get worse as the years go on.

How to tell family and friends about Alzheimer's?

When telling family and friends about a loved one’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, consider the following: Be honest with family and friends about the person’s diagnosis. Explain that Alzheimer’s is a brain disease, not a psychological or emotional disorder.

How to tell someone you have Alzheimer's?

An Alzheimer diagnosis doesn’t only affect the person receiving it. The lives of family members and friends may also drastically change. When telling family and friends about a loved one’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, consider the following: 1 Be honest with family and friends about the person’s diagnosis. Explain that Alzheimer’s is a brain disease, not a psychological or emotional disorder. 2 Share educational materials from the Alzheimer’s Association, this website, or another educational site. The more that people learn about the disease, the more comfortable they may feel around the person. 3 Invite family to support groups sponsored by your local Alzheimer’s Association. 4 Realize that some people may drift out of your life, as they may feel uncomfortable around the person or may not want to help provide care. 5 Tell family and friends how they can help you and your loved one. Give specific examples like picking up groceries or taking your loved one to appointments. 6 Alzheimer’s disease can also impact children and teens. Just as with any family member, be honest about the person’s diagnosis with the young people in your life. Encourage them to ask questions.

How to explain Alzheimer's to a child?

If you're explaining an Alzheimer's diagnosis to a child, consider his or her age and relationship to your loved one to determine how much to share. You might say, "Grandma has a sickness in her brain that's causing her to forget names." Try to answer any questions simply and honestly and listen to the child's concerns. Explain that sadness or anger is normal and that he or she didn't cause the disease. Explain what changes a child might expect to see in his or her loved one — such as not being recognized — and how this might affect the family.

Can family and friends handle a diagnosis?

Keep in mind that some family and friends might have trouble handling the diagnosis. They might feel uncomfortable or drift out of your loved one's life, despite your best attempts to help.

How to help someone with dementia?

Help get an activity started or join in to make the activity more fun. People with dementia may lack interest or initiative and can have trouble starting activities. But, if others do the planning, they may join in. Add music to exercises or activities if it helps motivate the person. Dance to the music if possible.

How to care for people with dementia?

Eventually, people with these diseases will need more help with simple, everyday tasks . This may include bathing, grooming, and dressing.

Why is it so hard to communicate with people with dementia?

Communication can be hard for people with Alzheimer’s and related dementias because they have trouble remembering things. They also can become agitated and anxious, even angry.

How to make a home safer for someone with dementia?

As a caregiver or family member to a person with Alzheimer’s or related dementias, you can take steps to make the home a safer place. Removing hazards and adding safety features around the home can help give the person more freedom to move around independently and safely. Try these tips:

Do caregivers live with dementia?

Sometimes caregivers live with the person or nearby, other times they live far away. For many families, caring for a person with dementia isn’t just one person’s job, but the role of many people who share tasks and responsibilities. No matter what kind of caregiver you are, taking care of another person can be overwhelming at times.

Can you get information about dementia without consent?

Without consent, you may not be able to get needed information. Consider legal and financial matters, options for in-home care, long-term care, and funeral and burial arrangements. Learning about your loved one’s disease will help you know what to expect as the dementia progresses and what you can do.

Can dementia affect language?

In some forms of dementia, language abilities are affected such that people have trouble finding the right words or have difficulty speaking. You may feel frustrated or impatient, but it is important to understand that the disease is causing the change in communication skills.

How does dementia affect your family?

Remember. Dementia changes relationships and can cause you and your family members to become socially isolated. It can negatively impact your psychological and physical health and can heap a great financial burden. It’s easy to become resentful, and the reality is that dementia can cause extreme stress for families.

How to help a dementia patient?

Don’t deprive yourself of sleep and make sure that you have time to exercise. Eat healthily and stay at home if you aren’t feeling well. Ask a family member to cover for you and make sure you go to all of your own medical appointments – this is all a major part of self-care that prevents caregiver burnout.

How to deal with dementia?

Allowing yourself time to adjust. Accepting that your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia is a pretty big deal. It’s okay to need a time out to gather your thoughts and prepare for what comes next. Let your family know how you’re feeling and explain that you need some space to work through it. They’ll appreciate your honesty, and might even ...

What can you do for your loved one with dementia?

The best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your loved one with dementia is to look after yourself and each other. You can do this by incorporating coping strategies into your everyday lifestyle and care plan.

Why is routine important for dementia?

Routines will help put your loved one with dementia at ease and ensure that you and your family perform your assigned roles on time. Taking care of yourself.

What does dementia feel like?

If you have a loved one that has been diagnosed with dementia, then you’ve probably felt angry, scared, frustrated, and even a bit guilty , but the feeling of being overwhelmed is probably ...

Why do you need to take care of yourself with dementia?

You need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your loved one with dementia.

Top Tips for Caring for a Parent with Dementia at Home

As an adult child, you most likely have your own life and responsibilities. You may have a job, a spouse, or kids of your own. But when your mom or dad develops dementia, the burden of care may fall on your shoulders.

In-home elder care solutions in Southeastern Wisconsin

Learning how to communicate well with your parent who has dementia can be incredibly beneficial. Good communication can:

How to Get Expert Help Caring for a Relative with Dementia

Dealing with dementia parents comes with unique difficulties and challenges. Dementia affects memory loss and can also cause changes in behavior.

What documents do dementia caregivers need?

Dementia caregivers: Get these 4 legal documents signed: Advanced Healthcare Directive, Power of Attorney for Financial Matters, Will, and Living Trust.

How to correct lack of documentation post incapacity?

The only way to rectify a lack of documentation post-incapacity is to seek a conservatorship for your loved one. This requires a Court proceeding. The time and financial cost involved to obtain a conservatorship are significant and can result in critical delays in the meantime — all of which can easily be avoided if your loved one's wishes are documented while they still have the capacity to do so.

What is a DNR document?

These documents let your loved one indicate what type of medical treatment they do or do not wish to receive if they are too impaired to direct their own care. These typically allow the individual to choose whether they wish to be on life support (or don't even want it to be started) if they are in a terminal condition. This is sometimes referred to as a "Do Not Resuscitate" clause or "DNR."

Is there a legal document for HIV afflicted dementia?

Please Read This: HIV-Associated Dementia. There are a few legal documents you should be sure to obtain right away. If these documents already exist, ensure they contain the most up-to-date law and, most importantly, clearly express your loved one's current wishes.

Is it scary to have a spouse with dementia?

When your spouse or other family member exhibits symptoms and is diagnosed with dementia, like Alzheimer's Disease or Vascular Dementia, it is scary and overwhelming. There are so many questions, and the last thing you probably want to worry about is the array of legal issues to consider. Unfortunately, getting your documents prepared and organized is an important and necessary part of the journey, and doing so during the early stages on can make the entire process a little smoother along the way.

Can a person give a power of attorney after death?

It is important to note that a Durable Power of Attorney for Finance ends at the death of the individual for whom it was created. This means your loved one can't give their attorney-in-fact authority to handle financial issues, such as paying debts, making funeral or burial arrangements, transferring their property to heirs, or any other tasks that follow their death. If your loved one wants the attorney-in-fact to have authority to wind down such post-death affairs, a Will or Living Trust (discussed below) is needed.

How does dementia affect caregivers?

Piggybacking off fear and denial, dementia can seriously complicate doctor’s appointments, leaving family caregivers utterly flummoxed and frustrated. Seniors in the early and middle stages of dementia sometimes use all their energy and what remains of their faculties to put on a rather convincing performance that they are fully alert and lucid. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “showtiming.” The energy and concentration such an interaction requires usually leaves a dementia patient physically and mentally exhausted afterwards, sometimes for hours or even days.

What is dementia characterized by?

This neurological condition is characterized by a lack of awareness of one’s own cognitive or psychological impairments. Changes in the brain render a senior with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia incapable of recognizing their lapses in memory, loss of judgement and mood swings.

Why Do Seniors Mislead Their Physicians?

While the reasons for a senior not being honest with their doctor are often multifaceted and difficult to pinpoint, fear, denial and a phenomenon called “showtiming” are usually to blame.

What are the problems with family caregivers?

A frequent problem expressed among family caregivers is that their aging loved ones aren’t honest with their doctors. At home, they may gripe about intense pain, struggle to complete activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, or exhibit memory problems that lead to unfair accusations, but the moment they sit down in a doctor’s office, a change occurs. Like an actor on stage, the patient becomes animated and charming and has no complaints to report to their physician. What gives?

Why do seniors hesitate to share information?

Research has shown that people of all ages hesitate to share complete details relevant to their health with their physicians out of fear of judgement and /or embarrassment. Seniors have a great deal on the line and want to retain their dignity, so they avoid to divulging information that makes it seem as if they are physically frail or exercising poor judgement.

How to communicate with a doctor?

Another option for communicating with the doctor is to write and send them a letter or email ahead of the appointment noting your concerns. This way, the doctor is prepared with the facts when you see them.

Do doctors look over notes?

Some physicians will look over their notes and then speak directly to the family caregivers, since it’s faster and easier to get straight answers to questions. However, you are there to support your loved one, take notes and contribute to the improvement of their care plan.