Empower yourself with knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease
"When your mental abilities diminish to such an extent that they interfere with your daily life, dementia is used as a general term."
As part of an international campaign to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease, this awareness day is celebrated annually on September 21. This year’s theme is: “Know dementia, know Alzheimer’s”.
Ons Tuis retirement home’s occupational therapist, Caretha Bronkhorst said that dementia is a chronic or persistent disorder of mental processes, caused by a brain disease or injury.
“When your mental abilities diminish to such an extent that they interfere with your daily life, dementia is used as a general term. It is characterised by memory disorders, personality change and impaired reasoning,” she said.
Bronkhorst also mentioned that although it is not always easy to approach someone with dementia, she said it can be easily learned.
“Being able to communicate meaningfully with a person with dementia with certain skills can definitely be a positive intake. Your body language conveys a much stronger message than words,” she said.
Behavioural problems that can come to mind are irritability, insomnia, verbal or physical aggression, and sudden increase in suspicion, jealousy, or accusation.
“What the person experiences feels very real to him or her. Try not to take it personally and keep structured environmental factors and routines as far as possible.
“When it comes to Alzheimer’s patients, diet plays an important role. Ensuring that your loved one can have adequate, nutritious food and fluids can be challenging.”
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According to her, the intake of caffeine, sugar and foods that are high in energy should be limited at all times.
“When the myths and stigmas surrounding dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are dispelled and you start focusing on what you can do pro-actively for this person, then you can move forward.
“There is still a huge gap in the communication of support regarding the management of the disease,” said Bronkhorst.
Her best advice is to empower yourself with information and support.
“Processing the diagnosis is often equally difficult for the family as well as for the patient. As your loved one loses his independence, you are forced to take on more and more responsibilities,” she concluded.
Bronkhorst shared the following communication tips:
– Try to limit distractions and noise. Turn off the radio, close the curtains or door, or choose a quiet environment when communicating with the person.
– Make sure you have the person’s attention and address them by name. Identify yourself and your relationship. Non-verbal touch can help keep the person focused.
– Speak slowly and clearly with a reassuring tone of voice. Use simple words and sentences. Use the same wording when repeating a message or question.
– Avoid asking open-ended questions that offer too many options as answers.
– Many people with dementia may not remember what happened an hour ago, but memories of olden days are clearly imprinted. It is often soothing for Alzheimer’s patients to recall these memories in conversations rather than relying on short-term memory.
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