Alzheimer's Tips You Should Know - Paperback

by A. V. Blackman (Author)

An estimated 5. 2 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's disease in 2013. This includes an estimated 5 million people age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals under age 65 who have younger-onset Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age. It causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior and the person may have difficulty remembering recent conversations, names or events. They may also have impaired communication, disorientation, confusion, poor judgment, behavior changes and eventually may have difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking. These changes present special challenges for caregivers, families and friends of persons with Alzheimer's Disease. Whether you have been caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease for many years or if your loved one has recently been diagnosed with the disease or maybe you are a friend or relative of a caregiver then this book will help you. It provides simple, practical tips to help make your life easier. In it you will find tips on: Activities: Whether the person is in the early, middle or late stages of Alzheimer's Disease there are still activities that they can continue to do in order to reduce boredom and to improve interaction between the caregivers and families and friends. Alzheimer's Proofing Your Home: Safety must be a priority when caring for persons with the disease. In "Alzheimer's Tips You Should Know" we will show you how to keep your loved one safe around the house, whether in the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or dining room. Bathing: One of the biggest challenges that caregivers face is at bath time. Facing aggression, resistance and sometimes fear many caregivers dread this time of the day. In this chapter you will learn how to manage bath time and reduce the stress associated with this activity. Behaviors: Difficult behaviors such as aggression, verbal abuse, anger and mental changes causing hallucinations and suspicious behavior are very often experienced by the person with Alzheimer's Disease. Mealtime: Learn how to handle mealtime, what utensils to use. How to get your loved one to eat more or eat less and what to do if there is difficulty chewing and swallowing. Wandering: Six in 10 people with dementia will wander. A person with Alzheimer's may not remember his or her name or address, and can become disoriented, even in familiar places. Wandering among people with dementia is dangerous, but there are strategies and services to help prevent it. You will also find tips on communicating, dealing with the messy issues like spitting, playing with and smearing feces, travelling with someone who has Alzheimer's Disease and several other issues related to the effects of Alzheimer's Disease.

Author Biography

A.V.Blackman has a wealth of experience in caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease.She has performed this role for over ten years and has first hand knowledge of it's effects on the lives of caregivers, families and friends.Her personal experience as primary caregiver to her mother who has the disease has acquainted her with the social, emotional and physical effects associated with it. Determined to understand the disease better and to improve her level of care and capacity to cope, she embarked on a journey that changed her perspective about the disease.After much research, a changed perspective and ten years experience of caring for and living with someone who has the disease, Ms. Blackman felt the need to share these tips and practical solutions that made her life easier, with other caregivers, families and friends who may be crumbling under the weight of caregiving.Thus the book Alzheimer's tips you should Know was written.