Looking Through The Lens Of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s and most forms of dementia are impossible to prevent/cure, and for those who have dementia, there is, unfortunately, no cure as of now. Though most older citizens do not face memory loss, there are still ways to manage the disease and enjoy life. Medical experts are on the way to finding a cure for some dementias. Fortunately, dementia does not have to mean the beginning of an end. Using tools and techniques taught throughout my ted-talk can help minimize dementia damage.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is emotionally difficult since it can cause mood swings, depression, and anxiety. But in some cases, it’s just as difficult for loved ones. As someone who experiences this kind of devastation firsthand, it is hard to explain to families why their mother or father doesn’t remember his or her name or even their existence. My goal is to teach those families, loved ones, or caregivers how to push through dementia and create a routine. To achieve this goal, I will teach the audience the physical, mental, and emotional changes of persons with Alzheimer’s. I then will then share tips to add to routines making things easier when caregiving for someone with dementia and physical inabilities.

Some medical experts are performing Alzheimer’s simulations to let people experience how one might feel if one had the disease. Alzheimer’s comes with nerve loss, change in vision, depression, sudden mood swings, and other behaviors related to Alzheimer’s dementia. Throughout the 12-minute simulation, the volunteers were told to fold laundry but with a twist, they also wrote prompts on a piece of paper. The volunteers wore shoes with pebbles in them to simulate arthritis and bad balance. They were given gloves with rice at the fingertips to simulate difficulty with hand control, and goggles with smeared vaseline on the lens to simulate vision loss, and they also wore headphones that played loud noises, blocking the volunteers’ ability to hear clearly. The volunteers claimed that it was difficult to write when their fingertips were deep in rice. Yes, this simulation is a great educational tool, but there is more that comes with Alzheimer’s. For example, a leading cause of death for those with dementia is pneumonia since those who have the disease may forget to eat and drink properly without aspiration or choking. It can be easier to feed someone with dementia by knowing what foods they enjoy or just sitting by them while they eat.

It’s crucially important for caregiver to care for themselves because burnout is real and can make life miserable. Ways to keep yourself as a caregiver healthy are to eat 3 times a day, stretch before and after caregiving, drink plenty of fluids, sleep for at least 7 hours, and personal time to meditate or relax. I talked to someone who is currently caring for her father who is showing signs of dementia. When asked if she is happy, she says she feels lucky to have her father live with her, and she is also appreciative that her younger daughter likes to spend time with her Grandpa. Her daughter encourages him to take daily walks around the neighborhood since exercise helps improve his stress. I asked what advice she has for other new caregivers in similar positions as her. She says it’s not about quizzing or curing, but enjoying the moments you have even if they are eventually forgotten.

References
Green, Heather, and Jonathan Migneault. 2016. “Simulation recreates the experience of Alzheimer’s disease.” Sudbury. https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/simulation-recreates-experience-of-alzheimers-disease-260018.

“What is Alzheimer’s Disease? Symptoms & Causes | alz.org.” n.d. Alzheimer’s Association. Accessed December 21, 2022. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers.