My uncle has Alzheimer's. He has steadily been getting worse, and in recent years, his disease progressed even more. A recent article by CNN details how the disease of Alzheimer's has the capability to make a relatively peaceful person very violent toward family members and pets. I fear for my uncle and his wife, and that this violence from Alzheimer's could possibly happen to their family. If he develops angry tendencies or violent behaviors, like the people in the CNN article, it could cause disaster for my family. My aunt, his wife, is very small and fragile, and probably would not be able to handle the care of my uncle if he were to become violent. There are several tips that this article offers, however, that seem like they would be very helpful to tell my aunt if my uncle's case were to worsen even more.
A few of these tips are:
1. Back down if the patient does not want to do something. Wait until a later, more opportune time when he has calmed down.
2. Apologize when the patient is upset, even if you did nothing wrong. It will calm the person down.
3. Change the topic when something you are talking about is upsetting the patient.
4. Remember that the Alzheimer's patient sees the world through different eyes than you.
5. If needed, call someone for help.
People who have family members or friends who have Alzheimer's would do well to learn these few tips that will help them to communicate and calm the people with the disease. I am glad that I have learned these helpful tips so that I will be able to better communicate with my uncle as his disease progresses.
Article Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/30/alzheimers.violence.caregiving/index.html
Image Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-563223/Alzheimers-sufferers-win-landmark-court-appeal-denied-drugs.html
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