Having That Difficult Conversation About Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia and it affects memory, thinking as well as reasoning. In the Indian cultural ethos, there is an inhibition when it comes to discussing with a parent serious health issues. The usual stance is that it’s better for their peace of mind not to know. For a parent in the early stage of Alzheimer’s, they already recognize and are confused about what is happening to them. There might be increased fear and paranoia if they feel that other family members do not recognize what they are going through.

If you already have good communication lines with your parent then the conversation though always difficult, can be easier broached. Parents who tend to be more private might refuse to listen. However this is, it’s advisable to have another close family with you when you start this discussion. If the disease is already advanced they might not be in a state to rationally understand. In the early stages while they still have their “legal capacity” it’s important they assign someone with the power of attorney for living arrangements, finances and health care.

What Caregivers Need To Know

Often the early signs are ignored and the patient is brought in for a medical opinion when the symptoms are too obvious to be ignored any longer. Do remember with proper advice it helps to care for the parent as well as find ways to delay the progression.

The early symptoms are:

1. Memory loss: This is the most obvious. It is not the forgetting of a name and remembering it later. It is as serious as asking for the same information over and over and still having no memory of it. Forgetting information of the recent past etc.

2. Problem-solving: Numbers and keeping track of them become difficult. Doing simple calculations like adding up a bill or balancing a cheque book.

3. Forgetting locations: Going out someplace and then forgetting where their home location is or going out and not knowing where they were heading too.

4. Finding the correct words: Stumbling in their speech since they cannot remember the word that needs to be used.

Meet Your Doctor

Your doctor will do a mental status test which involves evaluating the thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Based on this the patient will be referred to a neurologist who is specialized in Alzheimer’s.

This is a progressive disease that can affect the caregiver and their family as much as it does the patient. The common feelings a caregiver’s family goes through is a loss at losing the person they know as Alzheimer’s wipes out all memories, feelings of guilt and anger as the care of the loved one places undue pressure on all in the family. Counseling and support groups are important for both the patient as well as the family.