Management of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of the aging process. According to the Alzheimer's Association, over 5 million people in the United States suffer from this condition. Ninety percent of those with this disease are 65 years old or older. As anyone who knows someone with Alzheimer's understands, the symptoms are devastating to the person and her family.

Symptoms

• Alzheimer's attacks a victim's memory ability and gradually destroys it. The disease in its early stages can cause changes in personality and makes remembering new information difficult. In later stages, the person begins to wander and requires constant watching. Getting in and out of bed or using the toilet unassisted becomes impossible. However difficult emotionally, most who care for a friend or family member with Alzheimer's will eventually need to place her in a facility that provides constant care and supervision.

At Home

• In its early stages, a person with this condition staying at home will be able to carry out many of the functions he was always capable of. He can drive a car. He might not remember where he parked it. He can eat, bathe and use the toilet without assistance. Over time those abilities diminish and more caregiver effort is required.

  Because a person has Alzheimer's doesn't mean her other medical problems go away. Failure to take blood pressure-lowering and other medications becomes an issue caregivers must address.

  At home, a person with this disease has more independence than in a long-term care facility. Therefore, families are often reluctant to place her in a nursing home. But most often, that will occur. The most frequent cause for placement is her becoming incontinent.

Adult Day Care

• There are opportunities for help with care at home for the person with the disease and the people caring for him.

  Adult day-care centers provide supervised care for several hours each day, allowing caregivers time to shop, clean the house or rest. Some have overnight facilities so the caregivers can have a few days of respite. Activities at a day-care center will include simple exercises, group singing and simple discussions about family, current events or activities. All the activities are designed to assist him in maintaining the abilities he still has.

Care Managers

• Care managers are available to families who are confronting tasks and issues they may not know much about. A daughter living in another state finds it helpful to have a care manager living near her father look after his well-being. Care managers are knowledgeable about the services that are available. For example, they know the requirements for the government PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) program.

Long-Term Care

• Alzheimer's patients may spend some time in an assisted living facility, but most will eventually require nursing home care because of the changes to their medical condition.
  .