Moderate Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, a progressive and fatal disease of the brain. It is a disease that generally develops slowly over a period of seven to 10 years, eventually affecting all brain functions including memory, judgment and behavior. Though there is no cure, there is treatment for the symptoms. Drugs for Alzheimer's disease are usually prescribed according to the stage the disease has progressed to.

Significance

• Moderate Alzheimer's disease is considered the middle stage of the disease. There are mild, moderate and severe types of this stage. Knowing what symptoms and signs of moderate Alzheimer's disease your loved one exhibits can help the doctor treat her accordingly, possibly relieving the symptoms and extending her quality of life.

Communication

• It is usually during the latter part of this stage that a patient's ability to communicate begins to worsen. A variety of problems can arise. One is paranoia. You might find the person is quick to accuse you of stealing something you didn't take or to accuse his spouse of being unfaithful. He may also suddenly begin to display physical violence, including kicking, cursing, biting, hitting and screaming.

Confusion

• This can be particularly difficult for family members to cope with. In the beginning, an Alzheimer's patient may confuse her son for her husband or think her spouse is a stranger. She may not recognize her home, know what day or year it is, or remember her address or phone number.

Thought Process

• During moderate Alzheimer's disease, the patient's ability to organize his thoughts is compromised. When given a set of logical and simple steps to follow, he is generally unable to do so, and he is unable to understand and follow a written set of instructions. At this point, caregivers may become frustrated because they have to repeat instructions many times before the patient understands well enough to perform the task.

Safety

• Personal safety becomes an issue during the stage of moderate Alzheimer's because the patient lacks judgment. She has a tendency to wander and is not safe if left alone. Caregivers may begin to notice that she becomes restless in the afternoon and repetitive with words and movements. If the patient is in a nursing home, this is the time when she might have a device called a Wander Guard placed around her ankle to prevent her from leaving the building.

Coping

• If your loved one is still in the home setting and you are the primary caregiver, you need to know how to effectively care for him when he is in the moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease. First, educate yourself. Talk to the patient's doctor and either call the Alzheimer's Association or find a local support group. Doing these two things will give you a better understanding of the disease, how it progresses, and what to expect. Try to find others who can help you out from time to time; you need to have time for yourself, even if it's just one hour a day. During the time you spend with your loved one, keep his mind active. Play cards, show him old photographs or take a walk. Although his stories and questions may become redundant, act as if you are hearing them for the first time. This will delight the Alzheimer's patient rather than spark frustration and violent behavior. Finally, if you have a loved one who is prone to wandering and you insist on keeping him home, have some type of alarm installed so you know when he tries to leave the house. You might even consider a bed alarm that goes off if the person gets off the mattress.

Treatment

• Some doctors will not treat or give medications to an Alzheimer's patient unless approached by the patient herself; they don't take the family's word about symptoms the patient is displaying. Some patients, of course, do not recognize their symptoms, and some are too embarrassed to discuss them. One way to combat this problem is to explain to your loved one that she has a doctor's appointment for a routine physical. Speak to the doctor in advance about what has been happening and ask him to ask your loved one questions that would demonstrate the symptoms.