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Slowly Eroding Your Memories –Tips To Those Supporting Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia that is estimated to affect approximately 44 million people in the world. It is caused by protein build up in the brain that results in the formation of tangles and plaques, which in turn disrupt nerve cell connections and cause brain tissue damage and the death of nerve cells.

As a large portion of the brain gets damaged by these symptoms, the patient suffers from significant memory loss and declining problem-solving skills. Therefore, the patients with Alzheimer’s disease need a lot of support in their daily activities because they lose a lot of brain function to this horrible condition. Hence, September 21^st is observed each year as World Alzheimer’s Day, a day to spread awareness about this disease and to showcase the efforts of those who offer selfless care to the Alzheimer’s patients. Just because the victims of this disease have lost a huge chunk of their memories, it does not mean that we should forget about them too. Here are some of the ways in which we can help the Alzheimer’s patients and make their struggle a little less painful.

1.Patience – Communicating with an Alzheimer’s patient can be frustrating. They have difficulty in remembering faces and in forming sentences. Instead of getting impatient, try to find the true meaning behind the words they are trying to string together. If they forget who you are, remind them gently instead of reprimanding them. Always keep in mind that they are suffering way more than you can fathom, and deserve all the kindness you can muster.

 2.Music – Music can help calm down an agitated patient and can induce sleep. Some songs can also take them back to a particular time or place from their past and can help them hold on to those memories. This healing power of music has helped a lot of patients with dementia in delaying the extreme forms of the illness to take over the brain. If you are taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient, try to find out what music soothes them and play it for them from time to time.

3.Assisted Walks – Spending some time outdoors on a regular basis provides the Alzheimer’s patient with an opportunity to reflect and unwind. Some fresh air and the sunshine can help alleviate any anxiety or stress and can offer a boost to the general sense of well-being. If possible, create circular paths for walking so that the patient can find their way back to the entrance without getting lost or confused. These assisted walks will keep them calmer and more collected throughout the day.

 4.Making Food More Appetising – Meal times can be challenging for the patient due to a lack of appetite and difficulty in handling the cutlery. Try to make food more enjoyable by serving it on the crockery the patient likes and playing their favourite music in the background. Attention to details such as choosing the right colour for the table cloth and setting up the table in a particular manner can encourage the patient to eat more and thereby improve their fitness.

5.Giving Them Enjoyable Company – Everybody needs someone to talk to or to spend some time with. Offer some much-needed company to the patient and join them in some activity that they enjoy. This could be working on a crafts project or watching a movie together. Having someone around them will make them feel more wanted and will banish any thoughts of loneliness. Try to be their friend instead of a caregiver and you will notice a positive difference in their behaviour.

If you are someone who is taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient and are wondering how to treat Alzheimer’s disease, then these tips will definitely help you in slowing down the pace of the illness. Being kind and gentle is the best way to make the patient feel more at ease. So this World Alzheimer’s Day, make an effort to make life a little bit easier for a victim of this terrible disease.

Tags: Alzheimer ’s disease, Alzheimer’s Day, How to treat Alzheimer’s