Alzheimer’s Awareness

We can all be forgetful sometimes, like when you go into a room and forget the reason you entered, or when you forget items on your shopping list or misplace your keys.

Forgetfulness is something we all contend with no matter our age, but as you get older memory loss becomes a more common occurrence. And whilst age-related memory impairment is considered a normal stage of aging, you shouldn’t dismiss serious memory problems that can make everyday life harder.

For someone with Alzheimer’s, memory loss is a persistent and constant battle with the uncontrollable debilitating illness. But this disease can take as much of a toll on the person suffering as it can on the family, friends, and carers.

This post is an opportunity to come up with helpful tips and tricks if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.

Forgetting conversations or events – The first sign of Alzheimer’s disease is usually short-term memory loss; it is caused by changes in the chemistry and structure of the brain. It can be hard to comprehend that someone can’t remember a conversation you had yesterday but can tell you a memory from 30 years ago.

Forgetting aspects of who they are – Depending on the stage of the Alzheimer’s case, as it progresses, they may forget aspects of their identity. This could mean they forget elements of their personality that were once important to them.

Reminding them of who they are and the beliefs they once held keeps them intact even when they don’t know who themselves are, and doesn’t allow the disease to steal their identity completely.

Difficulty with everyday tasks – Getting dressed in the morning or making a cup of tea could become much more difficult as their illness advances.

Products specifically designed to support people with eating and drinking and general well-being in the home, do not only doe keep their mobility and independence take pressure off you but they can also make the illness a lot more manageable and less stressful for the person you are caring for.

Further information can be found on the NHS website here.