What are good gifts to give to a person with dementia living in a nursing home?
My grandfather had Alzheimer. It grew worse and worse, until my parents decided to not even let me go with my dad and his siblings to visit, because it might be traumatizing. None of my cousins got brought along anymore either after that.Regardless, trying to get some glimpses of his dad back, my dad used to bring his father this special type of candy. Well, it wasn’t all that special or expensive in itself, but it was something my grandfather and dad always bought once a week, during his entire childhood. The whole family gathered around the tv and ate it. Sometimes they went to the movies, but they always had to have it on that day.Green marmalade candy. Supersweet, but it was pretty much the only sweet they ate overall, so why not ”splurge”/go all out when you do?Sometimes, this made my grandfather’s head clear up, and he could have a conversation with my dad and his siblings.Sometimes, he only ate the candy.Sometimes, he looked up at my dad, met his eyes and smiled, before going back into his shell.So… what should you bring to someone with dementia?Something that might bring them back, or just let their bodies remember what they once enjoyed. Their favourite candy, drink, movie, book, music or flowers, perhaps?
Alzheimer and dementia questions?
a) How do you decide it is time to move a family member into long-term care? b) What factors do you need to consider when seeking long-term care for victims of dementia? c) How do you prepare the family member for the move? d) How can you help them adjust to their new situation? e) How can you help build a relationship between your family member and the staff of the faculty?
As A nurse have you ever feared infection from a patient in spite of taking all necessary safety precaution?
Yes! Back in the early 1990’s, I took care of several patients with AIDS. I was a new nurse and so assigned patients nobody else wanted. At the time, we did not know much about the AIDS virus, how long it could live outside the body for example. We had no medications for it. It was a death sentence. One of my patients not only had AIDS but several sexually transmitted diseases as a result of prostitution, AND tuberculosis! She was dying. Before going into her room, we had to put on a gown, gloves and mask. I’d been warned this patient was angry and spiteful. You can imagine my fear having to take care of a spiteful patient whose whole body was a weapon of mass destruction. However, I was kind to her and she returned the favor. Another was a Haitian woman who’d contracted AIDS from her unfaithful husband. Blood was pouring out of her anus every time she moved her bowels. Part of my job was to take her bedpan full of blood to the toilet and empty it out. (The CNA avoided the patient and somebody had to do it). I was terrified of tripping on the way to the bathroom and getting the blood all over me which very well could have given me HIV. I did not trip! Yay! Another was a Haitian man dying of AIDS who’d had abdominal surgery and the incision would not stop bleeding. The doctors would not do anything about it. All I could do was change his blood soaked dressings every couple of hours. Final close call- I had to start an IV on an HIV patient. He did not have AIDS yet but was a ticking time bomb. And his veins were not cooperative. I failed on the first attempt and the needle pierced my glove as I was throwing it out. To my horror, I found the needle had pierced my skin, the same needle that had been inside an HIV patient less than a minute ago went inside my finger causing bleeding. I forced my blood out of that tiny needle prick while running to our emergency room. They tested me for HIV, then tested me again in 3 weeks, then 3 months, then 6 months. No HIV ever infected me. I was so lucky. Just so you know why I identified 2 of the patients as Haitian; back then, the 2 population groups with the highest AIDS infection rates were homosexuals and Haitians.
What care should I take as an epileptic patient?
Its very difficult disease to live with. But still, there are many ways out to lead a normal life. These points will be helpful for sure.> Don't take stress : It is the most likely trigger. Whatever situation you are in, no matter how much reaction was expected from you in that situation, just don't feel strained> Keep healthy diet in place : Don't eat food which are very much spicy. A disturbed stomach also creates problem> Don't take alcohol : It reduces the concentration of the medicines you are taking from the blood.> Have some anxiolytic near you : These will help you in case of panic attack or when you feel you are going to collapse.> Take enough sleep : It keeps your head calm and one of the likely trigger if not followed.> Stay away from flickering lights : In case you have seizures when you face flickering lights,then avoid that situation too.> Don't disturb the medicine timetable : Schedule an alarm so that you don't miss the dose.> Don't have empty stomach before taking the dose : Another trigger.> Lay down flat on the floor if you feel you are going to have one.> Visit your neurologist regularly : You might have to take medicines for several years or your whole life, though I hope that shouldn't happen. Your neurologist might change your dosage/medicine after certain intervals.I'll add more if I can.
How do you calm your loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia to persuade him/her to take a bath?
Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia gradually modify the world around the patient who feels more and more estranged from everything that is around. Personal identity is shattered and anxiety and fright are the daily predicament of the sufferers.There is not a universal manner to approach the patient or family member who is resisting what we feel is a mandatory daily activity, from meal to hygiene.It is important for the care giver to understand that this cherished individual has lost most of the ability to perform sensory processing such as smell and touch, feels distressed constantly as the normal environment becomes foreign. A lot of people with Dementia have a tendency to try to escape the reality which is no longer theirs, even their own home.Try to bring peace of mind: a lot of work is done, mainly by organizations and care givers groups to bring out more information about daily living and helping the family member feel less anxious and one common “tool” is familiar music.Observation shows that even after the ability to communicate is gone, the patient can sing an old favourite song, from childhood or youth. Try to find out the kind of music he or she loved, investigate and discover the tune which would make the moment brighter for him or her.While the sense of smell deteriorates along with the disease, you may be able to help the person calm down during an anxiety episode by bringing to her or his nose a spice, flavour, scent, which would tamper the amygdala firing and settle the emotional distress.Remain aware that your reasoning makes little sense for this person, try to adapt your thinking and discourse and tone to what still makes sense to him or her. Whisper rather than raise your tone, be gentle and accept the idea that you may fall. In those hard moments, maybe a bath is less important than a moment of togetherness.
How did you get a loved one to get tested for Alzheimers or dementia?
I needed convincing first of all. My wife’s symptoms “blew away” my inclination to rationalize her behavior. A heretofore highly rated young psychiatrist managing a psychiatric trauma unit was now getting a poor performance review. I scheduled a doctors appointment right then. Looking back, I should’ve acted sooner. Ongoing changes in the brains of dimentia sufferers result in real challenges to safety. Driving is the first thing that comes to mind. It’s not just the safety of your loved one, but also the other drivers on the road.I’ve always had a special place in my heart for women who are having to deal with men who are exhibiting dementia symptoms. In many cases the men are bigger, stronger and heavier. They may resist any attempt to have them submit to an evaluation. Many of these women face ongoing physical risk every day in addition to the psychic stress. This incredible courage isn’t talked about nearly enough. I can only speculate on possible approaches to take that could be successful: non confrontational, subtle initially. Recruit other family member or friend whose approach to get tested may be more favorably received. It’s always a good idea to contact the Alzheimer’s Association. They have a hotline that I really put to good use.
Our dog has been taking Temaril-P for about 6 months and has recently begun to show signs of aggresson?
Never used it myself but the 'P' is for prednisolone which is a corticosteroid and while steroids can be great meds, they can also cause personality issues as well as changes in blood glucose levels, which can cause personality issues. You may want to discuss this with the vet that prescribed it as there could be other medications that you could use that would not cause these affects. I am also under the impression that this is not a med that is to be used longterm and wonder why it would be prescribed that way, particularly given the steroidal component?? add: "Precautions All precautions applicable to cortisone and phenothiazine derivatives apply to TEMARIL-P. Possible side effects include sodium retention, potassium loss, suppressed adrenal cortical function, vomiting, diarrhea, sedation, blood dyscrasias, delayed wound healing and osteoporosis. Cushing’s syndrome in dogs has been reported with prolonged or repeated steroid therapy. Possible immunosuppressive effect may occur in patients receiving corticosteroids. Premonitory signs of cortisone overdosage (e.g., sodium retention, edema) may not occur with prednisolone, so veterinarians must be alert to detect less obvious side effects, including blood dyscrasias, polydipsia and polyuria. If side effects occur, dosage should be reduced and then discontinued unless severity of the condition being treated makes relief paramount. Prolonged treatment with TEMARIL-P must be withdrawn gradually." Sodium retention and Cushings syndrome both have dementia and personality changes that can occur with them... The Cushings that is usually associated with steroidal use, from what I understand, will reverse with withdrawal of the steroid - but as it says, steroids need to be weaned off as abrupt stopping can cause serious adrenal problems. Don't just stop it but talk to the vet about the changes and you might need to go in and get some lab work done to check for abnormalities that need to be reversed. Good luck...
Does depakote cause insomnia?
I TOOK IT ALONG WITH PROZAC. I COULD'NT SLEEP, FELT NERVOUS, GAINED WEIGHT AND COULDN'T STOP SHAKING. I WOULD TELL YOUR DR YOU CAN'T SLEEP AND IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS ANSWERS OR HELP FIND ANOTHER DR.
My doc just put me on risteral and i cant find this med on the internate does anyone know the name brand?
You are talking about Restoril which is the brand name. The Generic is Temazepam. Yes it is a Benzo.
At what stage would you describe an Alzheimer's patient who is not incontinent but needs supervision when using the toilet without which she dirties herself?
I can not add too much more than Susan Macaulay has stated there is too much information that is missing.My instinct is that you are asking about a different issue. This issue is about at what time do you ask for formal help and how to deal with the guilt about putting someone into care. I can not answer this awkward issue. All situations are different but it is unlikely that an improvement in the level of dementia will be realistic and unfortunately, you are the one in need of help because it is obvious that you are not clear about what to do next. Seek help from professionals. Listen to them and try to understand that this is a situation not entirely in your control. I do wish you all the best.