I HOPE THESE HELP

I was talking with Mar the other day and we were discussing some things that folks with Alzheimers were going through. Since my Mother went through the latter stages of Dementia, I had a pretty good idea of some of the characteristics that made these folks more comfortable, and thought I would share some of them with you, in the hopes that it might help you. If you can keep a picture in your mind of a person going through this stage as the same as a baby coming out of the womb, you might have a good picture. Remember the little baby who has been so tightly snug in that space for nine months and when they come out, their arms flailing, and they become startled? That's kinda the way a person is when they have Dementia or the beginning stages of Alzheimers. They feel insecure, and not safe. They want their surroundings to remain familiar. I told Mar, that when Mama went through these stages in Dementia, anything we could do to help her stay in those familiar areas helped her keep herself calm. I know it doesn't sound like much, but for those of you who might be care givers or friends of care givers, these are really helpful hints. They may not want to move from their homes into an easier facility....not because they don't want to, but because it involves a change, and change scares them. Take it from me too. I don't do change well. Even a person with a brain injury can relate to someone in this condition, because we fully understand the incapable ability of being able to fathom how we will do it! It's inconceivable how you will dispose of all your past belongings and move into a smaller abode. They just can't see how they will do it, and then their children become frustrated with them, because it's so easy for them to do these simple things.......
Sounding familiar?
This is when they will withdraw into that womb position where they feel safe and secure! Just love them, inspite of everything and assure them of their safety! Sometimes you will find that they find relief in reading the Bible.......That's because it still familiar to them, and holds true as it did long before this disease ever overtook them! God told us in the very beginning that His word was sharper than a two edged sword, and it can even cut through the effects of these diseases and penetrate the marrow of the mind and enter their inner most thoughts when nothing else will! What a comforting thought to know that when we can't reach them......God can!
When Mama was ready to move into assisted living, Tara and I took her to get her hair washed and fixed. Then we took her out to eat. We killed so much time,that by the time we took her to her new "home" in the assisted living complex, my brothers had completely moved every single thing she was going to take with her, and had set it up! All she had to do, was walk in and sit down!
Even the beds were made! This made everything so much easier for her, but it did take alot of pre-planning on all their parts, but the confusion for Mama was at a minimum, and that's what counted!
Isn't God good?
I hope some of these things have helped some.~~~~
Becky