Uncertain Times
Dear Caregivers,
We are certainly living in uncertain times. With a new U.S. government administration coming in, fluctuations in the financial markets, ongoing wars going on around the globe, and see-sawing cultural shifts, it’s sometimes hard to get your bearings in this tumultuous world.
Uncertainty can be even more nerve-wracking for a caregiver of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, and so it is continually changing how your loved one’s brain behaves, sometimes in unexpected ways. Activities that were once everyday occurrences for your loved one may suddenly disappear; new and strange behaviors may arise.
All the uncertainty can lead to increased levels of stress. However, scientists have identified that there are in fact two kinds of stress, one helpful and one harmful. The harmful stress is the one we typically associate with the term: Where we feel overwhelmed, lost, and at our wits end. The other kind of stress is actually beneficial, and it comes when we have been preparing for something that may be difficult, such as giving a big presentation or speech, for example. In these cases, stress may make you feel a little nervous, to be sure, but it also preps your body and mind for peak performance.
It is this second, good, kind of stress that we want to focus our efforts on developing, and that comes with knowledge and planning. The more you understand how Alzheimer’s affects the mind, and the more you prepare for the changes to come, the more confident, calm, and energized to meet the coming challenges you will be.
Here’s some more guidance on how on coping with uncertain times:
Understanding the Emotional Changes of Alzheimer’s Disease:
To fully understand how Alzheimer's disease impacts an individual's emotions, we need to understand what parts of the brain Alzheimer's affects and what parts it does not. That imbalance leads to common emotional symptoms, including depression and apathy, anxiety, fear, and agitation. The ability to feel fear and anxiety, along with an inability to control the emotional response, creates a potential for exaggerated emotional responses or unexpected upset. Here's an overview.
Understanding Stages and Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia:
Alzheimer's disease develops slowly over many years, and initially causes changes in a person's memory, thinking, and use of words or behavior. Later in the illness there are changes in physical ability. While every person has a unique path through the illness, and each person progresses at a different speed, there are some common symptoms. The collection of symptoms has been grouped into stages to describe the degree of disease progression. Here's what you need to know.
Creating Your Caregiver’s Plan B:
No family caregiver wants to think they wouldn't be able to help their loved one. But the chance that something could happen to you that would make it impossible for you to provide the care support you do now makes it critical you identify an individual who is the best “Plan B” caregiver, who would be able to quickly take over as advocate and guardian for your loved one in the event that is needed. Here's a guide.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Human spirit is the ability to face the uncertainty of the future with curiosity and optimism.”
— Bernard Beckett
