Ask NAN blog

Teachings and tips for family caregivers navigating the needs of their aging loved one.

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Emotional Well-Being William Allman Emotional Well-Being William Allman

If Your Loved One Wanders

While having your loved one wandering around the house might be challenging to you as a caregiver, it’s not necessarily unsafe. However, some wandering can be dangerous, including going into areas of the house such as stairwells, decks, hot tubs, or swimming pools. Also dangerous is your loved one leaving the house, yard, or property alone. To address the challenges of your loved one wandering, you can try some of these tactics.

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Emotional Well-Being William Allman Emotional Well-Being William Allman

Is My Loved One Depressed?

As Alzheimer's disease changes an individual's ability to remember and think, it can also change the ability to control emotion. Up to 40 percent of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease will also suffer from significant depression. Since your loved one may be unable to articulate their feelings, family caregivers may be called on to help identify symptoms of depression. The Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia can help in this situation.

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Emotional Well-Being NAN admin Emotional Well-Being NAN admin

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.

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