Spring Arbor Living Blog

Do you know where most of the millions of people who have dementia live? They live at home where family and friends provide the vast majority of their care.

That's why caregiving has been called the fastest growing unpaid profession in the United States.

During the past year more than 67 million Americans provided care to a family member, friend, or loved one, many of whom are suffering from different stages of Alzheimer's disease or some other type of dementia.

If you're a caregiver, you know first-hand what it's like: Getting swept up in tasks -- bathing, shopping, cooking, feeding, making arrangements for medical care, managing behavioral problems, making decisions for the ill person that you have never had to consider before. All the while trying to cope with your own anxieties and fears.

Possibly your are facing a situation where you're likely to become a caregiver. You are most likely wondering how you can make the many difficult decisions that anyone who steps into this demanding role has to confront.

It's an extremely hard job and it usually feels like you're in it alone. But you're not. When a loved one has Alzheimer's or a related dementia it can seem as though few options are available. Spring Arbor offers "Special Care Cottages" programs that are custom designed for residents with these unique challenges.

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An older person who cares for a spouse with dementia is also at an increased risk of developing problems with attention and memory, according to a new review of studies.

This is because the spousal caregiver likely shared lifestyle risk factors with the person with dementia, and undergoes ongoing stress from caring for the person.

Researchers from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine reviewed more than 100 studies that examined the cognitive health of older adults who cared for a family member with dementia, with the majority of the subjects being spouses. They found that these caregivers have more trouble with attention and memory, also known as cognition, than people who don't have to care for a family member with dementia.

The review of the studies showed that those caregivers had a higher risk of cognitive decline or dementia than people who do not have to care for someone with dementia. This could be due to a number of factors, including depression, loneliness, sleep problems, social isolation, exercise, diet and even obesity.

People who are caring for a spouse with dementia may themselves be at risk for cognitive problems which, in turn, will not only negatively influence their quality of life, but may reduce their ability to provide the necessary care for their spouse.

Most care-recipients prefer to be cared for in their homes, and, by remaining in their homes, health care costs are reduced greatly, therefore, often spouses of end up providing care.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

People with dementia are not the only ones who have health problems – a spouse who cares for them are also at risk for attention and memory problems.

Original article on MSN.com

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As Alzheimer's progresses, often there is a noticeable increase in aggressive behavior. Alzheimer's patients often tend to shout and become physical with loved ones. This is more common in men with Alzheimer's than women, but it often occurs suddenly, and for no apparent reason. Because we are often confused about what kind of thoughts our loved one is having, it's easy to become frustrated. Though, however difficult, patience and understanding is necessary to calm them.
 
Aggression can have many causes such as physical discomfort, poor ability to communicate or an uncomfortable environment. When your loved one becomes aggressive, try to see if you can understand the source of their anger, see if you can make them more comfortable and less upset. Maybe they are tired, hungry, or uncomfortable. Does it seem as though they are in pain? There could be environmental factors that are bothering them as well, such as noise or smells.

Keep in mind, that these feelings would make anyone frustrated, but Alzheimer's patients can be overwhelmed easily and often their only way to cope is to lash out. Also, they may become aggressive over their frustration in their inability to communicate their discomfort to you. Remember not to ask too many questions or talk about too many things at once. If you yourself are irritable, remember, they can pick up on that as well, just as you could if you were interacting with someone who was in a bad mood. It is possible that they may be picking up on your own mood.

The best way to respond to the aggression in an Alzheimer’s patient is to remain calm, reassuring, and understanding. Try to identify what is causing the behavior and focus on them, not the facts. It is very important for them and for your own health that you don't take their behavior personally. Perhaps suggest a more relaxing activity and limit their distractions so they can concentrate on remaining calm. Unless it is absolutely necessary, always avoid using force, this may cause them to become more upset. Normally, the anger does not last long. 

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Recent research by Johns Hopkins and Utah State University has found that a person is more likely to develop dementia if his or her spouse has dementia. Here's what the research suggests.
 
One thousand two hundred twenty-one married couples age 65 and older were selected from the Cache County Study on Memory and Aging, a trial that began in 1995. Couples were followed for up to 12.6 years, with a median follow-up time of 3.3 years. Dementia was diagnosed in 255 of the 2,442 participants.

Individuals whose spouses were diagnosed with dementia had a six-fold greater risk of dementia, even after adjusting for other factors, than individuals whose spouses showed no signs of dementia. Husbands had a significantly higher risk of developing dementia than wives.
 
Bottom line: The physical and mental burden of caregiving, the emotional stress associated with watching a loved one struggle with dementia, shared environmental risks like similar diets, or homogamy (similar individuals are more likely to marry) are among the possible reasons. More research is needed to pinpoint the cause and find the best way of keeping one spouse from sharing the fate of their husband or wife.
 
Reported in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Volume 58, page 895)   

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