10 Symptoms & Strategies A GUIDE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Transcription

1 10 Symptoms & Strategies A GUIDE FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

2 Introduction The Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia is pleased to share with you a video of three remarkable women with early stage dementia. In this video series Anne, Faye and Sandra speak candidly about the symptoms they experience and the strategies they use to live well with dementia. Accompanying the video is a guide available for family and friends, people with dementia and health care professionals. These guides are designed to encourage reflection and stimulate conversation, with the overall intention of providing education, sharing strategies, and reducing stigma. We hope these first voice videos will enhance supportive interactions in our communities. Faye Anne Sandra If you have any questions about the content of this document, the 10 symptoms and strategies, Alzheimer s disease and other dementias or the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia please contact: Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia alzheimer@asns.ca -2-

3 alzheimer-final-english-printready.pdf 1 11/25/2014 8:41:20 PM Memory Loss that Affects Day to Day Abilities 1 KNOW THE things 10often WARNING OF AL Forgetting or struggling to retainsigns new information. Anne has difficulty remembering the many instructions following her doctor s appointments. She takes a notebook with her when she visits her family doctor. The doctor writes specific instructions for Anne to follow between appointments. This helps Anne remember. Is there anything specific that you do to help cue your family member to remember information? alzheimer-final-english-printready.pdf 1 11/25/2014 8:41:20 PM MEMORY LOSS THAT AFFECTS DAY-TO-DAY ABILITIES FAMILIAR TASKS Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks Forgetting how to do something you ve 2 Forgetting things often or struggling to retain new information. Forgetting how words that don t fit the context. DISORI AND SP KNOW THE 10 WARNING your whole life, such as been tobeen dodoing something you ve preparing a meal or getting dressed doing your whole life, such as preparing a meal or getting dressed. Not kno is or getti Sandra said preparing meals became more difficult because of the many distractions. Sandra was able to continue preparing her meals with the help of a Home Support Worker who came in twice a week to help her prepare meals and freeze them for the week. What are some of the strategies you have adopted to support your family member to maintain their independence with day to day activities? PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING C M Having difficulty balancing a chequebook, for example, Yor not MEMORYTHINGS LOSS THAT AFFECTS CHANGES MISPLACING IN MOOD FAMILIAR TASKSAND DAY-TO-DAY ABILITIES Putting things in strange places, like -3- PR CHANG Fo wo Forgetting how to do something you vebehavin Forgetting things often or struggling a dress in the refrigerator or a becomin Exhibiting mood swings beensevere doing your whole life, from such as to retain new information. wristwatch in the sugar bowl. fearful.

4 Problems with Language Forgetting or substituting words that don t fit the context. 3 NG SIGNS OFwords ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Sandra said it is difficult to follow a conversation if her friend goes off topic and sometimes has difficulty with word order. It is hard switching from one topic to another and at times Sandra feels lost. She uses humour to relax and communicate effectively. If your family member appears to have difficulty finding a word, how do you support them in that moment? 5/2014 8:41:20 PM words that don t fit the context. DISORIENTATION IN TIME AND SPACE IMPAIRED JUDGMENT is or getting lost in a familiar place. light clothing on a cold day. recognizing a medical problem Disorientation with TimeNot and Space that needs attention or wearing Not knowing what day of the week it 4 WARNING Not knowing what day of SIGNS the week it is orof gettingalzheimer's lost in a familiar place. HE 10 Sandra mentioned she loves to walk and was getting lost in her own neighbourhood. She now uses either the GPS on her phone, or she calls her daughter who then uses the Locate Me app on her phone to help direct Sandra to where she needs to go. Has your family member got lost in a familiar place like the mall or grocery store? If so, is there a strategy that you use to assist them to continue to be independent and safe in their community? DISORIENTATION IN TIME CHANGES IN MOOD AND CHANGES IN PERSONALITY LOSS OF INITIATIVE FAMILIAR TASKS AND SPACE Behaving out of character, such as Losing interest in friends, family words that don t fit the context. Forgetting how to do something you ve Not knowing what day of the week it gling CTS Exhibiting swings beensevere doing mood your whole life,from such as -4- becoming confused, suspicious, or fearful. and favourite activities. is or getting lost in a familiar place. IM No th lig

5 alzheimer-final-english-printready.pdf 1 11/25/2014 8:41:20 Impaired Judgment KNOW 1 Not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing THE light R'S 5DISEASE clothing on a cold day. Faye shared her example of impaired judgment while shopping. If she saw a sale item, she automatically purchased the item, even if she already had four toasters at home! Her daughter suggested waiting 24 hours to think about it, before purchasing. This pause helps Faye make better judgments when making purchases. Have you noticed changes in your family member s judgment or ability to solve problems? What do you do to support your family member when they make inappropriate decisions or exhibit impaired judgment? IMPAIRED JUDGMENT C Problems with Abstract Thinking Forgetting things often or struggling Not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing onhaving a cold day.difficulty 6 MEMORY LOSS THAT AFFECTS DAY-TO-DAY ABILITIES M to retain new information. balancing a cheque book, for example not understanding what numbers are and how they are used. Y CM Anne explained how receiving a phone call from a friend to do something unplanned or spur of the moment often threw her off of her routine. It seemed too complicated. If however her friend was specific about the activity, ( Would you like to go to Tim s? ), Anne would be better prepared to say yes; the choice was simple and the place familiar. MY CY CMY K Have you noticed your family member having difficulty with things more abstract like speaking on the telephone or perhaps understanding how to give the correct amount of money when purchasing items? How do you support your family member when abstract thinking poses challenges to everyday living? LOSS OF INITIATIVE Losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities. -5- PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING Having difficulty balancing a chequebook, for example, or not understanding what numbers are

6 alzheimer-final-english-printready.pdf 1 11/25/2014 8:41:20 PM FAMILIAR TASKS words that don t fit the context. DISORIENTATION IN TIME AND SPACE Not knowing what day of the week it Misplacing Things is or getting lost in a familiar place. IMPAIR Not reco that nee light clot KNOW THEorin10 WARNING strange places, like a dress in thesigns refrigerator OF A 7 a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. Forgetting how to do something you ve been doing your whole life, such as preparing a meal or getting dressed things Putting To avoid losing things Anne has a bookcase in her front hall where she places everything including her purse, planner and notebook. She follows the same routine by always keeping important things here. This helps her to keep things organized. What are some of the strategies you use when your family member misplaces an item? MEMORY LOSS THAT AFFECTS MISPLACING THINGS CHANGES IN MOOD AND FAMILIAR TASKS DAY-TO-DAY ABILITIES Putting things in strange places, like D CHANGES IN PERSONALITY LOSS O A Changes in Mood and Behaviour out that of character, suchcontext. as words don t fit the Forgetting how to do something you vebehaving things often a dressforgetting in the refrigerator or aor strugglingexhibiting becoming confused, suspicious, or severe mood swings from been doing your whole life, such as to retain new information. wristwatch in the sugar bowl. being easy-going quick-tempered. preparing ato meal or getting dressed fearful. 8 Exhibiting severe mood swings from being easy-going to quick tempered. Losing in N and favo is tion, contact your local Alzheimer Society or visit Anxiety is Faye s new little emoji that follows her around everywhere she of Canada.goes. All rights She reserved. had never been an anxious person and now she second guesses herself. She suggests taking a moment to step away from challenging situations and find calm in music, art, nature or your own spiritual place. Have you noticed changes in your family member s mood or behaviour? What strategies do you use that help? PROBLEMS WITH ABSTRACT THINKING Having difficulty balancing a chequebook, for example, or not understanding what numbers are MISPLACING THINGS -6- Putting things in strange places, like a dress in the refrigerator or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. CHANGES IN MOOD AND Exhibiting severe mood swings from being easy-going to quick-tempered. C B b fe

7 DISORIENTATION IN TIME AND SPACE IMPAIRED JUDGMENT Changes in Personality Not recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing light clothing on a cold day. Behaving out of character such as becoming NING9 SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE confused, suspicious or fearful. Not knowing what day of the week it is or getting lost in a familiar place. Faye describes the change in her personality as a shock of electricity that hits her and she loses patience. This can happen sometimes when she experiences confusion if she is in a crowded room. She goes for a walk or into a new surrounding to have a break from the conversation to find her Faye space. Are you aware of triggers that may contribute to a change in your family member s personality? What are some of the triggers and what do you do to avoid them? PROBLEMS WITH LANGUAGE LOSS OF DISORIENTATION IN TIME CHANGES IN PERSONALITY INITIATIVE AND SPACE Forgetting words or substituting Behaving out of character, such as Losing interest in friends, family IMPAIRED JUDGMENT Loss of Initiative Loss of Initiative - losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities. Not recognizing a medical problem words that don t fit the context. that needs attention or wearing you vebecoming Not knowing what day of the week it confused, suspicious, or and favourite activities. light clothing on a cold day. as fearful. is or getting lost in a familiar place. Losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities. ed 10 or visit Faye said her get up and go, got up and left. She was comfortable staying, like at home and doing nothing. She made a choice to make a concerted effort to stay engaged and move ahead with life. She would reward herself with special foods when she pushed through and demonstrated initiative. Have you noticed a change in your family member s desire to do things they once enjoyed? How can you ensure your family member continues to participate in meaningful activities that add to their sense of purpose and quality of life? CHANGES IN MOOD AND Exhibiting severe mood swings from CHANGES IN PERSONALITY -7- Behaving out of character, such as becoming confused, suspicious, or LOSS OF INITIATIVE Losing interest in friends, family and favourite activities.

8 Where can I find these videos? You can view all 10 videos on our website! 1. Open the internet browser on your device (computer, tablet, smart phone, etc.). 2. Type into your internet search bar. 3. Click on the video you want to watch, 4. Explore the rest of the website for helpful information