Posted by Kathy on January 28, 2000 at 18:48:06:

In Reply to: Re: Want More Info. posted by Carol on January 03, 2000 at 00:08:32:

: Hi Carol, There is much exciting developments for carers of people with dementia. Your search is not in vain and there is plenty of hope! May I suggest that you gather lots of information on this cruel disease. Find out about the four behavioural stages of dementia. Stage 1 - Malorientation, Stage 2 Time Confusion Stage 3 Repetitive Motion and Stage 4 Vegetation. Find out about the communication processes and how this impacts on us as Carers and how we need to go with them in time and space. There are some excellent practical books by Dr. Tom Kitwood, Dr. Bere Meisen and Dr. Gemma M.M. Jones, all giving very practical and useful information. It is not all doom and gloom. People with dementia can learn, it just takes them alot longer. Remember that three main areas are affected with dementia, memory, attention and logical thinking. We need to converse with their long term memory not too much point in discussing current events unless the person with dementia is in stage 1. It will greatly help you to find out which behavourial stage of dementia your mother is in, as this will have a relative bearing on how you will need to communicate with her. Remember that long term memory stays the best the longest and although factual content can be inaccurrate their feelings stay good, so try and identify their feeling and relate to that. Hope this helps, I have stacks of brilliant information that really transformed my life and the lives of many other Carers and their loved ones. So never give up hope or your search for information. Looking forward to chatting with you again soon.
Kathy

: : As I look for new messages daily, I am surprized that there are not more to view on this, and another site i have visited, Alzheimers has taken over a big part of my life since my mother has come to live with me, and our local support group, as well as the postings on the net really help me to feel I am not alone in this. It may be the misery loves company theory, but also the hope that somthing that worked for someone else to ease the burden on myself, or somthing has just been discovered to help those afflicted with this disease, that I just have to keep searching.
: : Does any one know of an additional web site that has more postings, or info than this one? I will keep visiting them all since my life has changed so drasitcaly to care for my mom.

: Pam, I can sympathize with you. I am trying to take care of my 84 year old mother. You would think there would be more info out there for people like us. Is your mother incontinent yet? If so, how do you handle it? Mine is, and that has caused a tremendous problem. I spend a fortune weekly for her disposable diapers and I have been trying to find out where I can purchase the washable kind. This might sound trivial to some people but it has been a BIG (and expensive) problem for us. What are some of your mother's symptoms? When was she diagnosed with Alzheimers? My mother has been diagnosed with dementia but I sometimes wonder if the diagnosis was the correct one.I know this does not answer your question but like you, I just need someone to talk to.