by Ryan Gray

Created on: November 21, 2011

The disease itself is described as “a common form of dementia of unknown cause…characterized by memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, and progressive loss of mental ability.” (Dictionary.com)

Those who are caring for individual’s dealing with the disease need two important things every day – patience and mental toughness.

Alzheimer’s disease has the ability to turn someone you have known your whole life into a complete stranger. The loving face and body are still there to see, but the things your loved one says and does will surprise you.

My first encounter with Alzheimer’s patients came as an employee at a nursing home. There were only three, but just paying attention to them would have kept me as busy as my regular job.

Mealtime was a constant source of discussion /confusion. One resident would see other patients going by her room and start hollering “Take me to the meal!” This was not the problem; it was what happened when she came back.

After being in her room after breakfast or lunch for about 30 minutes, she would start yelling about going to the meal again. If anyone tried to explain to her that it was not mealtime because she had just eaten, she had a comeback ready. “That’s a damn lie! I’m hungry and thirsty.” This argument could go on constantly, or people could ignore the “request” and either mention something else or move on to a different room while she fell asleep.

Surprisingly, naptime led to some confusion/instability at times, too. One of the residents often had trouble deciding if she wanted to sleep in her big recliner or her bed. She would ask to get in the chair with her big, warm blanket and not five minutes later she would be calling someone to the room. “Put me to bed, please. I’m tired and sleepy.”

It was explained to me that there was a lot of evidence showing that if anyone moved the resident to the bed, she would ask to go back to the chair soon after. That made things a little more clear for me about why staff members kept asking the resident if she was sure she wanted to move to the chair.

The confusion even spread to the restroom occasionally. After asking to go to the restroom and getting situated, there were times the residents would start saying they were finished and/or asking for someone to come get them after about a minute.

The emotional instability mentioned in the definition came into play most often with the first resident. After getting charged up in her room and hollering “Take me to the meal – now,” she might see another resident while rolling down the hall, flash a big smile and say softly “Hi, hun, you sure look nice today.” The frowns changed to smiles quickly, and vice versa.

Many times the Alzheimer’s patients could be heard talking, but not to anyone in the room or hall with them. They often seemed to be reliving a moment from another time in their life – talking to people they once knew, but we did not. During those times, it was difficult to tell if they were asking for something or even talking to a staff member.

Please understand that these examples are not meant to poke fun at or embarrass people with Alzheimer’s disease. They are presented to show those preparing to care for an Alzheimer’s patient that they will need all of the mental toughness and patience they can muster. And a bit of love wouldn’t hurt, either.

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