Sometimes the decisions, especially in the beginning can be made with input from the person who has Alzheimer’s

pbf November 4th, 2008

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There are many decisions that need to be made during the course of the disease, many have to be made immediately upon the diagnosis and others need to be made as the individual progresses through the stages of the disease. Decisions should be made with personal values, medical advice, and personal needs of the one with Alzheimer’s in mind.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Some choices will be determined based on available alternatives or options that are possible given the residential community. Decisions can often be made as a team (patient, doctor, care facility staff) and other decisions are of a personal nature. Sometimes the decisions, especially in the beginning can be made with input from the person who has Alzheimer’s but because of the cognitive decline that is the hallmark of the disease, it will soon become impossible for the patient to have much input. This is where having a living will may come in handy if the will is made prior to the individual being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Community resources may be available that can aid you in making many of the choices involved in caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. These community resources include the doctor’s staff, support groups, counseling programs, and volunteer Alzheimer’s groups or organizations. Many communities offer structured day programs to assist with the care of Alzheimer’s patients and are staffed by professionals. Other choices are in-home support help, short-term respite care, and professional’s set-up to help with financial and legal issues facing someone with Alzheimer’s.

Decisions need to be made about personal and daily care needs, when the individual with Alzheimer’s should stop driving or cooking on their own and even when it is safer for them to stop living on their own. It is better to discuss these issues before crisis situations arise to force the decisions.

Guidelines for making these essential and important decisions include: Focus on understanding all the needs and preferences of the one with Alzheimer’s, discussions can be sensitive especially at first - resistance is normal so be patient, allow for personal input from the patient for as long as possible, don’t be afraid to come back when the individual is having a better day for communicating, recognize that the individual with Alzheimer’s has rights and respect them as much as possible while at the same time keeping an eye out for safety and for what is best for good health.

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