Disorientation And Alzheimer’s Disease In The Home

Regular well-established routines and stable familiar
surroundings can help in the care of an Alzheimer’s sufferer and
keep the symptoms of disorientation to a minimum
Care givers and professionals believe that Alzheimer sufferers
are much happier in their own environment for as long as it is
possible to keep them there
Once they are moved to a strange environment their acute
confusion becomes much worse and more apparent to often
distressed relatives and friends
It is vital that absolutely nothing is moved or changed around
the home as moving a single piece of furniture can disorientate
them and make their confusion worse
However, if their routine continues undisturbed, they will be
able to function normally and remain continent, eat, go to bed
and care for themselves within the comfort of a familiar
pattern
This is why admitting someone with Alzheimer’s disease to
hospital should only be done as a last resort as it will deprive
them of the last precarious hold on reality and independence
The busy bustling environment of a hospital can become
frightening and confusing and make a patient appear as if they
their condition has suddenly deteriorated
This can lead carers and friends to blame the hospital for the
fact that their relative or friend appears so different, but
it’s usually because the patient has been able to mask their
fading memory and skills in the comfort of familiar
surroundings
When torn out of their comfort zone their problems become
frighteningly apparent
They not only become tearful and depressed but can also become
incontinent and refuse to eat
This is why home visits for people suffering from Alzheimer’s
are so important to ensure that have resettled safely into their
home routines and environment after a necessary stay in
hospital

Tags | acute, alzheimer, carers, comfort, confusion, disorientation, familiar, givers, memory, piece, relatives, resort, result, sufferer, surroundings