ALZHEIMERS - COMMUNICATION IS EVERYTHING

My blogs are not just a record of my progress in containing dementia and alzheimers, they are also I hope a source of hope and inspiration to other sufferers and their caregivers, because my story does offer hope.
When one first becomes aware that one has dementia, which is almost certainly a symptom of something worse one is not surprisingly devastated, and when you learn that there is no cure for either dementia or alzheimers unless the cause is a thyroid deficiency or vitamin deficiency depression often set in.
This is the moment when your fight against your ailment must begin. For you can slow down and very possibly arrest the progress of the illness. In my experience you will not get back the memory already lost,because the damage to the brain which is causing the loss has already been done, but like me you will be able to continue to live a useful and productive life and enjoy your work and play.
The first thing to do is to lift your spirits for there is hope. The second is to control depression. You may need to consult your doctor about this, but in my case I have learned to 'switch off' depression and negative thoughts.Positive thinking is essential and it is possible.
The way to fight your illness will be found in the three steps outlined in detail already in previous blogs. The first is to exercise the body. In other words become as healthy as you can. Walking is quite sufficient exercise unless you want to something more vigorous. The second step is to exercise the mind by reading, and other brain activities. Creative writing is a great help. Also playing chess, crosswords or puzzles, etc.
The third step is to exercise the spirit. This is basically using prayer and meditation. The key is to not dwell on the bad things that have happened in your life but to be grateful for the good. Every day we all have some blessing or other. Gratitude will bring more reasons for more gratitude.
If you are a caregiver you have taken on a challenging task, but with love and perseverance you will find joy ahead as well as sadness.
Bob de Marco of the Alzheimers Reading Room is a wonderful source of information. He looked after his mother for many years and has passed on his inspired knowledge for us. One of his discoveries is 'Alzheimer's World.' This is the world into which sufferers from alzheimers and even dementia inhabit. Bob realised that to truly care for your patient you have to understand that the real person is still inside and you have to learn to step into their world and share it with them. Then you will understand why patients repeat the same questions over and over again and why they sometimes get angry.
The effect of alzheimers disease is to predominantly reduce short term memory by destroying the brain cells. In addition to memory loss cognitive abilities are also diminished.
This means that the alzheimer sufferer is existing in an inner world without the benefit of these faculties. Is it surprising that alzheimer patients often get angry and can even be aggressive? If you share their world by understanding, the results can be spectacular. Music will also assist you to communicate.
As Bob de Marco says the caregiver has first to understand that memory loss means that you forget what you have recently been told and you may well forget that you have recently eaten. To understand the patient and be able to communicate you must step into 'Alzheimers World.'
Imagine how frustrating it must be to forget so many things-even sometimes your loved ones. You are the same person inside, the same spirit and the same soul.; you just forget.
If you are a dementia sufferer in the early stages, understanding the challenges that others are facing will make it easier for you to deal with your own lesser ones. Understanding is everything and you can arrest or slow down the pace of your own dementia. My own is arrested because of the gift of knowledge. Practice the exercise of body, mind and spirit.
Fight depression and be positive. Perhaps you can also help others. Visualize yourself relaxed, happy and still with all your faculties in ten or twenty years. As it says in the bible; 'Put your trust in the Lord and be still.'

My own dementia is at the same level and there is no more memory deterioration. In fact I am tempted to think that there has been some improvement. The book goes well and I aim to publish in October.
My health is excellent and I am still walking for an hour a day, but the water is now too cold for swimming. Boysie, the Jack Russell still looks at me hopefully as he lets his ball roll into the pool and sympathetic to his need for fun as I am, I am definitely  not tempted!
Autumn is now here and as always beautiful. The weather will now get steadily cooler, but there still be lots of sun. It will also start raining soon and the farmers will be pleased.
Keep taking the tablets.
David Barnato.
Paarl. South Africa