Home alone with dementia
by Gary Joseph LeBlanc
(Tampa)
I was the primary caregiver for my father for more than eight years after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
When my father was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I read everything I could get my hands on about the disease.
Right off the bat I could tell if it was written by a physician, pharmaceutical company or even a nursing home. When caregivers are looking for help, the last thing they need is medical text so complex they already forgot what they read by the time it’s laid back down. This is what got me started on writing about common sense care giving. Here is an article I wrote for the Hernando Today, in Tampa.
Home alone with dementia
There are an overwhelming number of people living alone while suffering from some form of dementia. The truth is we will never get an accurate head count since so many senior citizens live under the radar, alone, trying to fend for themselves.
Sadly, even some of their own family members ignore the situation until they become seriously ill or injured.
The act of being a Good Samaritan has almost faded away these days. With times being as tough as they are and unemployment at an unbelievable high, most families are struggling to upkeep their own household from collapsing.
Many of today's generation have never acquired the concern for their senior neighbors, and atrociously, there are some families that just don't seem to care about what happens to their loved ones.
Regretfully, it often takes a tragic occurrence to force someone to take notice.
Sometimes hospitalization becomes a blessing for these lonely people because that's when most companion less dementia patients will at long last receive a diagnosis.
Dehydration or accidental over-medication is the most common cause for a trip to the emergency room, which later may involve a home health agency providing some overdue supervision of the patient. This could possibly lead to a court decision pertaining to his or her future.
The progression of Alzheimer's or other dementia related diseases can advance rapidly.
This leaves patients who are living alone running out of time faster than they had anticipated.
It is essential that we pay close attention to our senior citizens, whether in our neighborhood, church or even in the grocery store. Look for signs of weight loss, a dwindling social life, stacks of unopened mail or anything you might think that is out of their norm.
That "senior moment mentality" needs to become a chapter of our past and question and concerns should be the future.
It's better to be apprehensive and stick your nose in than to ignore the situation all together until something critical finally happens.
Contact their families, if they have any.
Ask the senior you're troubled about questions like, "When was the last time you've been to the doctor? Have you talked to your family lately?
Where do your children live?
Do you need a ride to the grocery store?"
Casually try to find out any contact numbers without offending them.
Don't be afraid of getting involved. You could possibly be saving their lives.
Being a Good Samaritan is admirable. Helping someone in trouble or distress is something to be proud of.
Gary,
Thank you so much for sharing this article with us. I am looking forward to other articles and your book as well.
I have the early signs of dementia
posted on my site so that family members may identify the signs to encourage early testing.
Thank you, again, Gary, for sharing your experiences with us.
Diane
