|
|
|
Departments |
 |
|
|
|
I have a friend whose
mother is suffering with dementia and refuses to receive
help for it because she is in denial. She lives in
Evansville, IN with her husband and the son/daughter live in
GA. Are there any support groups or drs that you may be
aware of in that area that can possibly help them? Please
Help. Thank you.
It's a fact of the disease(s)
that many people with dementia are in denial because they
have lost the insight and the memory to analyze and
comprehend. Those who do sense that something is wrong are
often frightened to have their concerns confirmed. So, it's
often up to the family to seek out information and medical
help.
I would start with the family physician if there's a good
relationship there. If it hasn't already been done, the
doctor can recommend a specialist to determine what's
causing the dementia. You can't treat without knowing
what you're treating. If the family doctor doesn't have a
recommendation, or is reluctant to refer to a specialist, I
would call the closest university hospital and ask for a
referral to a neurologist who specializes in dementia.
In any state, the
Alzheimer's Association is a great place
to start for education and support groups. They
offer help for all dementia, not just Alzheimer's.
One of the hardest things to learn, and one of the most
important, is that with the dementias it's usually up to the
family to adjust their expectations. We learn to use
believable explanations and to "go where the dementia
sufferer is." We learn to ask the patient to ride along with
us to "our" doctor appointment. We learn to identify
medications as "for your blood," - or whatever works. And we
learn to avoid arguing with "false" beliefs unless they are
leading to obvious and immediate danger. They may be false
to us, but not for the person who has the beliefs.
If they haven't yet, it's probably time for the Georgia
family to pay a visit and have a planning-ahead talk with
Dad. He will be the primary caregiver and decision-maker as
long as he is able. The realities to prepare for are the
progressive nature of all dementia, and the reluctance of
most
caregivers to accept help.
|
|
