Persevering with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's may take a lot, but it doesn't take your loved one's strength. How do they overcome certain challenges of the disease?

They don’t overcome the challenges, you just need to have the time and the love and the patience to help them. You also need to think what it would be like if you had Alzheimer's -- how would you want to be treated? 

How do you help your loved one while they're struggling with the effects of the disease?

Stay calm. love them, show compassion, maintain dignity. Communication is the key so take the time to listen to what they are saying and try to understand them without always correcting them when they talk. Everything they're telling you is very real to them and so if it something we don’t know about, it may well have happened before we were born or before they even met us! 

What have you learned by just watching your loved one?

I learned how tormented and confused my dad got being in a home and always thought that most of the torment and confusion would have been easier for us all if he had been able to be in his natural home environment.