Dementia: anyone on here have experiences with it?

Hi all, I was curious if anyone on here has a family member or someone you know who suffers from any form of dementia?

I'm curious because I work with these people everyday since I'm learning to become a caretaker specialising myself in working with elderly people who have dementia. How do you deal with it? and how does your family goes along with the progress of this psyche disease?

In my work i see a lot of different aspects of it, some people find it very difficult to come to terms with it or find it hard to accept (family). But not only the family members but sometimes even the person who suffers from dementia himself since you have several states of dementia. I find it facinating that the mind can evolve so radically...

I have taken care of many patients with dementia. A horrible thing to lose your mind.....they often become frustrated and sometimes aware that they are confused. At other times they will argue that they aren't confused at all. It is better not to argue with them or talk down to them. Humor sometimes works to calm their tempers and reduce frustration. It is a very difficult thing to deal with for the families and the caregivers as well.

^I find it facinating that the mind can evolve so radically...^

It is more of a deterioration than an evolving.....

My editor Dorothy Womack published "Alzheimer's Angels": A Compilation of Poetry Honoring Caregivers and Victims of Alzheimer's Disease

Yep! whenever i go on the boards on here!!

Yes your right Rachel, how long have you worked with patients who have dementia? Did it affect your personal life in a way? Mentally I sometimes find it very hard to deal with, though i love my work. You must have a lot of patience working with these people and explaining things all over again maybe thousend times a day lol. After a day of work i'm so exhausted but i know in the end it's all worth it. Lot's of people are so alone in their own little world, some of them don't even see family anymore.. Seeing that makes me feel so sad sometimes.. being there for them I hope makes them feel (even if it's like for a second) like they are still a somebody.

Alzheimer's Angels sounds interesting :).. gotta look up that one.

^^I thought it self explanatory, Illuminati if I was to be honest and elaborate it would be considered bashing, as it is Bob is waiting in the wings to delete my account for any self considered indiscretion and what's the point nothing would change!

I have worked in the health care field for almost 8 years now....at times it is very frustrating and at others, very rewarding. It is extremely sad when one of my patients has dementia in addition to their other ailments. More disturbing is when you find they have been living at home alone! For their own safety and the safety of others, they should be in a controlled environment with decreased environmental stimuli. They often feel overwhelmed. A smile, some humor, patience and kind words often relaxes and comforts them. Sometimes it helps to have them do activities that are familiar that they haven't forgotten. You can find some helpful info on this website, along with a caregiver's stress test:

http://www.alz.org/index.asp

Thanks for the link Rachel, very good informative website.