Is your loved one with Alzheimer's disease refusing care?

If your beloved mother, father, or elderly person has Alzheimer's disease, you may have to deal with some very difficult things at times. Imagine, when you are trying to bathe them, change their clothes, or give them their medicine on time, they suddenly say, "No!" and refuse to cooperate with anything you say. It is normal to feel sad, angry, and frustrated at times like this. But the most important thing we need to understand first is that they are not doing these things to bother you or make you uncomfortable. That behavior is part of the disease itself.

Why do they behave this way? Let's understand the reason.

When someone's brain is damaged by Alzheimer's disease, the way they see and understand the world completely changes. There are many reasons why they might refuse care. Let's think about that for a moment.

It is very important to think about what happened before starting this problem.

• Shame and helplessness: Imagine how embarrassed and sad they must feel when they need someone else's help to do things they used to do on their own, like taking a shower or getting dressed. The feeling of losing control of their lives causes them great psychological stress.
• Confusion and misunderstanding: They may not understand what you are saying or what you are trying to do. For example, when you try to take them to the bathroom to bathe, they may think you are trying to drown them.
• Your emotions: When you're angry or frustrated, they can sense it in your face and voice. This can make them even more scared and anxious.
• Physical discomfort: Maybe they are hungry, thirsty, or feel uncomfortable, like they are hot or cold. Maybe they need to go to the bathroom. Since they can't express these things properly, they show that discomfort by denying it.
• Other medical conditions: Sometimes, someone with Alzheimer's disease may be refusing help because they have another medical condition. It could be something like a fever, body aches, or a urinary tract infection. If they seem weaker than usual, have a poor appetite, or are constantly sleepy, be sure to talk to your doctor.
• Delusions: Sometimes they believe things are happening that aren't really happening. For example, they may refuse to eat the food you give them because they think it's poisoned.

What do we do in a situation like this?

Once you have an idea of ​​what the cause is, try to work around it. If one method doesn't work, try another. Patience is the key here.

Let's see what we can do in the table below.

What do you do when you see or hear things that aren't true?

This is a very difficult situation. He says, "There are burglars in the house." You know there are none. Don't go arguing with him at a time like this. Don't say things like, "Don't be crazy."

• Speak calmly and comfort him. If possible, hold him gently and say, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
• Try to find the reason. Why does he think that? Maybe he hears a car outside and thinks it's the police. Maybe he sees a pattern on the kitchen window screen and thinks it's a face. If you can remove that reason, for example by changing the window screen, do it.
• Some people find it better to tell the truth. You can calmly say, "I know you see it that way, but I don't see it that way."
• For others, it's better to react to what they see. For example, if they say there are snakes, pretend you're going to kill them.
• Distract them. Put on a song they like, look at an old photo album, or talk about drawing a picture.

What do you do if they get rowdy?

Sometimes, when someone with Alzheimer's refuses help, they may start hitting, pushing, cursing, and yelling. This can be a very frightening experience for you.

• Put safety first: If you can't calm him down, stop what you're doing and get away safely.
• Remove dangerous items: Remove and lock away anything in the house that could harm them or you, such as knives, scissors, glass bottles, and heavy objects.
• Have someone ready to help: Tell a trusted neighbor or relative about the situation so that you can call them if you need emergency help.
• Tell your doctor: If your loved one is constantly acting aggressively or is likely to act aggressively, be sure to tell your doctor. Medication may be needed to control the behavior.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's is not an easy journey. It requires a lot of patience, love, and understanding. Don't hesitate to ask for help when you feel tired or overwhelmed. Your mental health is also very important.

Alzheimer's disease, elder care, memory loss, dementia, nursing, mental health, behavior management