Three Issues You May Not Realize Someone With Alzheimer's Disease May Be Facing On A Daily Basis

If you are living with someone who has Alzheimer's disease, it may sometimes create a very stressful situation for both you and your loved one with the disease. It can sometimes be difficult for someone without the disease to understand how the person who is living with it is really feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically. The following guide will give you a peek into a few issues that someone with Alzheimer's disease has to deal with on a daily basis that you may not even realize they are experiencing.

Excessive Thirst

People with Alzheimer's disease often suffer from dry mouth and are excessively thirsty. The signals in their bodies do not tell them that they need to drink fluids, which can leave them parched. If you want to help your loved one be as comfortable as possible throughout the day, remember that they may be thirsty and try to offer them something to drink often. Once you offer them a drink it may spark them to realize that they are facing that issue at the time. 

Painful Constipation

When the body does not get the fluids that it needs, it often becomes constipated. Constipation can be quite painful and can cause someone to have abdominal cramping and extreme irritability. Since there is a good chance that your loved one is not getting the proper amount of fluids they need to stay regular, they may be constipated and not even know it. Ensure that when your loved one does drink fluids that there is a fiber supplement in the fluids to help keep him or her regular.

Extreme Depression

Alzheimer's causes someone to forget many things and not realize where they are or what they are doing frequently. This can lead to frustration, hopelessness, and depression. Try to remember that your loved one is not trying to irritate you by asking the same things a hundred times. He or she genuinely cannot remember that they asked you the question five minutes earlier. To help your loved one, you may want to create a chart for him or her that shows where important items, like a hairbrush or TV remote, are located. Have the chart let them know where their items are located in the house so that they can find some things on their own and feel a bit more independent.

Attempting to understand what it must be like to live with such a tough disease can help you become more compassionate to your loved one. You want them to be as happy and comfortable as they can be and knowing what issues they face can help you provide them with the life they deserve. If you find that you need more assistance or help caring for your senior, contact professionals like those at ComForcare Home Care - South Orange County.