Many of you may be having to deal with a loved one who is starting to exhibit dementia/Alzheimers. There is a side effect of this disease that may catch you unaware, especially in the early stages. Unusual anger and rage is a sign of decreased brain function. Your loved one will exhibit an inability to let go of the perceived source of their rage, which can be accompanied by paranoia. If your relative had a volatile personality already, you may miss the change occurring. You are thinking that you are talking to someone who is rational, but in fact, they are not. The rage is usually focused at the caregiver, but not always. If your family had interpersonal problems when you were growing up, everything gets magnified. This disease can destroy families caught up in taking sides, instead of uniting to face the caregiving problems. Nobody wants to talk about this part of the disease. Commercials on TV show warm, loving moments with docile relatives or conversations with celebrities who have shuffled their parent off to expensive assisted living facilities.
I am writing to say that you have to hang on to love for each other and loving memories (and that means everyone in the family). You must let go of habits/prejudices formed when you were children/teens--this disease needs mature adult caregivers in order for all of you to survive.
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Posted by: Moncler Billig | November 07, 2011 at 09:59 PM