On February 19th, 2013, l attended a
seminar offered by the Alzheimer Society. The presentation was called Dementia
Experience.
And what an experience it was!
The participants had to walk around with grain in
their shoes to experience the discomfort that some elders might have when
walking.
We had to wear sunglasses that had some scratches or
dots on them to help us understand how their vision might be.
They also asked us to put cotton balls in our ears,
so we would not have 100% hearing.
However, that wasn't all! They would ask us to
complete some tasks. They would grab our hands and walk us to the washroom.
They would come around and tell us it was time for our medication. It was all
very humbling.
I walked away learning how difficult it must be for
someone dealing with dementia. I felt like l had no control of my life. I had strangers
walking me to the washroom, giving me my medication, my feet were getting sore
and my vision wasn't clear nor could I hear very well … a very lonely feeling.
If you have a loved one dealing with dementia, the
following are 10 warning signs of dementia.
10 Warning Signs of Dementia
1. Memory loss that affects
day-to-day function
It’s normal to forget things occasionally and
remember them later: things like appointments, colleagues’ names or a friend’s
phone number. A person with Alzheimer’s disease may forget things more often
and not remember them later, especially things that have happened more
recently.
2. Difficulty performing
familiar tasks
Busy people can be so distracted from time to
time that they may leave the carrots on the stove and only remember to serve
them at the end of a meal. A person with Alzheimer's disease may have trouble
with tasks that have been familiar to them all their lives, such as preparing a
meal.
3. Problems with language
Everyone has trouble finding the right word
sometimes, but a person with Alzheimer's disease may forget simple words or
substitute words, making her sentences difficult to understand.
4. Disorientation of time
and place
It's normal to forget the day of the week or
your destination -- for a moment. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can
become lost on their own street, not knowing how they got there or how to get
home.
5. Poor or decreased
judgment
People may sometimes put off going to a
doctor if they have an infection, but eventually seek medical attention. A
person with Alzheimer's disease may have decreased judgment, for example not
recognizing a medical problem that needs attention or wearing heavy clothing on
a hot day.
6. Problems with abstract
thinking
From time to time, people may have difficulty
with tasks that require abstract thinking, such as balancing a cheque book.
Someone with Alzheimer's disease may have significant difficulties with such
tasks, for example not recognizing what the numbers in the cheque book mean.
7. Misplacing things
Anyone can temporarily misplace a wallet or
keys. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in inappropriate places:
an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl.
8. Changes in mood and
behaviour
Everyone becomes sad or moody from time to
time. Someone with Alzheimer's disease can exhibit varied mood swings -- from
calm to tears to anger -- for no apparent reason.
9. Changes in personality
People's personalities can change somewhat
with age. But a person with Alzheimer's disease can become confused, suspicious
or withdrawn. Changes may also include apathy, fearfulness or acting out of
character.
10. Loss of initiative
It's normal to tire of housework, business
activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. A
person with Alzheimer's disease may become very passive, and require cues and
prompting to become involved.
by Lorriane, Mississauga operator with Haircuts on Wheels
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