August 12, 2021 by Carefect Admin

Medical Conditions and Injuries That Could Be Mistaken for Alzheimer’s Disease

Due to the complexity of the cognitive effects of Alzheimer’s disease, it is a condition that can be challenging to document and assess accurately. Since many medical conditions mimic Alzheimer’s disease, it can present an issue for families and caregivers who are trying to document and gather evidence for their primary family physician. The mimicry of these conditions is due to their relationship with the brain, and the complexity of brain-related injuries and conditions. The following are examples of medical conditions and injuries that can seem like Alzheimer’s disease. Delirium...

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June 24, 2021 by Carefect Admin

Anosognosia and Alzheimer’s Disease: Coping Strategies

The relationship between anosognosia and Alzheimer’s disease has been well documented. It is a medical condition that inhibits their ability to develop the insight necessary to understand and acknowledge their specific condition. It is most common in people who have Alzheimer's disease however it is also common in those with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Anosognosia Diagnosis From the perspective of friends and family, it will be difficult to differentiate between denial and anosognosia. This is due to the varied experience of people with dementia or mental illnesses. Anosognosia, in particular,...

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June 17, 2021 by Carefect Admin

Anosognosia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Anosognosia, pronounced ‘uh-no-sog-NOH-zee-uh’, is a condition that sometimes affects people with Alzheimer’s disease which impairs their ability to understand that they are being affected by an illness. In etymology, anosognosia means “to not know a disease” in Greek: a- (without) + nosos (disease) + gnosis (knowledge). Thus, anosognosia is more than just denial is a complex condition that can vary in severity over time. Your loved one may have more recognition of their condition at times, and other times have a total lack of awareness. This varying degree of awareness...

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June 3, 2021 by Carefect Admin

Sundowners Syndrome: Causes and Symptoms

Sundown syndrome sounds as mysterious as it is. The medical industry does not have definitive proof as to what causes sundown syndrome, however, there is evidence of specific triggers that causes behavioral changes. This behaviour shift predominately affects elderly people with forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease during the time of sunset and can manifest in increased confusion, agitation, mood swings, and memory loss. Sundown Syndrome Sundowners or Sundown Syndrome is a term used to describe a behaviour shift in people with dementia during the transition from daylight to...

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March 15, 2021 by Carefect Admin

Alzheimer’s Care: When Your Spouse Falls in Love with Someone Else

Alzheimer’s disease affects people and their families in ways that are unique and complex to them. The brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease deteriorates in ways that create changes to their personality and their relationships which can be very emotional for their loved ones. These personality changes can be difficult to process and can often lead to loved ones experiencing the grieving process long before the person with Alzheimer’s actually passes. They must also redefine and care for a person who may no longer recognize them and behave increasingly...

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January 11, 2021 by Carefect Admin

What to do when an Elderly Loved One with Alzheimer’s Doesn’t Recognize You

When navigating a loved one through the stages of Alzheimer's disease you may find that it is your own feelings that are the most difficult challenge. People with Alzheimer's must change and adapt to their new circumstances and often these changes are out of their control. As people who love those with Alzheimer's we change and adapt to these new circumstances as well, but we have a choice in the way that we adapt to these challenges. Often as this change comes, it builds resistance. It is natural to feel...

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December 7, 2020 by Carefect Admin

Caring for an Elderly Loved One with Alzheimer’s during the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Coronavirus pandemic is putting many seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at risk, but because most know it to be a respiratory illness, it is not immediately obvious how. The reality is that dementia-related behaviors such as forgetting to wash their hands and other necessary precautions may increase the risk of contracting the disease. These behaviors, compounded with old age and common age-related health conditions may present a concerning combination for diseases like COVID-19. Whether your community is reopening services or taking more precautions, depending on the number of...

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November 16, 2020 by Carefect Admin

Ways to Convince an Elderly Loved One with Alzheimer’s to Shower

Hygiene management and bathing is an important yet stressful daily aspect of living with someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Often, it can be a battle to create a care routine that keeps your elderly loved one physically safe from the damaging effects of poor hygiene, as bathing can be nerve wracking for someone with Alzheimer’s. Attempts to get them to bathe and shower can result in arguments, negotiations, screaming, crying, and hostility. This increases your stress level and creates a negative connotation to bathing for your elderly loved one. This can...

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October 19, 2020 by Carefect Admin

Alzheimer’s: Repetitive Behavior – Causes and How to Respond

Repetition is one of the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s. A person with Alzheimer’s may fixate on a specific phrase or action and repeat it over and over to self-soothe. As well, they may focus on undoing chore such as unmaking a bed, which can be troubling for them and their caregivers. An elder with Alzheimer’s may show these behaviors and these rituals may be performed as a means to recreate familiarity, comfort during moments of anxiety and cope with their emotional state. As these actions in repetition can be concerning...

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May 1, 2014 by Carefect Admin

Types of Hallucinations in the Elderly

Hallucinations are sensations, thoughts or perceptions that feel completely real, yet are created entirely by your own mind. Hallucinations can be very scary, and very hard to diagnose. Unfortunately, they are very common in the elderly population, which often leads to the elderly feeling confused. Hallucinations can affect any of your five senses, one at a time, or all at once. For this reason, they can be very disorienting. However, if an elderly person lives alone and is having hallucinations, then it may take months or even years to catch....

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