A Christian minister’s journey through Alzheimer’s dementia.
Rev Robert Davis, a Methodist minister from the USA, and his wife Betty Davis have published this wonderful book based on their real life experiences as they went through the early stages of living with Rev Davis' early onset dementia. This book is very unique in terms of the first hand account of his struggles by a person who suffered from dementia, as well as its detailed account of the impact of his christian faith on his reaction to his diagnosis, and the impact of the disease on his spiritual journey.
As daddy passed through a few years of his journey through dementia, he started struggling to initiate singing hymns or saying family prayers even in the home environment. But he could still recall parts of familiar Christian hymns from his childhood, if
we sang these. The fog would lift temporarily from his mind, and once again he seemed like his normal self for a brief period. I watched my father silently reading the Bible for hours on end, leafing through the pages back and forth. Later, as reading became
more challenged for him, he would sit holding the bible or a hymn book for long periods sitting alone in his comfortable chair.
During the final year of his life, daddy became non-verbal apart for a few words. But even in the last days of his life
on earth, we could sense a glimmer of recognition as he listened to us singing his old familiar Malayalam hymns.
Rev Davis' book is a priceless resource for all Christians who may be caring for fellow Christians with dementia.
'Still Alice'
My friend Alison first met me father in December 2015. She is a medical doctor, and have known people with dementia. She gifted me a copy of the book titled 'Still Alice', which is now also a well known movie.
"Still Alice' talks about the life of Alice, a Professor of Psychology at Harvard, who panics as she discovers that she has early onset dementia from Alzeimers. As she grapples with the fading memory with the advancing disease, the reader is taken along with her in her intimate journey as a person. The book's key message is that Alice is still Alice, even with her fading memory.
Even as my father gradually faded into becoming less and less of his old self, I could see periods when his old self emerged. There was a little recollection, a little glimmer of recognition of the people around him, and a recollection of who he once was.
Dementia- caring for someone with dementia
THIS GENERAL INFORMATION IS TAKEN FROM A HELPFUL WEBSITE (Ref below)
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We aren’t born knowing how to communicate with a person with dementia—but we can learn. Improving your communication skills will help make caregiving less stressful and will likely improve the quality of your relationship with your loved one. Good communication skills will also enhance your ability to handle the difficult behavior you may encounter as you care for a person with a dementing illness.
- Set a positive mood for interaction. Your attitude and body language communicate your feelings and thoughts more strongly than your words do. Set a positive mood by speaking to your loved one in a pleasant and respectful manner. Use facial expressions, tone of voice, and physical touch to help convey your message and show your feelings of affection.
- Get the person’s attention. Limit distractions and noise—turn off the radio or TV, close the curtains or shut the door, or move to quieter surroundings. Before speaking, make sure you have her attention; address her by name, identify yourself by name and relation, and use nonverbal cues and touch to help keep her focused. If she is seated, get down to her level and maintain eye contact.
- State your message clearly. Use simple words and sentences. Speak slowly, distinctly, and in a reassuring tone. Refrain from raising your voice higher or louder; instead, pitch your voice lower. If she doesn’t understand the first time, use the same wording to repeat your message or question. If she still doesn’t understand, wait a few minutes and rephrase the question. Use the names of people and places instead of pronouns (he, she, they) or abbreviations.
- Ask simple, answerable questions. Ask one question at a time; those with yes or no answers work best. Refrain from asking open-ended questions or giving too many choices. For example, ask, “Would you like to wear your white shirt or your blue shirt?” Better still, show her the choices—visual prompts and cues also help clarify your question and can guide her response.
- Listen with your ears, eyes, and heart. Be patient in waiting for your loved one’s reply. If she is struggling for an answer, it’s okay to suggest words. Watch for nonverbal cues and body language, and respond appropriately. Always strive to listen for the meaning and feelings that underlie the words.
- Break down activities into a series of steps. This makes many tasks much more manageable. You can encourage your loved one to do what he can, gently remind him of steps he tends to forget, and assist with steps he’s no longer able to accomplish on his own. Using visual cues, such as showing him with your hand where to place the dinner plate, can be very helpful.
- When the going gets tough, distract and redirect. If your loved one becomes upset or agitated, try changing the subject or the environment. For example, ask him for help or suggest going for a walk. It is important to connect with the person on a feeling level, before you redirect. You might say, “I see you’re feeling sad—I’m sorry you’re upset. Let’s go get something to eat.”
- Respond with affection and reassurance. People with dementia often feel confused, anxious, and unsure of themselves. Further, they often get reality confused and may recall things that never really occurred. Avoid trying to convince them they are wrong. Stay focused on the feelings they are demonstrating (which are real) and respond with verbal and physical expressions of comfort, support, and reassurance. Sometimes holding hands, touching, hugging, and praise will get the person to respond when all else fails.
- Remember the good old days. Remembering the past is often a soothing and affirming activity. Many people with dementia may not remember what happened 45 minutes ago, but they can clearly recall their lives 45 years earlier. Therefore, avoid asking questions that rely on short-term memory, such as asking the person what they had for lunch. Instead, try asking general questions about the person’s distant past—this information is more likely to be retained.
- Maintain your sense of humor. Use humor whenever possible, though not at the person's expense. People with dementia tend to retain their social skills and are usually delighted to laugh along with you.
(Source: https://www.caregiver.org/caregivers-guide-understanding-dementia-behaviors)