top of page

The Challenges of Caring for Family Members with Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease

Writer's picture: Arlene TomlinsonArlene Tomlinson

Updated: Feb 9, 2024

Written by Arlene M. Tomlinson





(Image taken from the internet)


Many years ago, while I was in high school, my great-grandmother experienced dementia. My sibling and other family members gathered in her room daily to hear her sing, switch to hallucinations, and then back to reality. At that time we did not understand that it was dementia. We thought it was a fun activity to question her about her life and have good laughs. (This was in the 1970s.)

Other opportunities arose for me to associate with other family members who had a sort of what I considered to be ‘mild dementia.’ Gradually, I gained a better understanding of how they behaved.

what I experienced then was nothing compared to what I am observing now with a close family member, who turned seventy in January 2024. The hallucinations, mood swings, memory loss, confusion, loss of appetite, inability to fully care for herself, and depression are overwhelming. I will not disclose her name but observing her and communicating with her has become so difficult and sad for me and other family members. This leads me to the purpose of this article.

I am writing to inform my readers that it is important to learn how to help our family members who suffer from Alzheimer’s and other illnesses. However, never neglect to take care of yourself. Making life-changing decisions from early in life can be of big help. On my website, (see link below), I focused on a term that I learned from a counselor: ‘me time.’ Sometimes we spend much of our lives caring for others and neglect ourselves. This family member who has been diagnosed with this dreadful disease, spent a lot of time helping others and my heart is now saddened to see her in this condition.

I implore you, my readers, to take some time to learn from a professional, how to care for persons who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as the preventative measures you can take before it is too late. In this technological age, information is just a click away. Do a Google search, browse the web, get informed, and take the necessary steps to prevent this disease. Remember, some diseases and illnesses have no permanent cure.

The image at the top of this page is worth more than a million words. Bear this common saying in mind: “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”


Link to my website

Link to the image

Some videos I have watched:

"#"alzheimer's disease

5 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments

Rated 0 out of 5 stars.
No ratings yet

Add a rating
© Copyright Protected
bottom of page