Being a caregiver to a loved one with AD can be one of the hardest care-giving tasks anyone ever has to face.  It is sometimes harder to be the caregiver than to be the person who has AD.  While many patients with AD die from it within about 7 years or so, there are folks with AD who can survive for 20 years once diagnosed.  This disease puts a huge emotional and financial strain on families and AD caregivers are highly encouraged to seek help, support and counseling.  The Alzheimer's Association is one of the best places to seek support for both the patient and the caregiver.  They can teach you how to handle all aspects of AD and caring for someone with AD, especially how to more effectively deal with difficult behaviors and mood swings.

For example, when dealing with aggressive behaviors, such as name-calling, yelling, screaming or physical aggression toward the caregiver, UNDERSTANDING WHY the behavior occurred is one of the biggest keys to staying sane as the caregiver.  The Alzheimer's Association offers these tips:  Think about what happened just before the reaction that may have triggered the behavior; look for the feelings behind the words; be positive, reassuring, and speak slowly, with a soft tone; also use music, massage and/or exercise to help soothe the person.  Memory loss and confusion can cause a person with AD to become suspicious of those around her.  If this occurs, try not to take offense or argue, but rather offer a simple answer or try to divert the person's attention to another activity.

Whether you are a caregiver for someone with AD or any other physical or mental health issues, be sure you do check out the support and resources available to you on the National Family Caregivers website, The Family Caregiver.  If caregivers do not learn how to take time for themselves, they soon find that they are on the receiving end of care rather than the ones providing it!  Caregivers often develop illness and disease themselves because they often try to do too much.  Ask for help.  Develop a support "team" of other family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers and medical professionals that can assist you in caring for your loved one.  Don't ever try to do it all yourself.  You might be surprised how many people you know that are desperately wanting to help, but don't know what to do.

Another great tool for both the AD patient and the caregiver is aromatherapy.  Many studies have now proven that the use of essential oils from plants (aromatherapy) has definite positive benefits on people with AD, even improving cognitive function.  Calming essential oils such as lavender and chamomile can help relax an agitated patient, while stimulating oils like peppermint and rosemary can help uplift the spirits of a depressed patient.  Aromatherapy is an ancient practice of healing that has made quite a therapeutic splash in the natural healing world of today.  Many nursing homes and residential care facilities now employ the use of essential oils for the benefit of not only the patients, but the staff, too...that's the wonderful aspect of using essential oils in diffusers or as room sprays...everyone in the vicinity enjoys the benefit!  Aromatherapy works so well for AD patients probably because of the deep connection between fragrance and memory.  Our olfactory receptor cells line the nose and the volatile molecules of the essential oils and their aroma causes these nerves to fire and send messages to the limbic area of the brain, activating thought and memory.  Just inhaling the aroma of an essential oil can start to activate balancing and healing emotional and physical responses in our bodies and minds. Another wonderful aspect of using aromatherapy is that most essential oils have excellent antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral qualities.

This month, instead of fearing Alzheimer's Disease, think instead about what you can do to raise awareness about this disease and how you can help to spread the facts.  Start learning about your own body and what it needs to be healthy: Whole, organic natural foods, exercise, fresh air, sunshine and plenty of clean and pure water.  And don't forget the joy!  Unresolved stress and hanging on to grudges and negative past situations doesn't help make anyone healthy.  The allopathic medical community might not have a cure for AD yet, but the natural healing community may have some answers that could be helpful.  If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with AD, I urge you to do some research into ALL of your options, including herbal and nutritional therapy, acupuncture, mind-body exercise and visualization/stress relieving techniques.  I have also suffered through some diseases that are considered "incurable" by the allopathic medical community, but did indeed cure them through natural approaches to health.  And I believe there is ALWAYS hope.  A positive outlook never hurt anyone.

Carol Koenigsknecht, Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO