As a full-time caregiver, I didn’t always know what caused dementia for the people I cared for. I just cared for them. Creativity with photos, music, and storytelling, which support the social and emotional/heart aspects of ourselves always makes life better, no matter the cause of dementia. Dementia symptoms of confusion, disorientation, and the inability to function in daily routines of living and working can be caused by many things. When I worked for a service agency, I learned it really is essential to know the cause of these symptoms. Why? Because if it’s not “Alzheimer’s-related dementia” then it could be something treatable.
Several kinds of dementia, like vascular or frontal temporal (FTD), or seemingly non-related health issues like heart conditions, high or low blood pressure, thyroid problems, urinary tract infections, the flu, dehydration-these are all potential causes of dementia symptoms that may be improved by treatments, herbs, homeopathy, chiropractors, medical procedures or medications. If it’s not Alzheimer’s, you want to be able to take steps towards healing, which is a good idea anyway. See alzheimersprevention.org for some more specific tips on maintaining one’s health.
At this time in our world, we are learning much about what our conditions, and actually healing what ails us. This is a wider and potentially more successful approach for wellness.
If you or someone you love is having memory and function problems, be the advocate for yourself or for him or her, and ask a doctor you trust to give a full medical exam. Tell the doctor to check all your physical systems, even if he or she seems driven to diagnose you with Alzheimer’s, and make sure you are honest about your health history. We can damage our bodies over the years, and we can heal them too, with proper care. If you are otherwise healthy, but have dementia symptoms, then it’s called “Alzheimer’s-related dementia.” But this is the last thing on the list, so let the doctor check everything, and perhaps turn the tide back to wellness for you. And show a photo of a grand day together, or sing a song that soothes the heart or brings a memory of a special life event, or write down a significant life story and keep it on an index card next to the morning cup of coffee, and energize the heart space for both of you. It will bring a smile or a happy tear, and often brings a calmer sphere to the day’s events to ‘remember the good stuff.’
Take care, and stay in touch,
Tryn Rose Seley,
Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.comPurchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame
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