Sunday, July 29, 2007

Maybe It's Not Alzheimer's Disease

Many elderly people who show any signs of confusion are quickly stamped "Alzheimer's Patient." However, simply because your parent shows signs of forgetfulness or dementia you mustn't necessarily assume he has Alzheimer's.

There are so many other conditions that may be contributing to odd behavior ... including urinary-tract infections!

One thing to keep in mind: Elderly people metabolize drugs much differently from younger people.

If your parent is acting oddly, first check the medicine cabinet. Is he or she taking any kind of sleeping pill? Anti-anxiety pill? Anti-depressant? These can often be the culprit of confusion, vivid dreams and/or hallucinations. Exactly what are the prescriptions your parent's doctor has offered? Be pro-active. Do a thorough research (the internet is a great source) of all the possible side effects of every prescription. Many of the prescriptions my mother first received were definitely NOT for the elderly. Now, I make it habit of researching the medicines before filling the prescriptions. If we come upon something that says, "Not for use in the elderly." or "Not effective in persons over 65" or anything else such as this, we don't fill them and we have a talk with the doctor.

If you find your parent's doctor continually prescribing things that are not appropriate, consider finding a geriatric specialist. You wouldn't think of bringing your baby to an internist ... you'd find a pediatrician who has studied extensively effects of medicines and diseases and disorders in children ... so why bring your elderly parent to an internist? A geriatric specialist has studied the aging body and should be more aware of how your parent is suffering ... and when prescribing drugs, the geriatric specialist should be more aware of what is suitable and what isn't.

If pills are not the problem, have you ever had your parent's blood checked for the hereditary condition called Pernicious Anemia? This disease does not allow the body to absorb Vitamin B12 and, while the cure is easy enough, it presents a myriad of symptoms, including very definite behavior changes, even hallucinations.

Again, if this turns out negative, be sure to check the thyroid, too. An overactive thyroid can be just as much a cause of strange behavior as anything else.

Be sure to check the physical aspects first ... through brain scans, blood and urine tests, etc. Please don't simply assume it's Alzheimer's.

There are many other causes of delusions/hallucinations in the elderly, as well ... for instance, one is called "paraphrenia" -- which is thought to be a late-onset form of schizophrenia experienced by the elderly who are isolated and lonely. The cure can be as simple as getting out and doing things, meeting people and taking part in specially-designed exercise classes for the elderly. If your parent's doctor prescribes anti-psychotic medicines, do a little research on their side effects and monitor your parent's behavior. Sometimes the side effects are worse than the disease! Check your local YMCA for arthritis water aerobic classes, chair exercises, stretching, etc. Exercise and socialization are often the keys to wellness.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Why I'm Starting This Blog ...

When my parents, both in their 80s, moved from California to North Carolina to be closer to me, I had no idea what was in store for them.

A move, for anyone, can be traumatic, but for my parents, it seemed particularly so. I hadn't thought about the move, itself, presenting such hardships ... especially for my parents who had moved often through their married life together. I thought it would be a piece of cake ... a walk in the park. Instead, it was a nightmare.

In trying to find solutions to many of their problems, both psychological and physical, I've had to spend lots of hours doing research. I'm hoping that some of the research I've done might be beneficial to others who find themselves in the same place I am.