How Do We Know When Alzheimer’s Patients Don’t Feel Well?
March 5, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Determining whether an Alzheimer’s patient doesn’t feel well or is simply cranky can be a difficult call, much as it is when a baby is ill. Unless Mother was running a fever, coughing, bleeding, sneezing, or had other obvious ill symptoms, it was difficult to know what was wrong.
Was her obstinancy caused by pain? Did her anger come from a stomach ache? Did her moaning mean a toothache? Was her stubbornness to cooperate because she didn’t want to. Or was she not feeling well?
Did she understand when I asked her if she was in pain, if she felt well, if her head ached? Or did she understand but was unable to communicate?
I had to revert back to the days my daugher was a baby and her verbal and understanding skills weren’t well developed. How did I determine why Beth was crying? Did I see her pull at her ear for an earache? Rub her mouth and cheek when her gums hurt? Pat her stomach for an ache there?
*Check with her doctor or nurse practitioner for help in developing communication skills at your mother’s level.
*Find a book, like The 36-Hour Day by Nancy L. Mace and Peter V. Rabins. There are some good suggestions there.
*Research the Internet for advice from the experts or blogs by caregivers.
*Talk with other caregivers.
*Join a support group
What has worked for you and the person(s) you care for?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
When my Nonnie was alive, and by the time Alzheimer’s had pretty much taken over her life, it was so difficult to tell if her moaning meant she was in pain or if she was just, well, moaning. That was probably the most frustrating, hopeless, panicky feeling throughout the entire time she was here and had Alzheimer’s. I can’t begin to explain how the worry ate away at me, and pretty much the only solace I had was knowing that when we (the family) weren’t there, she was surrounded by medically-trained folk.
Thank you, Alicia, for stopping by and sharing your experience with your Nonnie. It certainly is so frustrating and gives you such a helpless feeling when you don’t know what is the matter with an Alzheimer’s patient who doesn’t respond…or does respond in a way different from usual. Is this caused by pain or discomfort? We do our best and trust we’re helping and comforting.