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

Post from: Blisstree

How Do We Know When Alzheimer’s Patients Don’t Feel Well?