Category Archives: Alzheimer’s Research

Laughter….Medicine for Alzheimer’s Patients & Their Families

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“We don’t laugh enough,” my mom remarked, when she saw my husband and me laughing at some humorous incident involving her care.  (It often was either laugh or cry.)

I realized Mother didn’t think we were laughing at her (something I’d feared), but enjoyed the sound of laughter and joined us.  I also realized that she needed laughter in her life, as we did in ours, and we then tried to see the humor in situations that could be frustrating.

It was interesting to come across an article today, Research Finds Laughter May Be  Strong Medicine for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients.  Researchers are finding that laughter can be a help in reducing agitation and the struggles associated with these situations.

 

Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease – Stage 2

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In the the previous post, I described some indications of Mild Alzheimer’s Disease, or Stage 1.  Here are some you may find if the person has progressed to Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease or stage 2.

The symptoms of Stage 1 will become more pronounced at the moderate stage.  Other symptoms will appear:

  • The person may need supervision at home or at an adult day-care center.
  • There is more trouble with thinking and reasoning.
  • They may see things that aren’t there and become rather paranoiac about people.
  • They’re likely to argue more often, pace around, wander from home, and eventually require constant supervision.
  • They forget to turn off water faucets or turn off the stove.
  • The family member forgets to dress properly and becomes less caring of his/her appearance.
  • They also begin to confuse the people in the present with people from their past.