| It's too bad that we are so prejudiced about | | | | usually is actually one seriously mentally-ill resident |
| dementia. I know, everyone's terrified. Use the word | | | | attacking a resident with regular normal dementia. So, |
| "Alzheimer's" round healthy elders to watch them run. | | | | we really don't want to see those with dementia |
| The problem with that projection is that people who | | | | being forced to live side by side with those who |
| need expert help may not be getting it. I look after | | | | have serious schizophrenic or psychotic conditions. I |
| people with dementia, I don't diagnose them. | | | | don't anyway. |
| However, I can often tell when something doesn't | | | | Two, is that even a seriously mentally-ill elder could |
| look like normal dementia. And yes, Virginia, there IS | | | | be helped to have peace in the final years of life with |
| a normal dementia -- variable as it is. | | | | the right psychiatric intervention. I'm not a big believer |
| Here are the things not part of normal dementia. | | | | in psychiatric medications, because they do a great |
| Hearing voices when no-one is speaking, having night | | | | deal of lasting damage, but they also do buy peace. |
| terrors, being wildly over-active throughout the night, | | | | An elder with PTSD or a lifelong undiagnosed mental |
| calling the police at all hours complaining about | | | | illness could be offered a chance to live without |
| non-existent intruders, presenting variable | | | | demons in pursuit. |
| personalities at various times of the day or week, | | | | I think the chance of peace in the last years of a |
| having a very good memory with the ability to | | | | long life is a very real reason for making sure |
| accurately describe recent events, being aggressive | | | | everyone has the right diagnosis. |
| without any triggers. | | | | So, back to your dear but troublesome Grandpa. Is |
| Confusion can well be a part of dementia. | | | | he insane? Well, I don't know and it's not my job to |
| Misinterpretation of things said, living in a past time | | | | know. Get a referral to a psychiatrist to have him |
| zone, possible dream visitations from dead family | | | | checked out. |
| members -- these are all very common and normal. | | | | I'll tell you this much. I have noticed that when |
| But feeling threatened, pursued, being aggressively | | | | families are asking that question -- is Mom or Grandpa |
| over-active and being violent when unprovoked are | | | | crazy, mad, mentally ill -- it certainly indicates that |
| indicators that a better diagnosis is needed. | | | | everyone is pretty uneasy about what's going on. |
| It is not unusual for mentally-ill elders to be | | | | That might be an excellent indicator. We aren't all |
| categorized as having dementia. Indeed, just to be | | | | medical specialists, but we often have a reasonable |
| confusing, an elder could have both dementia and a | | | | idea of what's in the range of normal and what is |
| mental illness. Unfortunately, however, it is still quite | | | | very questionable. |
| usual for a whole range of threatening, weird, | | | | So let me urge you to get your elder to the right |
| acting-out and crazy behaviors to be accepted as | | | | place for the right diagnosis. Then you know. Then |
| dementia. | | | | you can make decisions. |
| I suppose we can thank Hollywood for that. | | | | And then maybe for the first time ever, this person |
| Here's the problem. One, almost all resident-caused | | | | can live peacefully, without being pursued by inner |
| violence in which another resident is injured or killed | | | | demons. |