The book of Life
For a healthy brain, life moves forward like a book, one chapter at a time.
A person with Alzheimer’s disease might begin their day on chapter 10, then flip back to chapter 8 by dinnertime, all while they are chronologically on chapter 17.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative brain disease that affects one’s ability to recall memories, impairs thinking and alters behavior. (Alzheimer's Association) There are many theories of practice for the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
Reality Orientation, once extensively taught in nursing schools, is a popular technique in many care environments. When a person believes that they are in Chapter 10 and their mother is waiting for them at home, the reality orientation approach is to reorient them to the present and tell them that their mother is dead. For the person who believes that their mother is alive, this can be devastating news, leading to what Mace and Rabins refer to as a catastrophic reaction. (The 36 Hour Day, Mace and Rabins) Catastrophic reactions are when a person gets so upset that they cannot be calmed. Long after they have forgotten the interaction, they are still upset, which often leads to the use of antipsychotic medication to diffuse the situation.
With AlzProv
A caregiver joins a person with Alzheimer's in whatever chapter they are currently experiencing.
AlzProv provides an opportunity to not only avoid a catastrophic event, but also an outlet for an individual with Alzheimer's disease to be heard, and communicate their needs, both physically and emotionally.
