Skip to main content

When a Loved One is Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease


When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is devastating news for all. Family members may quickly start experiencing feelings of grief as they recognize their life is about to be changed by the disease and are uneasy about what the future will hold. Most are left with questions about what to expect next.

As Alzheimer’s begins to take away the person we know and love, the Alzheimer’s Association explains that “you'll mourn him or her and may experience the different phases of grieving: denial, anger, guilt, sadness and acceptance.” They remind us that feelings of grief do not come in a specific order but rather we go in and out of the various stages.

Feelings of denial include unrealistically hoping the person is not ill or expecting them to get better. Others try to convince themselves their loved one has not changed or try to normalize and make excuses for their behaviors. Anger may include being frustrated with the person or feeling abandoned. You may also experience feelings of resentment with the demands of caregiving and/or resent others who are not helping with care.

Guilt includes having unrealistic thoughts about what you should have done or feeling guilty if you do not visit every day. A spouse that is well and still able to enjoy life may feel guilty that their husband or wife is no longer able to do so. Others may have negative feelings such as wishing the person would die or go away.

The Alzheimer’s Association says you need to face both your positive as well as negative feelings. They also say to be prepared to go through feelings of loss more than once as the disease progresses. Remember your grief is a part of your journey, and if you need help, talk with someone about your feelings.

At MorningStar at River Oaks, our goal is to provide the best senior living Houston has to offer, which includes compassionate and loving memory care to those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Our memory care residents are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and spend each day in an atmosphere that celebrates and elevates their lives. Please visit our website for more information about our beautiful assisted living and memory care community.

Our mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living Houston has to offer. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, MorningStar at River Oaks provides outstanding assisted living and memory care.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Advantages That Come With Aging

An article from National Geographic explores the concept that there are ways our health can improve as we grow older, if we are open to it. Michelle Feng, chief clinical officer at Executive Mental Health and a licensed psychologist specializing in geriatric psychology and medicine, explains it this way: “Everyone talks about aging as this decline, but aging is just living. It literally means you are alive.” The key may lie in how we think. Studies find that holding positive views on old age is related to better cognitive health. It may also result in fewer mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Some studies even show those who think positively about the aging process live longer. One of the ways our health may improve with age is our ability to handle stress. Experts believe the experience we gain from going through various challenges throughout our lives prepares us with tried-and-true strategies on how to better manage today’s stressful situations. Moreover, a study i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Knee Pain in Seniors

As we age, our knees take a beating. We use them to walk, stand and climb stairs, and they are used when we get up from a sitting or lying position. When our knees hurt, everyday tasks are harder to do. Chronic knee pain is often a form of arthritis that occurs when the cushioning cartilage protecting the knee joints starts to wear down. As more cartilage wears away, the space between the bones narrows resulting in bone rubbing against bone. Knee arthritis is a deteriorating condition, and in addition to pain, can cause deformities such as knock knees or bowlegs. Experts explain there are three forms of arthritis that affect the knee. The first is a degenerative joint disease called osteoarthritis; another is the autoimmune disease known as rheumatoid arthritis; and finally post-traumatic knee arthritis that happens with a history of injury or trauma. Factors increasing your risk for knee arthritis include the wear and tear that comes from age, being overweight, heredity, gender, and h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Independent and Assisted Living in Pasadena

Since our company was founded in 2003, we have believed it is a privilege to “cast a new light” on senior living guided by the following precepts: to honor God in our business practices and relationships; value all seniors as gifted and contributing individuals; and invest generously in our team’s ability to serve well. In addition, we firmly believe the human capacity to grow, to learn and to contribute is ageless. If you are looking for exceptional senior living, Pasadena. CA’s MorningStar community may be the place for you. MorningStar of Pasadena is designed to provide seniors with stress-free living, as we handle the maintenance, landscaping, and housekeeping. This leaves you free to pursue your interests, explore new hobbies, travel and meet new friends. Our luxury community provides all the services, resort-style amenities, and programs to ensure residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and security. Starting with a 5-Star dining service that includes meals prepared largely...
Post a Comment
Read more