How Alzheimer Controls a Life 

It is very difficult to spend time with someone with Alzheimer’s disease. As the disease progresses, it gradually causes a person to feel aggressive and sometimes violent. 

Alzheimer's disease is a frightening disorder of the mind, since it causes a person to feel overwhelmed. Most people do not believe that they can develop Alzheimer's disease. The common notion of the world is, "It can't happen to me." It can happen to you, and statistics has shown that millions of people each year will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The damning disease, Alzheimer’s will degenerate the brain slowly, which in time the disease will claim the person’s life. The symptoms often cause the person to feel aggressive and/or violent. Keep in mind that the patient is not striking out at his or her loved one, since likely the patient does not know who he or she is dealing with. Alzheimer’s disease causes severe memory loss as the disease progresses. Once a person develops severe symptoms, the disease slowly kills, yet in many instances, the patient will not feel pain. 

How to tell if Alzheimer’s is affecting a loved one 
At first, the patient may appear to show common aging signs, such as forgetting where he or she put their keys, purse, wallet, etc. If the person wanders around and seems lost, it is likely symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease have developed. In addition, if the person struggles to handle daily tasks, again it is likely that Alzheimer’s symptoms have developed. 

Once the symptoms creep in, it will affect the mind. The person will start to forget, which is a clear indication that dementia has developed. Dementia is the progressive version of Alzheimer’s disease. At this stage, the person will need extreme care, since they can forget to pay bills, balance checkbooks, and so on. 

As a person develops dementia, it begins to tear down the brain. The condition may cause the person to forget often, shift moods, argue, and change voices, tones, etc, when speaking. The person likely will forget current encounters. For instance, if the patient recently had a visitor and forgets immediately the person’s name, it is a clear indication the patient has Alzheimer’s disease. The disease will affect the frontal and temporal lobes located in the brain, which controls intellectual functions, personality, etc. 

What other signs should I consider? 
If the patient leaves home and fails to return for hours, you may want to get tests immediately. If the patient does not have Schizophrenia, which this condition will cause a person to wander as well, then likely he or she has Alzheimer’s disease. 

How can I protect my loved one from harm? 
You have to stay on your toes. Never leave your loved one home alone, or allow them to wander or drive anywhere on their own. The person may rebel, since you are challenging his or her independence. Still, you want to take control. 

Once Alzheimer’s disease affects the mind, the person may show tale signs of depression. At this stage, the person is feeling hopeless. When the person feels hopeless, it is time to take action, since it can lead to a series of changes. Of course, Alzheimer’s disease alone will cause mood changes, behavior changes, etc. 

As the condition worsens the patient may feel a need to sleep obsessively, or else the patient may not desire food or communication. This is a serious stage. In this instance, you can avoid problems by taking your loved one to the doctor early, so that your doctor can take preventive steps to protect your loved one. In time, your loved one is likely to rest in a nursing home. In some instances, the families will care for the loved one at home. 

Take care of yourself if you choose home care.