Elder Law Attorney Help in Austin – Long Term Care Planning  (512) 478-0834.

Alzheimer’s care help for families:

The best way to respond to the aggression of a person with Alzheimer’s is to remain calm, patient and understanding.  Try to identify the cause and focus on their feelings, not the facts. 

They may not be able to distinguish between wrong and right and may be confused about what really happened.  Don’t take their behavior personally and try to remain positive and reassuring.  Suggest a different, relaxing activity and limit their distractions so they can concentrate on remaining calm. 

During an aggressive outburst, it’s important to assess the situation and the danger involved, both for your loved one and yourself.  If he or she is acting out physically, stand back and call for assistance. If they’re trying to run away, be more assertive and make sure they remain in the house.  Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using force or restraint because your loved one may become more upset and physical.  The anger does not normally last very long and will only be escalated by equally aggressive behavior.

How To Know When A Loved One With Alzheimer’s Should Stop Driving –

Driving requires good judgment, quick reaction times and split-second decision making, all qualities that are affected by Alzheimer’s.  Families often struggle with the decision to limit or stop the driving of a loved one suffering from the illness, but the reality is that, for a person with Alzheimer’s, driving becomes difficult and unsafe. 

Though an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is not reason enough to revoke a loved ones driving privileges, there are several warning signs that they may be unfit and unsafe to take to the roads alone.  If they’re forgetting how to get to familiar places, such as a family members home or store that they’ve been shopping at for years, it’s possible that they could begin driving aimlessly and wandering through town.  Allowing a loved one to drive in this confused state could leave them lost and in a bad situation they may not be able to get themselves out of. 

If your loved one is not obeying traffic signals, driving an inappropriate speeds, hitting curbs, confusing the brake and gas pedals or swerving back and forth between lanes, they are a danger not only to themselves, but to others on the road and should not continue to drive. 

It’s likely that your loved one will become angry and upset when you approach them about not continuing to drive.  They’ll feel as though their independence and dignity is being taken away and will be reluctant to rely on others for transportation.  It’s essential that you remain sensitive but firm, hearing your loved one out but insisting that they no longer operate an automobile.