应对策略 for 血管性痴呆 Caregivers
As a caregiver for someone suffering from 血管性痴呆(VaD), you may face difficult challenges as you try to provide care and understand the behavior changes of the person you are caring for. Understanding the behavior of a person with VaD can help lessen these difficulties.
People with VaD may exhibit the following behavior:
- Problems with thinking, walking and performing everyday activities are the most prominent symptoms. Many people with VaD also suffer from 抑郁症, which can result in less motivation to perform their usual activities or a lack of interest in the world around them.
- Extreme anxiety about daily life, which may be exhibited by asking questions and repeating information about once familiar events and/ or people, preparing for appointments/day care well ahead of time and using notes and reminders endlessly.
- Apathy or a lack of initiative about tasks that used to be routine, though now feel overwhelming. 例如, the person who always enjoyed puzzles but no longer does them because they are too overwhelming and require skills he/she no longer possesses.
- Frequent agitation may occur as people become less able to interpret their environment and control or express their feelings. 例如, a person with VaD may strike out at their caregiver.
应对策略
The following strategies may help you cope with caring for someone with VaD:
Have realistic and attainable goals. 经常, caregivers try to make everything all right and strive for unrealistic goals, though end up exhausted and frustrated. Perhaps your goal is to be sure that your patient is clean, comfortable and well fed. 然而, accepting that success may be only 80 percent will allow you to enjoy time you might have otherwise spent fretting about not reaching these goals. 虽然困难, try being comfortable with a less than perfectly groomed spouse or perfectly organized home.
Control vascular risk factors. While there is no current treatment to change the effects of VaD, preventing risk for additional 血管损伤, particularly stroke, can be an effective way to lower someone's risk of worsening dementia. This can be done by encouraging exercise, 戒烟, drinking alcohol in moderation and possibly changing diet to reduce salts and saturated fats. It is also important that people with VaD have their blood pressure checked and their blood fat levels measured at least once a year. 除了, some risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, 心脏病, diabetes and high cholesterol can be controlled with drugs. Don't hesitate to discuss these options with your doctor. If vascular risk factors are not attended to properly, recurring strokes and worsening dementia symptoms may occur.
Anticipate misinterpretation 由你的病人. A person with VaD may no longer be able to accurately interpret verbal or non-verbal cues, which can cause anxiety and frustration in both you and your patient. Try to be clear and concise in your communications—repeating things as needed using the same words or message. Reduce extraneous noise and distractions when trying to communicate. Do not use confusing pronouns, such as he, she or it, but rather names and specific titles.
Remember that all behavior has a purpose. Many experts believe that some of the behavioral symptoms that people with VaD exhibit, such as shouting or striking out, 有意义. Although the person does not generally intend to disrupt things or to hurt someone, they do intend to be noticed and perhaps communicate a need that is not being met. 除了, it is important to remember that while these behaviors 有意义, they are not intentional and the person is not doing this "on purpose," but more likely trying to convey a message that they can longer explain in words. 慢下来, trying to see the world through their eyes and trying to respond to the "feeling" behind the behavior, rather than the behavior itself, may prevent an emotional crisis.
享受美好时光. Many people with VaD remain physically fit and retain their ability to be comfortable and involved in social situations quite late in the disease. 因此, 继续社交, 旅行, be physically active and participate in activities that are enjoyable to both you and your patient. 经常, familiar activities will continue to be enjoyable for a person with VaD and should be encouraged. 然而, trying to learn new tasks or starting new hobbies may be frustrating or overwhelming.
Reminisce about the past and encourage discussions about people and places that are familiar and evoke pleasant feelings for both you and your patient. Memories from the distant past are not usually affected and watching family videos, looking at photographs or reviewing 旅行s from the past can allow you and your patient to continue to share experiences and feelings. Allow your patient to share the history they remember with family members, grandchildren and friends. This is fun for everyone and helps your patient feel connected to their loved ones.
是灵活的. Remember that VaD is a progressive disease. Your patient's symptoms and needs will change over time. If strategies such as notes or reminders are no longer working, don't use them. A successful intervention at one stage may become a frustration and disaster at another. Seek help, ask for advice and learn from others who have had similar experiences. More challenging behavioral symptoms of a patient with VaD, such as resisting care or being aggressive can be particularly difficult for a caregiver and often require a very individualized approach. Talk to your doctor about treatment approaches, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological.
安全
Your patient's safety is an important priority. As their disease progresses, their memory and judgment becomes impaired and they are often unable to anticipate or avoid dangerous situations. This can be an overwhelming responsibility for a caregiver and requires creative strategies for coping. The following recommendations may help ensure your patient's safety.
监督 may become a greater need for a person with VaD as they become more forgetful and their judgment decreases. It is best to assess each situation individually and gradually increase your patient's level of supervision as needed. This will help them maintain as much independence and autonomy as possible, in as safe a setting as can be provided. It is often difficult to determine the level of supervision needed and involves evaluating the risks and consequences of your patient's current and potential behavior and the ease/discomfort involved in protecting your patient.
When evaluating your patient's need for supervision, behaviors to review include:
- Ability to handle emergencies when left unsupervised
- Ability to use appliances safely
- Ability to safely answer the phone or door when left alone
- 流浪倾向. This may occur in later stages when patients are confused about where they are or are trying to find a familiar person or place. If there is a concern about this, enrolling your patient in the Safe Return program should be considered. 这个程序, which is administered by the Alzheimer's Association, provides national registration and identification of people with VaD to assist in locating them should they wander away or become lost.
监督 strategies may include:
- Simple reminder phone calls for medications
- Alarms on doors to prevent exiting
- Personal supervision to prevent physical injury or harm
Modifying the environment to limit your patient's exposure to potentially dangerous situations can allow them to continue to be independent and safe. Especially in the early stages of VaD, reminders and cues in your patient's environment may be enough to ensure their safety. 例如, posting the steps involved in a task or labeling where things are kept may be extremely helpful to your patient.
In the later stages of the disease, you may need to employ strategies that limit your patient's exposure to potentially dangerous situations, such as installing childproof handles on cupboards containing potentially dangerous materials.
加州大学旧金山分校健康 medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider.