During the “Dementia Live” program recently at the Hampshire Township building, 170 Mill Avenue, attendees were asked what is the most important role they have played in their lives and what gives them the most enjoyment.
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The group answered that they were proud to be a parent, grandparent and great-grandparent. They enjoy spending time with their family, reading, teaching, volunteering, gardening and doing puzzles.
“Dementia robs you of the chance to perform your most important role,” said Kathy Wetters, president of Right at Home, 133 South Batavia Ave. in Batavia. “You lose your cognitive abilities and no longer attend events.”
In order to better understand the effects of dementia, attendees donned two pairs of gloves, a headset and a pair of dark glasses.
They were sent into a darkened room and each asked to perform five chores in seven minutes.
Some of the tasks were: buttoning a shirt, counting out 37 cents, tying a pair of shoes, finding the ace of diamonds in a deck of cards, sorting silverware, folding pillowcases, zipping a jacket and dialing a telephone.
“This is a chance to learn what it feels like to have dementia,” said Wetters. “The gear is designed to deprive wearers of their normal sensory input. It basically does a number on your brain. The headset produces distracting sounds. The glasses simulate age-related conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma.”
Participants were asked about their experience and what piece of gear bothered them the most.
One woman said the inability to accomplish things made her feel physically ill.
“When I concentrated on the noise, I felt like I was down in a well,” she said. “Trying to zip a zipper with the gloves on was very frustrating.”
Vision and sensory impairment were more upsetting than hearing impairment for some participants.
“I could tune out the noise,” one man said. “I once worked in a plant. I have learned how to read when my grandkids are running around the room.”
Wetters said that every eight seconds, another American celebrates a 65th birthday. One out of ten of these birthday celebrants typically will develop dementia. By age 85, the number goes up to one out of three.
“Dementia is an umbrella term that covers irreversible conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Lewy Body disease and Huntington’s disease,” said Wetters.
Dementia affects mood, communication, personality, language, memory, behavior and judgment.
Wetters offered tips for improving communication with a person diagnosed with dementia.
“Position yourself on their level and establish direct eye contact,” she said. “Speak calmly in a normal tone of voice. Listen with understanding and interest. Limit your conversation to short, simple sentences. A person with dementia will often shut down when they are given too much information. Never ever argue. A person with dementia does not have the same reality that you do. Their world has changed. Remember that they are not acting this way on purpose.”
Caregivers should make sure that the home where a person with dementia lives is a safe environment. Wetters said that they should lock up cleaning supplies and hide knives and other sharp utensils. Counters should be kept free of clutter. In the bathrooms, grab bars should be installed near the toilet, shower and bathtub. All dangerous items should be removed from the medicine chest. In the garage, hand and power tools, lawn equipment and other items that could pose a hazard, such as poisonous chemicals, paints and fertilizers, should be placed out of reach. Use sturdy chairs throughout the house that do not tip. Remove or tape down throw rugs. Apply colored stickers to large windows and sliding glass doors while also removing objects that block walking pathways.
Maureen McGreevy is a Hampshire resident who drives a bus for Hampshire Township transporting seniors. Her mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. McGreevy would like to turn Hampshire into a dementia-friendly community.
She has been a force for change. She came up with the idea of holding the seminar in the township building last month that discussed the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. She worked with the township again this month so that the “Dementia Live” program could be held.
The village has taken steps to help residents affected by mental illness. The Hampshire Police Department and Hampshire Fire Protection District are participating in the Bring Me Home Safe program that can help to find people with Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome or other mental illnesses who might have become lost.
“We will have a support group for caregivers in Hampshire,” McGreevy said. “We will hold another program from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 8, in the township building. The subject will be communication and behaviors.”
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For information, contact the Hampshire township at 847-683-9464; [email protected].
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.