Alzheimer's Disease: Coping with Daily Life

Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease can be difficult. When you get an illness like bronchitis or the flu, you know you will be feeling better and functioning normally within a week or so. Alzheimer's disease is different. It will never go away and can change your life and lifestyle -- and that of your family -- in many ways.

What Are the Effects of Having a Long-term Illness?

People with Alzheimer's disease often have to deal with fatigue and losing the ability to do many of the things that they're used to doing themselves. Physical and mental changes from Alzheimer's disease can affect your mood and appearance and can diminish your positive self-image and reduce your self-esteem. When people don't feel good about themselves, they often prefer isolation and withdraw from friends and social activities.

Alzheimer's disease can also influence your ability to function and get around at home. Confusion, as well as feeling disoriented and unable to make sound decisions, may require you to modify your work activities and environment. Because people with Alzheimer's are unable to work, you may also find yourself in financial difficulty due to the rising costs of care.

You will probably find that specific tasks take much longer to accomplish and that planning your daily activities differently can help. You may also need the help of your spouse, a relative, or a home health care provider. As your life changes, you are likely to feel a loss of control and increased anxiety about what lies ahead.

In addition to all this, you may find that your moods go up and down and that you feel angry, depressed, confused, lonely, and frustrated, especially when you first get your diagnosis. These feelings are normal, but if they interfere with your ability to enjoy life and do the things you normally do, then you should tell your doctor, and the two of you can come up with some options.

How Does Stress Affect the Situation?

If you are becoming increasingly stressed out, the stress can influence how you feel about life. Prolonged stress can lead to frustration, anger, hopelessness, and, at times, depression -- all of which can worsen the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The person with the illness is not the only one affected. Family members are also affected by the long-term illness of a loved one.