Abuse of any kind is difficult to deal with. Types of verbal abuse can include the following:

• Does your loved one ignore your feelings?
  

• Is he disrespectful?
  

• Does he withhold approval, appreciation or affection?
  

• Does he walk away without answering you?
  

• Does he criticize you, call you names or yell at you?
  

• Does he humiliate you in public or in the privacy of your home?
  

• Does he tell you that you are too sensitive?
  

• Does he destroy furniture or punch holes in the walls?
  

These are some of the signs, but there are many more that may be observed. Abuse is difficult to deal with if the abuser has Alzheimer’s disease since the abuser can’t really control it.

If a person with Alzheimer’s becomes verbally abusive, it may be because he is suffering from depression or aggressive behavior caused by the disease. In this case you might want to involve your doctor and let him know the situation. He may be able to prescribe an anti-depressive medication or simply change the current medication. You may want to take a break from your loved one, as sometimes caring all the time for the same person can be exhausting. Or you can try to place your loved one in an adult day care, or hire some professional help. Make sure that substitute caregivers are knowledgeable about Alzheimer’s disease and know how to handle patients with dementia.

One way to deal with the situation before it becomes a big problem is to try humor. You cannot control how your loved one is acting but you can decrease the feelings of frustration by controlling how you respond. Try to validate your loved one’s feelings; it will definitely help him. Many times, people with Alzheimer’s are so frustrated that they act it out through verbal abuse and aggression. Put yourself in his place. It is very frustrating!

The most important thing you have to remember is not to talk “down” to your loved one because he is still a person with an entire life history of success and independence. If you see that what you are trying to do or say to him is not working, just let it go for a while, step out of the room and come back later. Let your loved one calm down and relax. You may want to try music. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients often find music relaxing.

Finally, if you still feel overwhelmed, join a support group that specifically deals with verbal abuse and learn how to cope with it. Many times other people in the group will have experienced the same ordeal with their loved ones. Group members may be able to counsel you on how they coped or dealt with this kind of behavior.

This group will also help you to deal with your emotions and frustrations. They will tell you how to control them, and once you are able to deal with your own feelings, then you will be more effective coping with your loved one’s behavior.

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com.

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Alzheimer's... Alzheimer's: Prevent it now! Copyright 2005 Think Healthy Do you think you can avoid Alzheimer's? Many people think mental health is more important than physical health. We desire to keep our brains sharp and focus while remaining relax, calm and comfortable with our emotions. If you are living healthy by getting exercise, eating foods with proper nutrition and drinking good quality water, then you already have a good start on preventing Alzheimer's. Other things to consider are making new friends, joining a club or organization or perhaps a gym. Socialization is an important step to our mental and emotional health. You should think about these things now not later when the damage is beginning to take its toll. Preventative measures are usually the best approach to staying healthy. This also applies to preventing Alzheimer's. Nutrition and vitamins such as vitamin C and E may reduce your risk of Alzheimer's by absorbing free radicals. A study from John Hopkins shows that...

Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Prevention News

Alzheimer's: What you need to know (USA Today) In the next few decades the number of Alzheimer's cases will virtually explode, putting a huge strain on the health care system and American families, experts say. Alzheimer's disease is estimated to affect as many as 5.2 million Americans now as many as 16 million by 2050. Expert: When to get help for Alzheimer's (The Arizona Republic) Moving a loved one who is suffering the effects of Alzheimer's disease into a care facility is an individual decision that comes at a different time and under very different circumstances for everyone, says an expert at Sun Health Research Institute. When the Caregiver Becomes the Patient (HealthDay via Yahoo! News) THURSDAY, Nov. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The stress of providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer's results in 25 percent of family caregivers having at least one emergency room or hospital visit every six months, says an Indiana University study. The Buckingham raises $19,000 to end Alzheimer’s disease (Memorial Examiner) In late August, residents and staff members of The Buckingham retirement community launched a determined fundraising and awareness campaign to end Alzheimer’s disease.