3 Keys to Living a Good quality of Life With Dementia, Which includes Alzheimers
This morning I watched an inspirational movie by Dan Pink on “What genuinely motivates human beings”. I couldn support relating it to my husband, Dave, with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), or to everyone with Alzheimers & related dementias.
Dave was officially diagnosed with FTD 4 years ago. For the initial couple of months right after the doctors visit, he progressed speedily. Perhaps the studies were appropriate about the life expectancy becoming three-8 years after diagnosis. I didn want to think it.
So here we are 4 years later, and I am pleased to report that Dave is doing incredibly well. Except for losing his drivers license, he has stabilized. Dave is able to do his own personal care, take the dogs for diverse hikes every single day, make his own breakfast and lunch, and can participate in most conversations.
I have my theories about why he is carrying out nicely, and Dan Pinks video covers a couple of of them. He talks about studies showing that autonomy, mastery, and purpose are the chief motivators for folks. In other words, they are essential for thriving; for living your very best life.
How does this relate to Alzheimers and dementia? With a decline in mental and physical skills, people with dementia are having several items taken away–ability to keep in mind, communicate, dress, eat, drive, and the list goes on. They are losing their autonomy simply because other individuals are deciding when they bathe, what they wear, and what they eat. I agree there are many times when it is safer and essential to make decisions for somebody with dementia, but I really feel it is critical to give them as significantly autonomy as doable. For instance, Dave has a pair of black clodhopper shoes that he likes to wear with his jacket and tie for weddings and other social events. Even though I would adore for him to wear another pair of shoes, I have to keep in mind to maintain this in perspective, and let him decide what clothes are best for him. It certainly doesn matter in the massive scheme of items, so I am operating on not wasting my energy on it.
Mastery or studying some thing new, and having fun is an additional critical motivator. It is comparable to someone learning to play golf on the weekends. Why would someone invest so significantly of their precious free of charge time attempting to sink a small white ball in a hole? Simply because it is enjoyable and there is the challenge of getting better. This reminds me of Dave and his duck carving. About 6 years ago, he was a lovely carver on his way to becoming a Master Carver. But with his hand tremors and his inability to keep in mind how to carve the fine details of the wings, the high quality of his work has dropped below a novice level. Yet he continues to subscribe to duck carving magazines, and looks forward to the next carving competition. It isn simple for me to see how much the high quality of his function has diminished, but once more, I have to remind myself that Dave is having fun and it provides him a cause for finding up in the morning. Besides, he isn bothered that he no longer wins ribbons.
All of us have a purpose for becoming here on earth–regardless of our physical, mental or emotional wellness. I will by no means forget one night when Dave was heading off to bed and I asked him how his day went. He stated it was exceptional. I was surprised and asked him what was so good about it. Simply because I washed your automobile. Can you imagine? Dave is carrying out me a favor, yet it makes a excellent day for him. Each day I give him a basic list of items to do. The only distinction from his previous honey-do lists are they change, as his abilities alter. Its a win-win.
If you keep in mind three keys–autonomy, mastery, and purpose when you are caring for those with dementia, then you will be doing your greatest–to help them reside their best.
