Nataly Rubinstein - ALZHEINMER's CAREGIVING

No doubt about it: when someone you love is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or some other cause of dementia, it’s a crushing blow. Not only must you face the fact that your loved one has a degenerative (and ultimately fatal) condition, you also have to deal with a plethora of increasingly strange behaviors. Mother tells the same story fifty times a day and wanders the house all night. Or Dad compulsively loads and then unloads the dishwasher. Or your devoted spouse of thirty years is suddenly convinced you’re cheating on him with the next-door neighbor.If you feel confused, worried, frustrated, or even angry about the bewildering behaviors exhibited by your family member, congratulations. You’re normal. And now, says Nataly Rubinstein, it’s time to come to terms with a hard truth: the real source of your negative reaction is not necessarily the patient. It’s you.“One big reason these behaviors are ‘unwanted’ is because they disrupt your life,” points out Rubinstein, author of the new book Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver’s Complete Survival Guide www.AlzheimersCareConsultants.com). “Sure, many behaviors are unhealthy and dangerous for you and your loved one. Other times, though, it’s not the actual behavior that’s causing so much trouble—it’s our reaction to that behavior, based on the mindset we’ve locked ourselves into.”