How to cope with agitation in your loved one who has Alzheimer’s
How to cope with agitation in your loved one who has Alzheimer’s by: William G. Hammond, J.D. Many times, understanding the meaning of a word can give us great insight into the issue at hand. What is agitation? Extreme emotional disturbance. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language) A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquility; disturbance of mind that shows itself by physical excitement. (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary). A mental state of extreme emotional disturbance, the feeling of being agitated; not calm. (WorldNet 1.6). Many Alzheimer’s patients experience agitation in addition to memory loss. In the early stages of the illness, people with Alzheimer’s may encounter changes in their personality, such as irritability, anxiety or even depression. But as the disease progresses, these symptoms can worsen and become more difficult to live with. They may include sleep disturbances, delusions and hallucinations. Many times Alzheimer's patients c...