Who knew?

Posted by billiekip @billiekip, Jun 28 12:10pm

My husband has ALZ and is living in a memory care facility, so I seldom share on this site anymore. I am an advocate more than a caretaker. However, I attended an ALZ class recently. I didn't know that ALZ effects peripheral vision which makes driving dangerous with inability to see cars on either side of the car. Also, it is important not to come up from behind a person or the side; always try to approach from the front to avoid startling them. You can't learn too much about ALZ. I encourage you to reach out to your local ALZ associations for classes and recommended books. My husband has professional caretakers now, but I still visit him every day, so it helps to learn how to interact in the best way.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

wctdoc1943 | @wctdoc1943 | Jun 29 12:03pm

Interesting information. My wife whose diagnosis is MCI (but I suspect is in the early/mid stages of Alz) is unaware of being approaced from any direction (including frontal) if she is reading or looking at her tablet. I can (slowly and gently) move my hand toward her eyes and she will startle when I about a foot away. It never crossed my mind that it might be related to cognition.

jillsy | @jillsy | Jun 30 10:46am

That is very interesting. For years (way before his diagnosis of dementia) my husband will just stop when walking and I am walking behind him - he doesn't seem to be aware that someone is almost on top of him. He does that at airports, etc when walking in front of strangers. Maybe I won't be so irritated when he does that now!