Living with a person who has Alzheimer’s disease

An animator at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal, he has more than 30 years of experience in regard to helping. This month, he offers training workshops for caregivers at Regina-Assumpta College (1750 Sauriol Street East). It is not by chance that Armand animates these meetings. He himself has members of his family who suffer from Alzheimer type dementia.

“People do not realize that this disease is not just about a loss of memory. It is more complex. When we are at the home of a person with this disease, it is necessary to be watchful 24 hours per day. These people can live at home, but it is necessary to ensure supervision and be in regular contact with them,” he said, noting that his mother-in-law who has Alzheimer’s disease lived on top of his residence for a long time.

“She was like our third child,” he added. “We made sure of the supervision with the help of our neighbours because we were not always there. They were advised that if they saw her on the street to call us. Fortunately, she never left alone. On the other hand, she opened the door to anyone, she left her stove on or the tap open with the stopper in place.”

“When the person endangers her safety, living arrangements should be looked at,” he emphasized.

At the training workshops, the educator presents Alzheimer’s disease in seven meetings: knowing it better, its impact, the most adequate interventions and how to negotiate with the disease that progressively evolves.

(Translated by Michael Beigleman)