Page 13 - June Hernando 2020 Senior Voice
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Health Connections Senior Voice of Hernando County - JUNE 2020 • 13
Senior Voice of Hernando County • JUNE 2020 • 13
Coping with Dementia
Covid-19 Has Changed the Conversation
By Debbie I now see among my support groups issue, there is now a greater emphasis
Selsavage a keen interest in discussing the on contingency planning. I consider
issues that are inevitable but not yet this a healthy trend. More intelligent
When social distancing pressing. These include conversations discussion among care partners about
began in response to about powers-of-attorney, healthcare contingency planning today will result in
Covid-19, I, and other surrogacy, professional placement, a reduced need for crisis management in
dementia practitioners, financial planning, arranging for third- the future, and this is a good thing.
could no longer party support, and – perhaps the most
facilitate support groups important of all -- self-care! Let’s face Debbie Selsavage is a Certified
for the care partners of individuals living it; if we don’t take care of ourselves and Trainer and Consultant in the Positive
with Alzheimer’s and other forms of prudently plan, one day there may be no Approach to Care, and a Certified
dementia. Dementia Practitioner. Her company,
one to take care of our loved one with Coping with Dementia LLC, is
Previously, I had conducted two support dementia. dedicated to making life better for
groups per month, but these had to So Covid-19 has definitely flipped the individuals living with dementia.
be canceled and hastily reorganized agenda. While crisis management is Contact Debbie at deb@coping.today to
as virtual meetings through on-line still, and always will be, an important learn about free support groups on line.
technology. With workshops, speaking
engagements, and other face-to-face D o n ’ t He s it a t e t o
events also canceled, I suddenly had
more time and more demand for on- S e e k E m e r g e n c y C a r e
line contact, and soon I found myself
facilitating as many as ten on-line Heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest symptoms are always urgent. Don’t
meetings a month. And with no hesitate to call 911.
geographical limitations, we’ve had Emergency workers know what to do to protect and care for you.
people joining us from as far away as HEART ATTACK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Oregon and Ontario! • Chest discomfort
So, clearly, Covid-19 has revolutionized • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
the methodology and frequency of care • Shortness of breath
partner support meetings. But what I • Other possible signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or
did not anticipate was that it would also lightheadedness.
significantly change the nature of the • As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain
conversation by confronting each of us or discomfort. Some women are more likely to experience shortness of
with the question, “What will happen breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
to my loved one with dementia if I REMEMBER TO ACT F.A.S.T. DURING STROKE
suddenly become incapacitated?” • Face drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?
• Arm weakness – Is one arm weak or numb?
Typically, support groups dedicate a • Speech difficulty – Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they
lot of time to the crisis-du-jour; the hard to understand?
problems caused by their loved one’s • Time to call 911 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the
behavior that they do not know how to symptoms go away, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately.
cope with. Usually, this leaves little time CARDIAC ARREST
to talk about the care partner’s health and Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions and stops beating
wellbeing, or for contingency planning unexpectedly. Within seconds, a person becomes unresponsive, is not
in the event that they too become ill or breathing or is only gasping. Survival depends on getting immediate CPR.
incapacitated.
