Have you ever run into someone at an extended family gathering, business function, or other social event and found yourself at a loss for the name of someone you’ve previously met? Worse yet, did that person remember your name and a special detail about you even though you didn’t recognize him or her? If you can answer “yes” to any of the above scenarios, then you’re likely only scratching the surface, so to speak, of the emotions felt by those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. While such an experience may cause many of us to feel slightly flustered or blush, consider how Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can magnify the intensity of emotions. For instance, consider how the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease might affect the emotional state of a senior who—after having spent years being an authority on a particular subject—can no longer remember basic words or fundamental concepts. Moreover, since the symptoms can occur at different times, consider the emotional state of someone who realizes that he or she has temporarily forgotten the names of his or her children.
While we can easily fall into the habit of experiencing a loved one’s symptoms through our own limited perspectives, we should try to bear in mind that our loved one’s emotional spectrums—with regard to their symptoms—may exceed our own. That said, our loved one’s unusual behaviors and emotional outbursts may sometimes seem completely unjustified or irrational to us outside observers. If your loved one has had a recent emotional outburst or engaged in potentially dangerous behavior as a result of his or her condition, then you may want to seek the advice of an Ohio elder law attorney.
