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October 22, 2001
As Americans struggle with the emotional stress of terrorism and war, geriatric experts advise families to heighten their sensitivity to the needs of aging family members.
Most at risk are the three to five million senior Americans who suffer from some form of Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, often characterized by confusion, memory loss and anxiety. For these people, favorite activities like reading the newspaper or listening to talk radio now pose new risks of increased anxiety due to coverage of the war.
"People with dementia have impaired reasoning abilities and can't distinguish what happened in New York from something that happened in Afghanistan or their own city," notes Linda Fodrini-Johnson, geriatric therapist and founder of Eldercare Services in Walnut Creek, California, a leader in family counseling and care services for aging families. "Constant news of terrorism and war heightens their anxiety and can increase behavioral problems."
For a person with any form of dementia, repeated exposure to news about terrorism and the war can trigger old memories, making them as real as if they occurred today, and create the same sense of loss as in the past.
Fodrini-Johnson cautions that the result for a family member with dementia could be increased confusion and anxiety, sleep difficulties, night terrors, incontinence, appetite loss and combative behaviors.
Eldercare Services recommends positive steps that families can take to help loved ones who suffer from dementia, including:
· Remove newspapers and magazines with strong visuals
· Change radio stations from news-talk to music
· Keep the doors of communication open so loved ones don't feel isolated
· Avoid in-depth discussions about the war in front of loved ones
· Seek out support groups and learn how to address difficult issues
Fodrini-Johnson reminds clients that, "Like everyone facing issues of terrorism and war, people with dementia need to express their feelings." Her strongest recommendation is that families work together to be sensitive to the individual needs of those with dementia, and avoid stressful situations whenever possible.
Eldercare Services, based in Walnut Creek, California, is one of the nation's leading providers of counseling, therapy and geriatric care management for older adults and their families. Founded in 1989, the company is privately held, and services families and communities throughout the Western U.S.
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