{"id":68484,"date":"2016-11-30T09:30:50","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T09:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/alzheimers-conversation-senior-loved-one\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T19:08:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:08:45","slug":"alzheimers-conversation-senior-loved-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comfortkeepers.ca\/toronto\/alzheimers-conversation-senior-loved-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Alzheimer\u2019s: Having The Conversation With Your Senior Loved One"},"content":{"rendered":"

As of 2016, there are an estimated 564,000 Canadians living with dementia – plus about 25,000 new cases diagnosed every year.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You see little signs at first – confusion over time and place, difficulty completing familiar tasks – but you are not sure if these are normal signs of aging or signs of something more. The thought of these signs being something more than normal aging isn’t some where you want to go.<\/p>\n

Needing to have a talk about Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss with a parent can be a daunting task for many adult children. For seniors, the
\nidea of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease can trigger fear, anxiety, or even grief. It\u2019s no wonder some adult children put the conversation off, once they see the initial signs in their loved one. What\u2019s more, if the afflicted senior already has impaired judgment or memory loss from the disease, it may already be too late for a rational, cohesive conversation about it. In any case, it\u2019s wise to approach the topic \u2212 and your loved one \u2212 with great sensitivity and care.<\/p>\n

Taking Your Senior Loved One to See the Doctor<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Symptoms related to the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, such as memory loss, confusion, mood swings, changes in personality, difficulty completing certain tasks or finding the correct word could also be caused by a number of other medical or psychiatric problems. Mentioning that your loved one\u2019s symptoms could be the result of another underlying issue may make him or her more willing to visit the doctor for a full examination and a proper diagnosis.<\/p>\n

You may also want to consider offering to go to the doctor with your loved one as part of a morning or afternoon outing, such as going to lunch, shopping, or some other activity. An enjoyable event could take the sting out of having to visit the doctor for a firm diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Senior Alzheimer\u2019s Diagnosis: The Next Steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n

How you approach your loved one to talk about an Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis can depend on your relationship with him or her. Are you close enough to have a frank conversation, and will the senior readily welcome your suggestions and help? Or does your loved one tend to keep things private, and could become embarrassed or self-conscious? Will he or she feel insulted? However you approach your parent, it is imperative for him or her to feel supported and encouraged during this difficult time.<\/p>\n

Researchers have found that families who don’t discuss the disease with their loved one may witness increased fear and paranoia. Instead, it is better to be open about it, while reassuring your loved one that it is a fairly common brain illness. Tell him or her that there is nothing that could have been done to prevent it, but there are things that can help slow the disease and you will do your best to help. Also, allay any fear of abandonment. While it\u2019s scary to think of losing memory and forgetting the family, it is even more frightening to think that the family will forget them. Ease your loved one\u2019s anxiety by telling him or her that no matter what happens, you will get through it together.<\/p>\n

Discussing A Diagnosis Of Alzheimer\u2019s with Toronto Seniors<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hearing about an Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis from one’s child can be hard to take, but chances are your loved one already knows that something is going on long before a doctor reaches a diagnosis \u2212 and he or she has the right to know what is happening. Here are some suggestions on how to discuss the disease:<\/p>\n