Help with Alzheimer's Disease or Depression

Dear Ask The Doctor: My friend has Dementia and Alzheimer's. She got diagnosed about two years and over this two years her memory has steadily deteriorated. She's only 65 years old. To give you an idea of the stage shes at, shes still very aware of her surroundings and aware of everything thats going on around her and thankfully she's never forgotton anyones face. She will often repeat herself and lately shes always talking about her childhood. She no longer understands money which I can tell shes very embarassed about. The thing is, she hasn't been out of the house since November last year where she used to go out everyday with her friends to the local cafe. For the last three months she will get up a lot later than normal, around 10am and literally sit in front on the televison until she goes to bed at about 10pm. The only time she moves is to go to the toylet. At first we suspected it was because she can't understand money anymore or shes worried about getting lost and me as well as her family members have all tried to take her out of the house but she just refuses to go. She doesn't bath herself very often anymore and her daughter asks her to have a bath after shes run it but she refuses. It just feels like all she wants to do is sit in front of the television. I'm pretty sure this is maybe depression or a side effect of her drugs. Could you offer me some advice because its so sad watching her like this while she she be enjoying her life as much as possible while she still can. Just in-case its relevant she always seems to be hot. She used to say it was hot flushes but its like shes always hot and she sits in an armless nighty while the house is very cold. Any advice you can offer would be wonderful.

Dear Richard: Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain, characterized by deterioration of thinking ability and memory, caused by the progressive degeneration of brain cells. The disease also affects mood, emotions, behaviour and one's ability to perform activities of daily living. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, nor can its progression be reversed. With the progression of the disease, the functional capacity of the person to carry out daily activities diminish along with the deterioration of the memory and recognition ability. Your friend needs to be supported emotionally and physically with her daily activities with the progression of her disease. Making the home comfortable and safe for her, arranging round-the-clock assistance for her, and providing tender loving care are the things that can be done to help her, and those around her, deal with at this stage of the disease in her life.