AIDS dementia complex

January 2007     View PDF     En español

What if someone I care for has symptoms or was diagnosed with ADC?

Help them access the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Understand that loss of mental and emotional control is terribly frightening for most people, even if it’s only moderate or short-term. However, be honest about their symptoms as you offer support and encouragement to establish trust.

Because mood changes and memory problems are common with ADC, you may encounter resistance while trying to help. Helping the person you care for to write down their symptoms in their own handwriting, as they experience them, can sometimes encourage them to seek medical care.

Professional caregivers, like home health aides, are sometimes needed to care for people with severe ADC or ADC that doesn’t respond to treatment. Seeking this kind of support is sometimes the best way to help those you love.

Caregiving for someone with memory and behavioral problems can be overwhelming, especially if it’s over a long period of time. There are support services in many cities for those who care for others with life-threatening illnesses.