| Alzheimer's disease touches the lives of millions of | | | | Significant memory problems in their loved one may |
| Americans. Today, some 4.5 million Americans suffer | | | | be dismissed as simply a part of getting old. As a |
| from Alzheimer's, and 1 in 10 families have a loved | | | | result, family members often overlook the earliest |
| one afflicted with it. With no cure in sight, it is | | | | signs of mental deterioration. They become |
| important for families to arm themselves with | | | | concerned and seek outside help only after they |
| information about this devastating disease. | | | | begin to notice the more obvious changes in behavior |
| * Alzheimer's disease begins slowly. | | | | or personality. By then, Alzheimer's has probably |
| Like a stroke, Alzheimer's kills brain cells. Unlike a | | | | progressed to the point where their loved one can |
| stroke, however, Alzheimer's does not strike | | | | no longer live independently. |
| suddenly. And, its effects are more far-ranging. | | | | * Families must be prepared for what is going to |
| Experts like to say that Alzheimer's has an insidious | | | | happen. |
| onset. This means simply that the disease starts | | | | Whenever the diagnosis of Alzheimer's is finally made, |
| slowly and unfolds very gradually. So gradually, in | | | | it is important for family members to understand that |
| fact, that the person who has Alzheimer's may not | | | | this is not a disease that can be cured or reversed. |
| realize that anything is wrong until a great deal of | | | | The fact is, individuals who have Alzheimer's will spiral |
| brain tissue has been destroyed. | | | | downward toward total care and, ultimately, death. It |
| * Early symptoms reflect what is happening inside | | | | may take years, but individuals who have Alzheimer's |
| the brain. | | | | will eventually lose everything that defines their |
| Alzheimer's disease attacks tissue deep within the | | | | personhood. Among other things, their ability to |
| brain and spreads out to include all those regions | | | | communicate will continue to decline. They will lose |
| associated with complex thinking and learning; those | | | | the ability to dress and groom themselves. They will |
| regions of the brain that make us uniquely human. As | | | | need assistance using the toilet. They may begin to |
| the path of destruction widens, individuals who have | | | | wander and to experience hallucinations. In the final |
| Alzheimer's will eventually notice that their thinking | | | | stages of the disease, individuals afflicted with |
| skills are deteriorating. More often than not, they will | | | | Alzheimer's will be unable to recognize a spouse or a |
| notice that their memory is failing. But, it is not just a | | | | child. Motor skills will decline so much that they will be |
| series of senior moments. Individuals stricken by | | | | unable to walk or to feed themselves. They will lose |
| Alzheimer's will have more than a little difficulty finding | | | | all control of bowel and bladder. Eventually, all body |
| the right words to express their thoughts and feeling. | | | | systems will shut down. |
| They may forget the names of familiar places and | | | | * Families must be willing to reach out for help. |
| long-term acquaintances. They are likely to forget | | | | Families need to think carefully about the amount of |
| long standing appointments. To compensate for | | | | assistance they are willing and able to provide. |
| these everyday losses, they may withdraw from | | | | Affection for the afflicted individual, as well as a |
| friends and avoid social gatherings. Their homes may | | | | sense of obligation, can initially blind family members |
| become littered with notes and other reminders as | | | | to the harsh realities of caring for their loved one. |
| they struggle to overcome their memory losses. | | | | Families must understand that the kind of care |
| * Alzheimer's disease affects personality and | | | | required will become more and more demanding. |
| behavior. | | | | Worse, they will have to watch as the deterioration |
| Interestingly, even as problems accumulate, many | | | | takes place. Among family caregivers, stress |
| individuals will actively deny their difficulties. Denial is a | | | | reactions can be quite severe and depression is very |
| common way of coping in the earliest stages of | | | | common. To cope, family caregivers must seek help |
| Alzheimer's. It is a defense mechanism that helps to | | | | from their larger community. The local Alzheimer's |
| preserve a sense of self-worth, which becomes | | | | Association should be their first stop. It is the best |
| increasingly fragile as thinking skills fail. Unfortunately, | | | | single resource available. The local Alzheimer's |
| denial does not "work" forever or for everyone. | | | | Association can direct families to a variety of |
| When denial no longer works, some individuals sink | | | | services and assistance. For example, many |
| into depression. Others may react with angry | | | | communities have respite programs to give families a |
| outbursts, even rage, in the face of everyday | | | | short break from care giving. Adult daycare also may |
| frustrations. It is especially common for individuals | | | | be available to provide care during the day while |
| afflicted with Alzheimer's to develop a kind of apathy. | | | | family caregivers continue with their regular jobs. |
| They lose interest in those things that used to bring | | | | Often times, special support groups are available to |
| them joy. | | | | help caregivers deal with the depression and other |
| * Early signs of Alzheimer's may go unrecognized by | | | | negative emotions that can develop over time. In |
| family members. | | | | any case, families of persons afflicted with |
| Families often engage in their own form of denial | | | | Alzheimer's disease do not have to go it alone. Help is |
| when it comes to Alzheimer's in a loved one. | | | | available. |