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