STATEMENT: Carol's having a little problem with her memory.
Initially: might be an accurate statement.
Two years later: a euphemism that doesn't benefit anyone.
Imagine denying a person's cancer diagnosis. There's no need to treat it. I just have an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in my body. It's not that bad. It's early in the diagnosis anyway and I'm not even experiencing any major symptoms. I'll do something about it when it really gets bad. Ridiculous, right? Most people would not follow that path. But Alzheimer's disease, and other dementia, are no less serious. As a matter of fact, cancer isn't always fatal, but Alzheimer's is. There is no cure at this time.
Most people would spring into action upon receiving a cancer diagnosis: learning as much as possible about it; taking measures to curtail the cancer's effects on their lives. The sooner one does something about it, the better the chances of successful treatment. For some reason, when a person receives an Alzheimer's diagnosis, there's a self-inflicted stigma attached to it, as if the afflicted person brought the condition on themselves. This is an unfortunate perception and one that should be put to rest. Whereas a diagnosis of clinical depression or mental illness used to be a taboo subject, those conditions are now more readily accepted in the public's eye. Alzheimer's must be brought out into the open, especially as it affects you or a loved one.
THREE MAJOR REASONS WHY ONE SHOULD ACT ON AN ALZHEIMER'S DIAGNOSIS:
- The window of opportunity to start early drug therapy can be a very narrow one.
The time to seek medical assistance is when symptoms become fairly consistent and more than just a "senior moment." A thorough medical exam should be conducted to rule out any cause other than dementia. Some medical conditions and/or medication usage can mimic cognitive decline. All the more reason to act early to rule out what might be a readily fixable temporary condition.
If after the thorough medical exam, a cognitive workup is warranted, you'll have a defined cognitive baseline and can start treatments and/or make adjustments in the household that will minimize the disease's impact on your lives. Now you're in the driver's seat, regaining some amount of control over the disease.
- Those close to you need to be informed.
As mentioned in my article: "Caregiving: The Ultimate Team Sport" (see link below) you can't assemble a care team if you're ignoring the needs and challenges facing you and your loved one. You'll be amazed at the relief you'll feel knowing that you're not battling this disease on your own. Let your family and close friends know early on what you need from them. Partner with them to become a formidable force upon which you can rely. You need support and it's available from several resources.
- Join an Alzheimer's Association support group.
The Alzheimer's Association lists support groups in every region that should prove extremely helpful to you. Type in your zip code in the upper right corner of their website and you'll be connected with the Chapter located nearest to you. Within that local Chapter you'll then be able to search for a support group by typing in your city, county, zip code, etc. As an example, if you go to the Western and Central Washington State Chapter site you'll see how readily this information can be found. You'll find groups for patients who are in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's and other dementia, as well as those for the family members who are attempting to support their loved one who has received a dementia diagnosis. Both groups can do much towards providing you with confidence and hope when none can be found. These groups become a practical resource into which you can tap to benefit from others' experiences in managing the disease.
If you or a loved one has received an Alzheimer's/dementia diagnosis, you've just entered one of the most difficult chapters of your life. You deserve all the support and medical attention you can get. Ignoring the condition doesn't make it any less real so please take the steps needed to manage this stage of your life effectively.
My next article in the Dementia Series, "Driving with Dementia: the dangers of denial," will be published on Monday, May 30th.
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