September is World Alzheimer’s Month. The campaign ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s,’ continues from the 2021 campaign, which focused on diagnosis and the warning signs of dementia. In 2022, the campaign will have a special focus on post-diagnostic support.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting about 6 percent of people 65 and older. Although it may seem like just a typical disease for older people — it is, in fact, not a normal part of aging. Scientists don’t know what causes Alzheimer’s, but they suspect it is a combination of many factors. The disease affects parts of the brain that control memory, thought, and language. There is no cure, but experts think that lowering blood pressure, exercising, and not smoking may reduce the risk.
Our Corporate Development Manager, Mandy, shares her experience:
“My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in May 2021. We had noticed she was becoming more forgetful, and her personality was changing from being a chatty, outgoing person to a paranoid, fearful and quite nasty individual. Mum had started hoarding things like tins of soup and hiding money throughout the house and accusing us of stealing her things.
I had encouraged her to see a doctor in February who had referred mum to a specialist centre for an initial assessment in May. The specialist diagnosed Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia and prescribed medication. She also advised mum to give up smoking – which she refused.
By November things had gotten much worse, mum had lost a lot of weight as she was not eating and spent most of her day sleeping. I called with her several times a day to ensure she was eating and taking her medication. The final straw was when a neighbor called me in the middle of the night to say mum was walking in the nearby fields in pouring rain. My brother and I spend alternate nights with mum but this was not sustainable as we both work. Our doctor arranged for an emergency assessment in our local hospital. Mum was frail, had fallen a few times due to loss of balance and was confused. After a 12-hour day in the hospital with mum, she was given a bed. It was the last time mum was in her own home, as after a few days mum was sent to a nursing hospital and finally moved to a care home 2 weeks before Christmas.
Mum is more like her usual cheerful self and her health has improved significantly due to the care she receives in her home. Short term memories are a challenge and mum is happiest when she is visited by family and friends or taken out for afternoon tea. There is no cure for this disease only care and support.
From initial signs to diagnosis can happen quickly. Finding the best care options can be challenging and comes with a guilt complex that is hard to rise above. I now support Alzheimer’s and Dementia charities in the hope that one day a cure will be found. In the meantime, these charities do an amazing job of informing, educating, and supporting families dealing with the devastating diagnosis.”
Find out more about these charities: Older People Archives – STC Payroll Giving
Useful links:
Five things you should know about dementia | Alzheimer’s Society (alzheimers.org.uk)