I was in Petsmart yesterday, and struck up a conversation with an attractive woman who was pitching Blue Buffalo pet foods. I had to explain that I didn't have time to talk, because my AD husband was waiting for me in the car. Her eyes got wide and she shared her Mother had called last week and informed her that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. I expressed my sympathy for her and her siblings ...that they had a tough road ahead of them. Talk about a "virgin".. The daughter said, "Oh well, it could be worse. At least losing her memory won't be a a life or death thing!" I couldn't say another word. She didn't have a clue, it was obvious! I suggested she mght want to watch the HBO special tonight...because it might answer many of her initial questions. Later, I wondered if that was the right thing to do. I will never know if she watched the program.
There is so much that needs to be done to spread the word about Alzheimer's Disease. I hope people will watch the special...even if they do not have a family member currently suffering from AD. Knowledge is power and we need both!!
We're trying Nancy. Oh, how we are trying to educate and inform people, but honestly, I don't think anyone really cares unless it hits their family.
In my opinion, you did the right thing by telling that woman to watch the special. She is going to be hit with the harsh reality sooner or later. She might as well know what she is in for.
i wish i could take that girl to my dh`s bed right now she would have a big douse of reality, i am going to do alot of talking to people i know who think this is not a bad thing, he is close to a veg. right now, only memory my foot, he can`t even talk anymore. needs to be alot more talking about this illness so people get educated
It has occurred to me recently, after talking to several friends who are educated people in their 50's and 60's, that perhaps the public misperceptions about AD are because most cases have traditionally been seen in the elderly. Is it possible that people attribute the physical symptoms of the later stage patient to their advanced age, not to the disease? Both of the conversatons I had were in conjunction with discussing future renovations in our home. When I brought up the potential need for a bedroom/bathroom on the first level, these friends were surprised that AD would create a problem with climbing stairs. Since my husband is 64 and healthy otherwise, I could see it took them by surprise.
Some months ago, we were at the memory clinic. I began speaking with a woman whose husband had been recently diagnosed. There was so much that she didn't know. I felt so sorry for her that she had to tread this path that we are all on. I realized how much I had grown but also how far I have to go.
I don't think any of us, unless we have had a very close relative with the disease, have any clue what we are in for. When we came home after the diagnosis, Sid and I sat on the couch with our arms around each other. I told him not to worry - that I would always take care of him. I had NO IDEA that the Sid I knew was going to disappear slowly. I thought he would always be him, just with memory loss. I had NO IDEA of the personality changes, rages, total brain destruction. Who would know or who would listen if it wasn't happening to their spouse or parent, or sibling?