As difficult as this caregiving business is for us, the spouses, can you imagine what it would be like for them if they lived ALONE??? Apparently this is very common and quite scary. The direct link to the article is on my home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - under Breaking News.
If you want to copy and paste: http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/08/10603361-1-in-7-with-alzheimers-or-other-dementia-lives-alone-report-finds
This occurs a lot more than we realize. My elderly SIL lived alone. The family wasn't aware that anything was amiss. I was the only one who called her on a regular basis and I began noticing she wasn't reasoning well. Come to find out her checking account was overdrawn, taxes on condo were paid with a check that bounced. She was hospitalized with a lung problem, suffered two strokes, never went home. God was good to the family because we only had to really look out after her for six months and that was after she was placed in a NH, passing away quickly.
It is very easy to overlook eccentricities as part of aging. It would be interesting to know how many of these poor souls are struggling on their own.
You know I am a hospice patient visitor. Office got a call for an evaluation. No address-just a road intersection. We are fearless people. The visit was made. Turns out the person was living in his van on an empty lot. He was comfortable where he was and actually safe for the time being. With supervision he can stay where he is. Sometimes a huge intervention isn't needed. Moving a person from their preferred environment isn't always the best thing. The person actually had some utilities hooked up. Trust me-he will be carefully watched.
My first reaction was "scary" as well. As we all know too well, the amount of supervision that is needed to insure safety and health management for those with ALZ is significant. These souls are at risk to themselves and others. Feeling sad and helpless to change it.
Part of the problem is the demise of the extended family as we knew it. I've known several elderly people who have had no family--by choice or by chance. None of them had AD, they were independent and capable. But unless there is some sort of crisis, just who would know about their needs? Who would visit in a care facility? Did anyone else see the article about the 73 y.o. twins who died on the same day and no one knew for several days because they were very reclusive?
I often wonder how many of the homeless that act weird are really suffering from AD or other dementia? I know people like to say they are drunk or crazy, but is it dementia instead?
Charlotte, I don't know about the act weird homeless people, but I do believe there are many people out there that have AZ and family and friends just say it is old age or the person has always been strange and forgets lots of things. And, I really believe that many of EOAD people are those that were exposed to Agent Orange in Nam.
Judith - I know they are looking into whether there is a connection, at least that is the feelings I got when talking to the VA social worker a couple years ago. I am afraid with my hb they would look at family history and that his younger sister also has AD and not even consider it being caused by Agent Orange. Just a thought - wonder what medical problems the Vietnamese are suffering from it since they were unable to leave the areas that were sprayed with it.