by Sylvia Mcgrath

Created on: August 06, 2008

The most progressive form of dementia

The most progressive form of dementia these days is Alzheimer's and it is diagnosed in 70% of dementia patients.

At first memory loss is very subtle, forgetting the odd name loosing or misplacing items and forgetting appointments.

As the neurological functions gradually deteriorate; the patient usually gets quite confused and is often quite devastated as they try to understand what is happening to them.

It is the short term memory that goes first and then the long term, until the disease has robbed a person's individual memory completely making them incapable of understanding or reasoning. When this happens the patient can get very frustrated, quick tempered and very abusive to the people they love the most and at times can even become quite violent.

It can be very hard and quite devastating for the family or caregiver facing the day to day challenges of caring for their loved ones, watching them deteriorates to where they cannot function in the easiest of tasks. However, there are now several great medications one in particular called Adalat which cuts the progression of the disease by approximately fifty percent. There are so many new and improved treatments these days that hopefully they may be able to catch it and treat the disease at the onset.

The Alzheimer's Society is a great place for resources and support, most centers have a day program where the patient can be dropped off early in the morning and picked up in the evening. This allows the caregiver a chance to take a break or continue working knowing that the person they are responsible for is in good hands.

The Society's support program for the caregiver is such a blessing, besides holding informational programs where they advise the family what to expect as the disease progresses, they also give support to them for as long as they need it whether the patient is placed in a nursing home or finally dies of the disease.

In 2003 I was in a position where my mother who had lived with my husband and me for about thirty years was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I became her primary caregiver and had to face the every day challenges of caring for her. At first I managed fine, but as the disease went through its difference stages it became quite difficult.

When we first got the diagnosis, my daughter and I attended a weekend information session, where we were briefed as to what to expect and how to handle the different situations that were likely to come up as the disease progressed.

The

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>