by Roger Crain

Created on: May 10, 2009

Alzheimer's is a progressive/degenerative disease which causes people to lose all contact with reality; furthermore, there is no known cure for the malady, and when a loved one has been afflicted with the condition, there is nothing that one can do but watch and wait in utter frustration as the condition takes its toll. Thus, this article will be based on the facts below, and provide you with factual information as to why children should not be allowed to visit their grandparent who has been strickened with alzheimer's.

1.) There are 5.3 million people in the United States who are living with alzheimer's. Getting children to see the demographics of that unwieldy number is easy, but helping them to understand the difficulty that an afflicted loved one goes through on daily basis is like a juggling three balls with one hand: The difficulty arises when the juggler speeds up and yet loses his momentum and invariably drop the balls. So it is with trying to help a child understands the complexities of alzheimer's.

2.) Alzheimer's has tripled the healthcare costs for Americans 65 and older. Having to explain to your young charges why Gramma or Grampa has to move out of the house is heart-rending not to mention to tell them that it would be easy on the family budget if Gramma or Grampa was signed into a nursing-care facility. The aforementioned scenarios would be equally devastating to their finite minds because of the gravity and/or import of that financial feasibility decision: Signing Gramma and/or Grampa in a nursing-care facility.

3.) Alzheimer's rank as the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. On top of being a slow, degenerative disease, alzheimer's causes those who contracts the malady to eventually die. Telling your children that Gramma's or Grampa's condition may eventually killed them is as devastating or even more so as the aforementioned fact. That's why it takes sound judgement when grappling with the issues of alzheimer's.

4.) The direct and indirect costs to taxpayers amounts to $148 billion per year. This is a financial infeasible fact when it comes to our children. It is doubtful that children will grasp the gravity of such a decision. So your only choice is to abstain.

Finally, these facts are why children should not be allowed to visit a grandparent who has been strickened with alzheimer's. There are other more valid reasons to support the premise of this piece. Yet, we will see what will become of our aged loved ones who has been strickened with alzheimer's.

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