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Recognizing the Contributions
of those with Alzheimer’s
May is Older American’s Month and a good time to think about all those with Alzheimer’s disease who have perhaps become nothing more than the sum of their disease to those around them.
As a caretaker for a person with Alzheimer’s it is sometimes easy to forget who the person was prior to the disease which is destroying their mind and memories. In the words of Dorothy Seman, a nurse at the Alzheimer’s Family Care Center in Chicago, “People with dementia are more than plaques and tangles.”
It is especially important to speak with those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s in order to gain valuable insights into their minds and their lives, allowing them to retain their dignity as the disease progresses.
Older Americans Month 2011
Older Americans Month is a wonderful occasion to show our appreciation for all seniors and remember how much enrichment they have brought to our lives and our communities.
The theme for this year’s Older Americans Month is: Older Americans: Connecting the Community, and this theme is particularly applicable to those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. After all, these people were once a vital part of their community. They worked in jobs, had families, made contributions to our world, and it is extremely important for us to look at those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and fully recognize those specific contributions.
Labeling Those with Alzheimer’s
Unfortunately, we tend to label people who have Alzheimer’s or other diseases, and stop seeing them as a person. Each person who has Alzheimer’s disease will both react and deal with the disease differently; some will show improvement while taking certain drugs, others will not.
While it is a common belief that those with Alzheimer’s do not clearly understand their disease, it’s much more likely they are simply in denial due to the many unpleasant stigmas which surround Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A certain level of denial may be a necessity in order for the person with Alzheimer’s to deal with such a disease; however this in no way means they don’t understand what is happening to them. Most all people with Alzheimer’s disease experience a fear of the future, and of losing their sense of self while still living and breathing.
Older Americans Month is the perfect time to recall the person the disease may be hiding, and celebrate their life.
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