How to Face Fear with Knowledge Part IV

Quality of Life IS Possible After a Diagnosis of Dementia

 So says Judy Berry on life after dementia. Judy is the operator of Lake View Ranch in our state. She has national recognition for running an operation caring for the difficult behavior patients afflicted with Dementia. Click on the title to go to the Judy’s article on Alzheimer’s Reading Room or click on Archive to read it there.

Judy starts the article with a number of key affirmations that caught my eye:

Importance of early diagnosis. It is EXTREMELY important for anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of dementia, for example, memory loss, confusion, personality changes--to seek an appropriate medical diagnosis. Some diseases--uncontrolled diabetes, some thyroid conditions, medication side effects and many others--mimic symptoms of dementia, yet are completely curable and reversible.

Moreover, the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia or other types of dementia facilitates early interventions that can maintain the highest possible quality of life and considerably delay the onset of debilitating symptoms.

Dementia as a family disease. As a long-term caregiver for my own mother, I absolutely understand the tremendous disbelief, denial, frustration, fear, and anger associated with being a caregiver for someone with a disease that appears to rob us of the person we have known and loved because they lose the ability to communicate in a way we understand. I know first-hand how hearts are torn and emotions worn thin trying to deal with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Dementia is a family disease: as a caregiver or family member

She then goes on to advice for caregiving which is good in all cases, superb when dealing with behaviors that are difficult to happen. There is so much that can be done for us at all stages other than dealing only with those in Early Stage.

Judy’s Lakeview Ranch operation concentrates on this and offers those who would not otherwise have quality of life a full quality of life. Her’s is affirmation and direction in the field of the many needs we have in living day to day that are currently so vastly overlooked.

In my next post I should get back to what I said in my last post, namely:

“This leads me to the next topic I will deal with in my next post. Well-meaning as all of the professionals are, particularly the fund raisers, something fundamental seems awry. I have believed a silent agenda exists that is the reason for the singular approach of the Alz.Assoc. I am deeply troubled by the sense of being used as one afflicted with this disease. We are listened to appointed to serve in an advisory way on a variety of boards, but we are not heard. We are patronized, patted on the head and made available to the media to give personal testimonials in the nature of “A Day in the Life of One Afflicted by Alzheimer’s”