Medusa, whose beautiful hair was changed to a head of hissing serpents each called “Stigma”

I am still writing and rewriting chapters in my book entitled Brave New World of Dementia. It is still in a lot of re-write without a lot of new chapters. It is more of an undertaking then I anticipated but I am enjoying it immensely. I will post parts from time to time as they are near or are finished.

 In the meantime I am starting a new corner for comments and articles that come up in the course of my reading. This will happen randomly with no regularity. When I see or write something I like you will see it posted.

The first in my column of what’s new or interesting is the following:

Bob DeMarco wrote the following comment on Alzheimer’s Reading Room. I responded along with 9 others with my view on Stigma. I have hypertext’d the Reading Room so you can click on it, go to it, and read everything.

Alzheimer's is hard to detect. Hard to diagnose. Hard to understand. Most of all its hard to accept.

By Bob DeMarco 
Alzheimer's Reading Room 

Is their a stigma attached to Alzheimer's?

If so, how does this stigma effect a person living with Alzheimer's (or any type of dementia)?

How does this stigma effect an Alzheimer's caregivers ability to care, or function?

How have you been affected by Alzheimer's?

I am interested in learning if you believe there is a stigma attached to Alzheimer's?

How does this stigma effect you? What effect has it had on the reactions of your family and friends?

Do ignorance and denial play a role in this stigma?

If Alzheimer's was better understood would this stigma go away? Or, be reduced?

Are people prejudiced against people with Alzheimer's disease? 

How do you think the stigma associated with Alzheimer's could be reduced, or eradicated?

Please take the time to use the Add New Comment box below to share your thoughts and feelings on this issue.

Medusa, whose beautiful hair was changed to a head of hissing serpents each called “Stigma”

Like Medusa whose beautiful head of hair was changed to a head of hissing serpents, stigma is the same kind of head whose hair are the same serpents as those occupying Medusa’s head. They seem to be all different flowing for myriad reasons by our loved ones, acquaintances and public in general who react badly to Dementia and people with it.

They are the crowd who say the worst thing that could happen to me would be to have Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). That is their only impression, only response, they never grow beyond that even when looking AD in the face.

Their knees jerk screaming “shun,” “get away from me,” you just imagine you have it, quit dramatizing and seeking sympathy,” “I don’t know what to do, what to say, so I don’t, lest it be wrong.” This rendition could go on into infinity. 

Fear, control, possessiveness, denial…. are but a few of the reasons for it and for it staying with a person even when someone known to them all of a sudden is diagnosed with it. It is a paralysis that keeps them from learning anything about it; they simply want it out of their presence. “Put it away” the say! “I can’t handle it!”

The sorriest part is those who prey on our circumstance with their own agendas that embed the stigma more deeply in us. This is the no hope, no cure, nothing we can do but raise more funds to find the cure bunch. 

They accentuate the worst of AD, which is easy to find and describe and scare the pants off everyone not exposed to it. Their agenda in doing this is to scare people into believing they too might get this awful malady unless they contribute money to avoid it. Painted with this purpose this just ncourages more stigmas.  

Harry John’s, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association said it 1-27-11, short in days to a year ago:

“Alzheimer's will darken the long-awaited retirement years of the one out of eight baby boomers who will develop it. Those who will care for these loved ones will witness, day by day, the progressive and relentless realities of this fatal disease. But we can still change that if we act now."

A year ago? And, what I quote was said in a public pronouncement accompanying the release of the latest compilation of facts and figures about AD. Does that have an effect on Stigma? You answer that one.