When we first acknowledged the symptoms, my grandmother Jessie, in her late eighties, had food burning on the stove. We all stood in awe realizing that it could have been much worse if the family had not shown up that day. My uncle asked her what was happening and had she realized that she had food burning on the stove. That is when she said in an angry tone “your father should have been home at lunch.” My uncle’s father, also my grandfather was not coming home that day or any other as he passed away 20 years before.
After several evaluations, it was determined that my grandmother, such an independent woman, could no longer live on her own and was transitioned to a nursing home knowing that her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s would not get better. She had moved quickly from middle to late stages of Alzheimer’s. She was no longer able to walk on her own, and she appeared to re-experience different times and events of her life from the past. Sometimes I would visit her and she would know my name, and other times I was a friend taking her to the “dime store”.
Alzheimer’s disease causes a progressive decline where memory and thinking, word recollection, and decision making is impacted. Early on the person may be aware of subtle deficits. As the disease progresses, it becomes more difficult, especially for the family, when symptoms of anosognosia appears. This is where the person is not aware of the deficits, may overestimate their abilities as compared to their caregivers, and insists there is no need for help. They may refuse to go to medical appointments and refuse treatments, insist on driving and continue to use dangerous appliances (such as stoves). When care givers talk to them or present evidence on their forgetfulness, decision making, making up stories, mishandling money, or not taking care of themselves, they may become angry and defensive. This is not a defense mechanism, such as denial, it is actually due to the brain cells that have been changed by the disease that would help them make connections about their abilities and no longer function to provide information and feedback about the situation. It is common for someone with Alzheimer’s to confabulate (not a lie), a story to help link information together through past and present events as well as from the media, TV or radio. To a stranger this may make sense and a caregiver would realize that the there is a problem. In the instance of my grandmother, the fire department wouldn’t know that my grandfather had already passed away. To the family it was an undeniable red flag.
One way to honor someone you love who is suffering with Alzheimer’s or who has suffered is by finding a walk in your community or by donating to alz.org (link below to find a walk). In September I will be walking to honor my grandmother Jessie as well as others who have suffered, holding hope for a cure.Your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) may also offer assistance with Adult Care Resources, Legal Resources, as well as a therapist or support group in your area.
Alzheimer’s information from alz.org
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
http://act.alz.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_about&eventid=10411
Alzhiemer’s Association
Alzheimer's disease Fact Sheet | National Institute on Aging
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
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