This
week it was hard for me to pick just one topic to write about. I am a CNA and
take care of elderly people, so most of the stuff it talked about, such as
memory, depression, diseases, etc I have witnessed at some point in my
career. I’ve decided to write my blog on
Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s involves impairment of behavioral and cognitive
functioning.
The textbook defined Alzheimer’s disease as, ‘a
disease marked by gradual declines in memory, attention, and judgment;
confusion as to time and place; difficulties in communication; decline in
self-care skills; inappropriate behavior; and personality changes.’
There was a sentence in the textbook that kind of threw
me off guard: ‘alzheimer’s disease causes people to change from thinking,
communicative human beings to confused, bedridden victims unable to recognize
their family members and close friends.’ To me that seems like a harsh
way to word it. Alzheimer’s is a hard disease to cope with as it is, it’s hard
for the staff, family members, or even sometimes the residents (if they are
aware that they are starting to be a little more forgetful). Although it is
true, it was almost unnecessary to include that in the textbook, when there is
a definition of Alzheimer’s that seems to be less harsh.
To me it is amazing how dementia and Alzheimer’s is kind
of hit or miss from person to person. The other day at the grocery store, the
man in front of me was 100 years old (turning 101 on july 1) and he was doing
awesome! Doing his own shopping, and then he got in his truck and drove away!
You don’t see many 100 year olds driving! Before my Grandmother passed away, she was
starting to show symptoms of dementia, which, to me is a scary thought. She was
pretty young, in her 70s when she passed away, I could only imagine how she
would be if another 10 years or so would have passed by.
I agree, that sentence is written harshly. My grandmother went all the way down into Alzheimer's, and it wasn't pretty - but while some of the stuff in that sentence would describe her (confused, bedridden, unable to recognize friends or family) that didn't mean she stopped being a thinking and communicating human being. The thoughts were fragmented, and the communication was shaky, but it was there; and she may not have recognized us but she never stopped trying to reach out to us.
ReplyDeleteThe way the sentence is written seems to reflect a view that the disease becomes the identity. I don't think that's useful as a broad overview, even though it may be correct for some severe cases.
I agree with you that the definition of Alzheimer's disease was very harsh and it really could have been worded differently. People that have Alzheimer's still need to be treated with respect and dignity. I've known quited a few people that were afflicted with it. My dad's uncle died from it years ago, my daughter's grandmother on her dad's side died from it, so did a really good friend of our family's, and so did one of my co-worker's mother, and the list goes on. Last, year my uncle was diagnosed with the early signs of it and is on medication to slow down the effects of it. It's such a sad disease, and as you well know, extremely difficult for family members and friends to watch someone you love forget everything. I hope that someday there will be a cure for this disease, and cancer, as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your blog!