Normalizing Dementia

AD or Alzheimer’s Disease, a form of Dementia, the one that society fears the most. It robs a person of their memory, their thoughts, their ability to function. It can be a very slow moving disease or it can move quickly. The symptoms start slowly and can begin when one is in their 40′s. This is worth reading from Joanne Cave as it describes her visit home for the holidays and what she saw:

“The symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s are complex and not restricted to memory loss. My mom sometimes struggles to solve simple problems, rationalize situations, plan sequences of time, participate in social settings without anxiety or confusion and find appropriate words to complete sentences. On multiple occasions, she has gotten lost in public places, or doesn’t remember where she is or why she went there. Some days, simple daily tasks are near impossible for her to complete independently.”

http://cupwire.ca/articles/54002 for the full story.

This is certainly one disease that needs more education, more attention, more research and more funding.

In Canada, currently, there are approximately 750,000 with some form of dementia and by 2031 the numbers will double to 1.5 million.

In the U.S. currently more than 5 million are diagnosed with dementia. By 2050 that number will double.

Now, fast forward about 10 years when the Baby-Boomers who are currently 65  become 75. The statistics state that after age 65 the risk of developing the disease doubles every five years.

The youngest Baby-Boomer is 46 and the oldest is 66 (those born between 1946-1964).

That is a large segment of the population who are aging and services are not in place for this demographic.

There is stigma associated with the disease. It is not contagious and yet society fears it. Many do not know the symptoms, are afraid to seek medical assistance and contribute the memory loss to normal signs of aging.

The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada has launched a campaign: ‘See me NOT my Disease’ to raise awareness. Mary Schulz of the Alzheimer Society of Canada states:

“The only way to defeat the stigma surrounding dementia is for people with the condition, their family members and friends to stand up and say there is no shame in having the disease.”

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2013/01/03/alzheimer-stigma.html

http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/basics/mental-illness/dementia.htm

http://cupwire.ca/articles/54002

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93World_War_II_baby_boom

*Written by Victoria Brewster, MSW- SJS Staff Writer in Canada