Editorial
Front Page - Friday, July 9, 2010
Alzheimer’s Assoc. helping the victims of the disease
David Laprad
Amy French, right, is the program coordinator of the Chattanooga branch of the Alzheimer’s Association, which aims to eliminate the disease through the advancement of research, provide support for caregivers and reduce the risk of dementia though the promotion of brain health. Pictured with French is Cindy Lowery, development coordinator.
- David Laprad
As people grow older, they tend to forget certain things, like where they put their glasses or why they went into a particular room. The experience can be unnerving, but it’s a minor aggravation compared to what someone with Alzheimer’s goes through. As a pair of renegade proteins does irreversible damage to the victim’s brain, memories disappear, along with the people, places and events associated with them.
An Alzheimer’s patient forgets not only where his glasses are; in time, he’ll be unable to remember the faces of the loved ones they bring into focus.
Alzheimer’s is a terminal disease for which there’s no cure, and the No. 1 risk factor is something no one who lives long enough can avoid: old age. The odds of a 65-year-old developing the disease are one in eight; by age 85, the probability tightens to one in four. Alzheimer’s is also pervasive; more than 5 million Americans have the disease, and if no cure or preventive measure is found, analysts expect the number of victims to climb to over 14 million by 2050.
The profile of Alzheimer’s is discouraging, but there is hope. Amy French, program coordinator of the Chattanooga branch of the Alzheimer’s Association, believes the general acceleration of scientific knowledge in recent years could open the door to a breakthrough in research and eventually lead to a world without the disease.
“We’ve learned a lot about Alzheimer’s in the last 25 years. And given the way scientists are picking up things more rapidly and improving our research tools, which are far superior to what they were using just five years ago, we have good reason to believe they’ll find a cure,” she says.
Until then, doctors can prescribe medication that slows the progression of the disease and people can minimize their risk factors by living healthier, French says.
While the number of people who have Alzheimer’s is staggering, it would more than double if an additional group of victims were factored in: the spouses, children and other people who care for a loved one with the disease. Not only is their task heartbreaking, it’s physically, mentally and spiritually draining.
The Alzheimer’s Association exists, in part, to extend a helping hand toward these people. Through support groups, education, care consultations and referral services, the organization not only offers practical knowledge for how to look after someone with Alzheimer’s, but also lets caregivers know they’re not alone.
“Isolation is one of the most devastating things about Alzheimer’s, not just for the person who has the disease but also for the caregiver,” French says. “Friends stop coming around because they don’t know how to act and the caregiver can’t take the patient anywhere because it’s too much trouble. Caregivers come in here looking lost because they’re dealing with something they don’t understand and they’ve lost their social support.”
Peer and professionally led support groups for caregivers and families restore the lost connection. The Chattanooga chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 support groups in Hamilton County and the surrounding area. All groups are free and open to the public.
“Support groups allow caregivers to talk with other people in the same boat. It’s not a therapy group, but it is therapeutic, because anytime you can share your story with someone, the feeling of isolation disappears,” French says. “You also receive validation. Caregivers often talk about how irritating it is when their loved ones ask the same question over and over again. Through our support groups, they learn they’re not the only ones who get frustrated.”
French says the support groups can also be a source of useful information. “I’ve learned things I wouldn’t have thought of in a pink fit,” she says.
To educate caregivers even more, the Alzheimer’s Association maintains a variety of materials, including brochures, videos, books and audiotapes offered to any community group interested in learning more about the disease. The organization also conducts free public seminars dealing with a variety of subjects associated with Alzheimer’s.
In addition to support groups and education, the Alzheimer’s Association offers one-on-one care consultations. Through these private sessions, professional staff help people through the difficult decisions and uncertainties families face at every stage of the disease.
“A huge emotional tug-of-war takes place when you start thinking about getting help or taking the person who has Alzheimer’s out of your home and putting them in a facility. A lot of guilt comes with that, but through our consultations, caregivers learn they’re not horrible people.”
The Alzheimer’s Association also maintains updated information on a variety of community resources, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physicians, elder law attorneys and more.
Given the resources the organization has on hand, French wishes caregivers would seek help sooner. “In the beginning, people try to do everything on their own, so by the time they come here, they’re exhausted. When they hear someone understands what they’re going through and there’s help available, they light up,” she says.
To finance its operations as well as the search for a cure, the Alzheimer’s Association raises its own funds. The organization’s primary fundraiser is a walk that takes place each fall in cities around the country. This year’s local Memory Walk is scheduled to take place September 18 at Chattanooga State. On July 20, the association will host a golf tournament, dubbed “A Round to Remember,” at the Council Fire Golf Club.
Alzheimer’s is an insidious disease for which there’s no cure; however, the Alzheimer’s Association exists to cast light into the dark places in which caregivers find themselves. Its educational materials and programs can be invaluable, as can the moments when it offers a shoulder of understanding or a word of encouragement.
“Your mother might not remember you, and that’s horrifying and heartbreaking, but she recognizes love and kindness, and wants to give it back to you, so embrace what you have,” French says.
For more information about the Memory Walk, the golf tournament, the times and locations of support groups and more, call 423-265-3600. A 24-hour toll-free help line is available at 800-272-3900. Information is also available online at www.alz.org/altn.
|
|