Unfortunately, "A Slow Death" may seem harsh when talking about this disease. Alzheimer's disease is an accelerating condition that alters and changes the parts of the brain that involve memory, intelligence, judgement, language function, and behavior. Most of the infected doesn't realize what is wrong, usually it's the closest family members that start to notice the changes.
It is not clear as to how this Disease is started or why it happens and the research is always ongoing all over the world. Typical early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include: Memory loss, inability to use judgment and make decisions, confusion about what time and day it is, getting lost in familiar places, difficulty learning and remembering new information, difficulty expressing himself or herself, decreasing ability to perform everyday tasks like cooking a meal or paying bills. There is no cure for Alzheimer's but there are medicines to slow the process of this killing disease but there are ways to prevent this disease from creeping up on someone you love.
In a post of a great blog writer(thank you Lisa!) I found out about a great program, "Art Without Boundaries." They are looking for individuals willing to open AWB chapters by participating in a paid apprenticeship program. This organization's mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other related disorders by providing Mneme Therapy.
I am a Psychology Major and I have been volunteering for two years in the Alzheimer's Unit at Shady Rest Care Pavillion in Fort Myers, Florida. I remember my first day there I was nervous and unaware of first hand affects of Alzheimer's on the people involved. The other volunteers and I set up the activities room for a game of Bingo for the residents. The residents all came in and of course needed help with playing the simple game of Bingo they use to know. There was one resident that clung to my every word. After Bingo, I wheeled him back to his room and we were almost to his room and he got really upset and said it was his birthday and no one remembered. I felt horrible and got one of the nurses and told her what he said. She smiled and said, "Sweetheart, it isn't his birthday but when he was younger his parents never celebrated his birthday because they were always too busy, he had 11 brothers and sisters." He thought he was turning 8 years old, in reality his was 98 years old. Alzheimer's can make its victims remember their childhood and they tend to live in the past as their present. I left the nursing home with another volunteer and we went to the store and got balloons, cake and a stuffed animal--we went back to the home and surprised him for his "birthday." It was actually one the greatest moments in my life.
Alzheimer's can take away a family member without putting them in the grave but there are ways to play along with the disease. I learned that the first day with interacting with someone with Alzheimer's. There is hope and researchers that are getting closer to the answers some people may need.
