Seeing your loved ones age is hard enough as physical limitations start to appear. But, when the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease comes into play, an initial reaction may be disbelief.
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“How is this happening to my parent or loved one?”
“Is this real?”
“Do I need a second opinion?”
“What does this diagnosis mean?”
“What does the future look like?”
The truth is that early-onset Alzheimer’s disease can become apparent as soon as 40 years of age. So, what happens after diagnosis? According to the Alzheimer’s Organization (https://www.alz.org/), there are three phases to this disease.
- Early: The beginning stages of memory loss occur when there is difficulty remembering names, forgetfulness of object location, and trouble planning things.
- Moderate: This stage occurs when there is some forgetfulness of personal history, trouble controlling bladder or bowels, change of sleep schedule, and confusion about day and place.
- Late: In this phase, the person may need 24/7 assistance with personal care. They may have issues with communication, standing, sitting, and eventually swallowing. Also, the immune system may get compromised leading to more illness.
This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms. It may vary from individual to individual. Some patients do experience hallucinations or delusions. In Alzheimer’s disease, the communication system within the brain becomes disrupted leading to cell breakdown. There are malfunctions within the cell neurons where communication happens. Eventually, the disruption grows to different parts of the brain causing physical and mental changes in the patient. Refer to the following resource for more understanding of Alzheimer’s disease:
Most Alzheimer’s patients have a life span of 4 to 8 years. Acceptance of the disease can be emotional and stressful for all individuals involved, but mindful planning can be helpful. Assess the needs of the patient and the caregivers at every stage to develop a care plan that is tailored to suit the greatest number of challenges and requirements. This can provide maximum comfort, dignity, and relief to all parties. Create a good support system for all of you. It can be a positive force in this journey, and it can be a great source for stress relief for the caregivers and the patient.
Look for our next three blogs:
Alzheimer’s disease: From the Patient’s Point of View
Alzheimer’s disease: From the Caregiver’s Point of View
Alzheimer’s disease: Care Options