Alzheimer's is like a thief in the night
In life we put alarms on our cars, on our homes, night lights to be able to see in the dark during the night, passwords on our emails, and locks on our bank papers. How does some thing sneak into our homes and steal our loved ones right before our eyes?
Alzheimers is not prejudice, it is doesn't prefer the rich over the poor, it doesn't require permission. It is a thief that slips in, wraps it slimy arms around the very person we love and slowly slips them out the door. It moves so slow the person it has captured does not even see the arms around them.
The most heart breaking illness – where families feel the most helpless against the powers that Alzheimer controls.
As I was growing up there were two wonderful women in my life that come to mind immediately. It makes me want to run to the phone to call 911 to report that a thief has stolen someone so special. The first lady had a smile that beamed when we came in after school, threw our books in the floor and crawled up the bar to tell her about our day. She listened and gave wise instruction to both young girls that sat giggling in her kitchen. She laughed and giggled with our silliness, and shook her head at times too.
When we traveled to the beach for summer trips, I rarely remember her raising her voice at our loudness – but she had an eye she would throw our way that we knew we had crossed the line.
Today, she walks in the house with a smile, her giggle is still there. Her eyes no longer know who I am. She speaks and has conversation, but it may not be what everyone else in the room is talking about. She is no longer watching over the kids – the kids are watching over her. We see her – but she is no longer there.
The other lady has always been in my life. She has taught me in Sunday school, we shared Christmas's together, swapped books to read, sat in her kitchen many times to just talked about things. I grew up with her children – she prayed with us, scolded us. Now she is looks at me like she should know me – but has no name to call. She knows she wants to join the conversation at the dinner table but she can't. Her concepts for daily living has changed. She struggles just getting dressed, eating, finding a chair to sit in or pouring her own drink.
Someone call 911 – a thief has stolen our families.
To add a little history about Alzeheimers.org
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Scientists have learned a great deal about Alzheimer’s disease in the century since Dr. Alzheimer first drew attention to it. Today we know that Alzheimer’s:
- Is a progressive and fatal brain disease. As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. Learn more: Warning Signs and Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. Learn more: Related Dementias.
- Has no current cure. But treatments for symptoms, combined with the right services and support, can make life better for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s. There is an accelerating worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing. Learn more about recent progress in Alzheimer research funded by the Alzheimer’s Association in the Research section.
Support the families who have this illness close to them. They may not ask you – but they need your help. Love them enough to reach out.
Angela is a nurse that has worked for 21 years in the same state funded psychiatric hospital assisting some clients that others might refuse to treat. She works on the psychiatric ward.
She also runs her own company on the side and supports other nurses in how to bring passion into their role at work. Out of the box remedies for speaking to people and more.
* Please note: I am not here to CURE, DIAGNOSE, Treat or suggest replacements
for what a doctor prescribes – I am sharing my nursing adventures with you.
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Pray for all families facing this.
I can relate to your every word. It breaks my heart.
My grandmother suffered from it for five years before she died and it is truly heartwrenching. I cannot imagine the terror of knowing that you may soon not know your family or friends. Thank you for your efforts.