The Adventures of Caring for a Mom With Alzheimer's Disease
As most of you know, on Monday's* I post about my mom and my journey with her and Alzheimer's Disease. This past week, however, I have been so swamped with my kid's fall schedule (which I eluded to at the end of this post), that I have not been over for a visit with my mom. I have, however, talked to her on the phone several times and for the most part, no news is always good news!!
Although I am not normally one to "support a cause" on my blog, it has been a process for me over the last few years to (1) accept that my mom has this disease; (2) come to understand this disease; and (3) be able to talk about it knowing that there is a stigma that seems to go along with it. So, I decided this would be a good time to just share that September is World Alzheimer's Month and Friday, September 21st is Alzheimer's Action Day designed to support, raise awareness and dispel the stigma associated with this disease.
There are so many caregivers and their loved ones out there struggling. It is impossible to fully understand why taking care of someone with this disease is particularly difficult unless you have spent at least one full day with an Alzheimer's patient -- or from the "front row" as Bob DeMarco, an Alzheimer's advocate, often says. As always, I remain thankful that my mom is in a senior living home where she is getting good care. Even still, I continue to feel the stresses, pressure and anxiety of taking care of her, her finances, doctor appointments, her current apartment and former condo.
Here are some compelling facts about this disease that you may or may not know. The part that I underlined is one of the hardest for me to comprehend and is what often leaves a helpless feeling.
Quick facts
This Friday at my daughter's high school football game we will again be having a "pink out" to bring funds and awareness to breast cancer. I would consider it progress if someday soon we also start to see "purple outs"!!
*Ha! I know it's Tuesday, but my kids didn't have school yesterday and I'm late!
As most of you know, on Monday's* I post about my mom and my journey with her and Alzheimer's Disease. This past week, however, I have been so swamped with my kid's fall schedule (which I eluded to at the end of this post), that I have not been over for a visit with my mom. I have, however, talked to her on the phone several times and for the most part, no news is always good news!!
Although I am not normally one to "support a cause" on my blog, it has been a process for me over the last few years to (1) accept that my mom has this disease; (2) come to understand this disease; and (3) be able to talk about it knowing that there is a stigma that seems to go along with it. So, I decided this would be a good time to just share that September is World Alzheimer's Month and Friday, September 21st is Alzheimer's Action Day designed to support, raise awareness and dispel the stigma associated with this disease.
There are so many caregivers and their loved ones out there struggling. It is impossible to fully understand why taking care of someone with this disease is particularly difficult unless you have spent at least one full day with an Alzheimer's patient -- or from the "front row" as Bob DeMarco, an Alzheimer's advocate, often says. As always, I remain thankful that my mom is in a senior living home where she is getting good care. Even still, I continue to feel the stresses, pressure and anxiety of taking care of her, her finances, doctor appointments, her current apartment and former condo.
Here are some compelling facts about this disease that you may or may not know. The part that I underlined is one of the hardest for me to comprehend and is what often leaves a helpless feeling.
Quick facts
- 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
- One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease.
- Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
- More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
- Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012
This Friday at my daughter's high school football game we will again be having a "pink out" to bring funds and awareness to breast cancer. I would consider it progress if someday soon we also start to see "purple outs"!!
Thanks for tuning in!
1 comment:
I just read about the registry for this and found out they have no idea what causes Alzheimer's. That is so terrifying to me!
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