After losing my father to a long battle with Alzheimer's, I wrote this essay to give a glimpse into this horrific disease, draw attention to the red flags and signs (there are many people at this very moment who have a family member with dementia and still do not realize it), and especially to help people navigate through the devastating journey of having a loved one with Alzheimer's, because it is the family and those closest to the individual with the disease who bear the greatest burden.
Most people find themselves thrust into this nightmare completely unprepared and ill-equipped, just as we were. Helping others through this means the world to me and I would be eternally grateful if you read it and/or shared it in any capacity possible.
Thank you so much,
Darren Keith
LINK TO MY ESSAY (might need to copy and paste):
https://medium.com/.../living-with-alzheimers-efccf45e410b
"In the later stages, you may even witness the disorienting scene of a LOWA, having long forgotten a loved one, randomly say “I love you” or show a fleeting glimpse of the person they once were through an old and familiar gesture or term of affection. It seems to happen quite randomly and then it’s gone, a remnant of something already lost, like the light from a distant star we can view from Earth long after its death. I also liken these experiences to seeing ghosts…what you are briefly witnessing no longer exists in this realm. More mind games."
"The day my father was diagnosed, we left the hospital with almost no guidance on how to proceed or navigate the treacherous waters into which we were thrown, nor were we made aware of the countless ways in which our lives were about to change. I consider it a great failing of the healthcare system. In that most crucial, vulnerable, and desperate of moments, we were sent home completely in the dark about what to expect, prepare for, how to care for and protect my father and those around him, and where to seek help."
Amen. Any disease of the brain, including mental illness, is so under-treated and not understood, even now, in 2024, we are all left to flounder around and figure things out for ourselves! Most doctors DO NOT understand dementia/Alzheimer's or any of the various dementia's in general, and it's mind-boggling how alone we all ARE on this journey. My hope, like yours, is that advances will be made in our medical community to study the brain diseases and to learn more in an effort to help all who suffer, and their FAMILIES, to find coping mechanisms to deal with the behaviors. AgingCare forum is another wonderful resource for me and for countless others with loved ones suffering from dementia. From one another we often learn a lot MORE than we do from doctors and so-called 'experts' in the field.
Wishing you all the best.
I no longer click on ANYTHING anymore given the computer sending off the fake sirens and saying "You have accessed a dangerous site; do not turn off your computer. Call the phone number (A SCAM) on your screen" and so on. That scam is too annoying to risk more than once.
Now I know Darren is legit I am on this one.
Thanks Darren for taking the time to post it.
Well done, Darren! An excellent article that covers all the bases. I'm so sorry you and your family had to walk this path. May you receive peace in your heart.