When Jim was diagnosed with an Alzheimer’s type of dementia, I felt as if we had been robbed of our future. As his health failed, I knew we would never grow old together.
At times, life seemed to spiral out of control. We were facing a health crisis unlike any that I had ever personally dealt with in my life. Before long, I learned that the different physicians and specialists we visited did not have the time to teach us about life with dementia.
One day, I opened the phone book and saw a listing for the Alzheimer’s Association. I called the number and talked to Penny Braun, the executive director of the Columbia Chapter. The Chapter became my lifeline.
Some of the strategies that worked for me:
1. I found power in knowledge about the disease and about the best caregiving strategies. The local Alzheimer’s Chapter offered educational classes and I signed up for everything they offered. Jim and I joined an early-onset support group where we met other young people with dementia. I joined a local caregiver support group where I learned how to navigate the financial and emotional aspects of dementia.
2. We received the best medical attention we could for Jim and eliminated one-by-one treatable causes of dementia. I kept a log of all the tests and procedures so that we didn’t duplicate expensive tests.
3. I took back power by becoming an Alzheimer’s Association advocate and volunteer. It did my heart good to know that I was making a difference as an advocate for Alzheimer’s research. By joining the Walk to End Alzheimer’s I helped “pay forward” the support and services I had received from the Alzheimer’s Association.
It doesn’t take me long to discover that I could not control the disease, but I could take control of the situation. Hopefully, in our lifetime, Alzheimer’s will become a manageable disease and survivors will take a victory lap.
Copyright © June 2023 by L.S. Fisher
http://earlyonset.blogspot.com
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