Alzheimer's: Is it a one-way road to emptiness?

The Disease
Dementia, a progressive brain dysfunction, leads to a gradually increasing restriction of daily activities. The most well-known type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease.

The frequency of dementia increases with rising age from less than 2 % for the 65-69-year-olds, to 5 % for the 75-79 year-olds and to more than 20 % for the 85-89 year-olds. Every third person over 90 years of age suffers from moderate or severe dementia (Bickel, Psycho 1996, 4-8).

People with Alzheimer suffer mainly from limitations of concentration, impared memeory and orientation, planning and judgement, personality changes and later in it's progression perceptual, speech and walking disorders; in the final stage, various other body functions such as swallowing and the excretion process are also affected. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, patients lose their independence in managing everyday life.

The Outlook
If your like me, I want to know, will I develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease as I grow older. Well, I'm at risk, but I'm doing one thing right now to help prevent it's onset. I'm attending college. Although, women are considered at higher risk for developing the disease, it has also been found that it is more prevelent in those with lower educational levels.

While those diagnosed with the disease, can find balance in spatial and organiztional prompts in their daily lives, the need of a caregiver to maintain these prompts is imparitive. As with numerous other diseases there is no cure for the illness but medication can improve symptoms. There are drugs on the market today for improving brain function. Typically antidementia or psychotropic drugs are prescribed.

Elder Abuse - How and Why it Happens

Abuse of the elderly is often reported in the news. The sickening scenes and graphic details are enought to make you turn away. Abuse by caregivers at a nursing home or care center makes the news.

But what about the abuse that isn't reported. Elderly are frequently abused and even neglected by those who should care the most. Family members have been charged with abuse, neglect, and endangerment of their "supposed" loved ones. There was a story on the news of an elderly man who was kept int eh basement for years by his elderly wife. Some relatives will beat the person. But it doesn't have to be a family member, outside a clinical setting, it can be the gardner, the home health aide, or the person delivering hot meals.

A little known fact is that elderly abuse is as prevelent as child abuse. But it is often discounted as seneility, confusion, drug interaction when the elderly person tries to tell someone. For those who don't tell, we don't see it simply because we aren't looking for it. After all it's hard to imagine your 80 year old mother as a victim of rape. But you must remember that abuse isn't about physical attraction, it's about power, control, and violence.

There are resources and information for those who believe their loved one or someone they know has or is experiencing abuse. The internet is a great tool to find out more, but if you cannot find what you need on the web, speak to your doctor or County Social Worker.

Think of all you do before you place your children into the care of others. Shouldn't you take the same care with your elderly loved ones?

Social Workers - What Do They Do?

What do Social Worker's do? Well for starters they help me to keep my sanity!

Let's start with the VA Social Worker, Mary. Her diligence in ensuring that all the required paperwork was faxed to the right people. Checking my parents income level and making arrangements for free ambulance transport of my father to the nursing home. Her patience and gentle questioning to obtain the needed information from two very elderly and confused parents should set her up for sainthood in my book.

When I spoke to her about her job she was hesitant to take credit for her actions. Her attitude being one that the veterans earned the care and benefits afforded to them. Her job was just to be sure they received them.

Did you know that there are Social Worker's who's only job is to deal with the financial aspects of their clients. County Social Servcies have Financial Social Workers who assist elders with the confusion of Medicare, Medicaid, and the over 47 prescription drug plans that seek to sign them up. You can find a Social Worker in your area through the Wisconsin Dept. of Health and Family Services.

"Julie" the County Social Worker that works with my mother, listens patiently while my mother sorts through stacks of papers to find the one that confused her. Right now it's the MedicareRX plan. Julie will have my mother mail the paperwork to her, where she will sort through it, making inquiries and doing research. She will then call my mother and patiently explain each step. She is currently working to ensure that my mother will not lose my father's Social Security income while he is in the nursing home.