The Goodbye of Alzheimer’s Disease
When you grow up without parents you tend to appreciate those who lovingly serve as substitute or surrogate parents. I was blessed to have several aunts and uncles who served in that role. Earlier this month, I said goodbye to an aunt with whom I was especially close as a child. She invested a lot of time in me as a kid and opened her beautiful Arkansas lake home to me for summer vacations. She was never able to have children so I think my being around met some needs on both of our parts. Because of those experiences together we remained close over the years even though we were separated by miles.
In reality, saying goodbye to her was a painful process that began several years ago when we were informed that she had developed memory problems later diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease. Personally, I first noticed it in phone calls and at family reunions and funeral visitations when her memory began fading. Then finally I was called in to help find a residential placement for her and to relocate her close to me. Over a year ago we placed her in an Alzheimer’s unit staffed by loving people who assisted her around the clock. She passed away earlier this month while she was probably in what would be diagnosed as stage 5 of Reisbergs’ seven stage system. In the end it was cancer and not advanced Alzheimer’s that claimed her life but caring for her afforded my wife and I, as well as her brother and his wife, a personal experience with this disease. As a counselor I have assisted family members who have had loved ones with Alzheimer’s but up until this time my experience has been theoretical rather than experiential. Dealing with the gradual decline is indeed a painful experience. To say that it gives you a greater appreciation for those dealing with Alzheimer’s is an understatement. While I hope you never have to encounter this dread disease personally why not check out the symptoms, treatment and latest research at www.alz.org just in case.