LifeStyle Wellness
FORGET ME NOT
Easing the Struggle of Living with Dementia By Felicia L. Niven
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n Nicholas Sparks’ epic romance, The Notebook, we meet Noah and Allie as they engage in one of their daily rituals. It’s the retelling of their love story in the nursing home where Allie now resides. Noah shuffles over and sits in a chair that has practically assumed his shape. He picks up the notebook with the story he’s read 100 times. Then he begins anew, reading to a woman who no longer remembers his name. It’s an emotional journey that results in a moment of clarity. Allie recognizes Noah for a brief time before the memory fades. It may be a fictional scene but it’s not far from the heartbreak associated when a loved one has dementia. Unfortunately, too many people are impacted by this devastating disease. The World Health Organization estimates that 50 million people are living with dementia and nearly 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Dementia is the umbrella term for a group of conditions that impair memory and the ability to communicate and perform daily tasks. These include Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal disorders, Lewy body dementia, and other types of progressive brain disease. Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent. One in nine people aged 65+ has Alzheimer’s disease, and one in three seniors will die from it or another type of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In fact, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., greater than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. In addition to causing human suffering, Alzheimer’s economic impact is significant. The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease projects “the cumulative total cost of Alzheimer’s disease between 2017 and 2030 will be $7.7 trillion — $3.2 trillion in health care costs and $4.5 trillion in the value of unpaid caregiving.” Those who work in Alzheimer’s and dementia care understand the emotional and physical toll that it can take on care-
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givers. “It can be overwhelming to take care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia,” said Alysia Price, executive director of Seashore Gardens Living Center. “Caregivers can experience high levels of stress, depression and anxiety that can affect their own health.” Caregiving becomes more challenging as dementia progresses. In Alzheimer’s, changes in the brain start years before there is any visible sign of the disease. Anna enjoying Symptoms then progress through the flowers in three stages. In the early stage, her home in the Comfort Care someone with Alzheimer’s will neighborhood experience problems with memof SGLC. ory or concentration. They still can drive, work, volunteer and interact socially. However, he or she may have difficulty coming up with the right word, forget information they just heard or read, and misplace items. During the second stage, the individual may forget important events, be confused about the date, and be unable to recall basic information such as their address or where they graduated high school. He or she may experience increased anger and frustration. In the final stage, the person is unable to carry on a conversation and needs help with daily activities. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that more than 16 million Americans provides unpaid care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Those who seek residential care choose senior living communities with special “memory care” units. Seashore Gardens Living Center has such a neighborhood, known as the Comfort Care Residence. A Certified Dementia neighborhood, Comfort Care is a safe and secure environment that was carefully designed for the unique needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and forms of dementia. The Est. 1916
