How do you convey to someone that it is possible to lose a large part of their memories? How do you tell him that in a few years a simple activity like “going for bread” could become a real adventure because he might not remember how to get home?
Alzheimer’s is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain and as a result of its installation the affected persons may have difficulties in recalling previously learned information as well as difficulties in acquiring new information. Sometimes, patients cannot find their words even in the case of simple notions, having difficulties in identifying and naming common objects such as: bottle, cup, door, table, etc. It is difficult for them to make a decision, they lose their initiative, they have difficulties in recognizing people and places.
Sometimes they don’t recognize their own relatives even though they live in the house. Can you imagine what fear or despair they feel at the sight of a complete stranger?
How can we support and help a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? In our country, there are some timid attempts at social support for people affected by this diagnosis: the cost of medicines is supported by a national program, some of those affected can benefit from financial aid following some decisions of the evaluation commissions within the departments of social assistance, we have a few, shy, NGOs that are interested in supporting these patients, residential facilities where relatives can choose to admit a diagnosed person when it becomes too difficult, even dangerous to stay alone.
Until we figure out what we have to do, I invite you to follow models from other countries, today the USA: