Taken a frying pan in the bathroom lately?
My grandfather died of Parkinsons, and while that is very different to Alzheimer’s Disease, it has the same effect in the end. Because I lived away from the rest of my family when my grandfather started to suffer, I read books on Genetics, Old Age and of course, Senility.
My thoughts after reading all those books and then moving back to live with my family is that as the Ancient Greek’s thought - old age is the problem. Our bodies were never intended to live as long as they do currently, because something would have killed most of us off by now. Remember the last time you had stomach pains and plentiful trips to the toilet? They still die from that in Africa.
As we were never intended to live this long, we suffer the consequences. Our bodies begin to decay around us, leaving our mind to do the same shortly afterwards. In the exact order you developed as a child, you withdraw as an elderly person, with the last things to go being your ability to grip someone’s finger or stay alive.
So, 100 years after Alzheimer’s was found, what is the answer in my view?
Every time you get a good night’s sleep, the brain regenerates all the chemicals it needs to get you through the following day. The long term build up effect of a lack of sleep throughout a lifetime could be devastating, I certainly believe it was for my grandfather.
Although research is being done and eventually a cure may possibly be found, I ask you, for the sake of your own sanity, to enjoy the time you spend with your relatives as they move towards the end. If they want to call you by your fathers name - because that’s who they think you are - so be it, and if they bring a frying pan to you while you are in the bath - thank them for it!
The most important thing when dealing with someone who doesn’t know what’s going on around them, is to make them believe they are doing the right thing, because in a late stage regression, the 90 year old person you may be speaking to, may be a 9 year old in their mind. If you tell them off, shout, become frustrated at them, it will only upset that 9 year old who to be honest, is probably wondering where his or her parents have gone.
November 5th, 2006 at 10:30 am
Funny that some 40 year-olds are physically old, while some 80 year-olds are young.
It has a lot to do with genetics as well as lifestyle and the level of abuse that some people inflict upon their bodies and minds.
Good advice Tim on the tolerance needed when dealing with those in decline.
November 7th, 2006 at 10:31 am
I’ll be there for my 9 year old even when you are 90.