Fortunate is the person who is ignorant about this disease, they may never need to deal with. Hopefully they will not.
My understanding is that there are inherited tendencies to contact it. And, there is no factual information that a person has it, through tests, until the patient passes and has an autopsy. Though there are symptoms which indicate a person has this inherited possibility/probability. This, I understand, has changed now.
My dear beloved Aunt had symptoms, which was not recognized, evidently. She was diagnosed with an inoperable blood clot on the brain, as the Doctor had explained. And she had a mental disability insofar as conducting business, or performing daily activities. She had a stroke. Not able to walk around without a walker, and most of the time not being cognizant of her surroundings. And definately unable to care for herself.
HOWEVER, there was, in observance, times which she "surfaced" into the "real world". Not with her speaking abilities. She appeardd having the usual mental functions which she had always had, then suddently she would disappear into her own world. Could never establish what triggered this.
My Aunt was an extremely intelligent woman, physically active and most of all mentally active. She controlled her business by purchasing on the stock market, and other interests with confidence and accuracy. She did very well financially. She was a proud woman, and would never have wanted it known that she was unable to follow her life's pursuit in any other way. We hid that from others, and appeared that it was successful. Therefore, when acting as her caretaker, decided that we would maintain her situation a secret because she could not speak - therefore it was never revealed.
A nurse I had hired to care for her when need to shop for food, prescriptions, etc. etc. Mentioned the possibility that she had Alzheimers. Horrors. Refused to believe it; however, checked with the organization. They inquired about her actions. Through the months and years, had to acknowledge this fact.
Her friends made it extremely difficult. Did not wish to advise them of this information, because they might have less respect for her, and she always recognized them on the few visits. However, the visits were "short lived" because as one put it, she could not talk, so they would not return. Another of her "so called friend" attempted to be her Guardian Ad Litem, and failed. However, not before he accused me of abusing her. A lawsuit was evolved.
My Aunt had bruises and cuts on her arms, continually. She would thrash her arms around and scream. Sometimes hitting the doorway on the bathroom or even falling. This was the Alzheimer moments, as explained by her physician. One could not reprimand her, of course, because she would not have the slightest recollection of her actions. One time while preparing her for bed, she suddenly kicked me in the stomach without warning. She was very strong physically and could certainly feel it. It was difficult to keep a nurse or nurse's aid because they would leave. She would throw chairs at them, and also we had to remove the door locks because she would lock herself in a room. She had these terrible screaming sessions, with sounds similiar to a bob cat, and extremely loud. We were living in a high rise, therefore neighbors could easily hear her. Probably thinking that we were beating her. Or abusing her. One girl hired would leave the apartment with the door open, so that people could notice her.
One time, when first being a caretaker, noticed her licking her arm as though an animal would do. She had a cut had not noticed, and was licking that wound. Another time she was extremely angy when referring to the picture of my mother, which she was. She was violently angry and upset while attempting to mouth the words, "my mother". Needed to calm her down and somehow interest her in other things. She attempted to place makeup on her face at times. She would place the lipstick on her eyebrows. She was not familiar with feces she passed, and would often pull it out of the stool and play with it with her hands,and show it to me with wonder. So many instances.
This person was not my loving, intelligent Aunt. This was the Alzheimer victim.
The lawsuit against me for abusing her. Of course I would NEVER have the slightest intention of EVER abusing this woman. I loved her very much, she was my idol throughout life. The police knocked on the door one morning around 7:00 AM on Valentine's day. They were here to arrest me for abusing my Aunt. A female officer shut the door where she was in the bedroom, and examined her. Of course, there were bruises on her body, though not caused by me. Fortunately, they merely asked me to leave, and did not press charges. Stayed at a local motel down the street, and they hired a nurse to care for her. Discovered later the nurse had notified the officials that we both had love for one another, and she could not see any indication that my Aunt was being abused. Was able to return then. The state officials called in later were extremely rude, that must be forgotten. Hired an attorney and did not need to appear at the trial. The Judge dismissed the case. As well as the man who had filed for Guardianship, who had attempted to have her sign a $l0,000 Grant, while she was still in the hospital a week after the stroke. He did not realize that she could not write or sign her name, of course. Evil person.
There are many matters which have not been discussed, as being a caretaker for an Alzheimer's patient.
This is such a HORRIBLE disease. Far worse than death itself, in my opinion. It transforms a person into a child like animation of theirselves.
Read material on this disease. Take precautions if you have an inherited tendency. Most of all, be understanding for all concerned.
