Life with AD
Living with Alzheimer's disease
Because it affects the person in its most noble: the brain, the major organ of communication, Alzheimer's disease affects not only the patient but his entourage. Diagnosing this disease is to recognize the entry in a long and painful process. But as said a person affected by this scourge, "I want to live with my illness and not to die" reflecting his desire to enjoy life as it grabs her (http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/haveAD/livingwith-intro.htm).
Understand intellectual, emotional and behavioral disturbances related to the disease is a prerequisite for better help the patients This helps to recognize the events "abnormal" in the elderly and to consider a diagnosis This helps to mobilize and boost the capacity of the person This allows to assist patients if necessary, sometimes anticipate or de-dramatising the contrary This helps to adapt our attitude toward the emotional and behavioural disturbances (http://www.lewybodydementia.org/AR0507TJF.php): This allows the person to see beyond the disease that affects This allows better bear the unbearable.
What to do if worring about intellectual ability?
The first step is to see the GP. He will carry out physical examinations and tests (http://www.healthscotland.com/documents/browse/15/112.aspx). He will then decide to refer to, if needed a consultant in a particular specialty for fuller assessment (also: http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/?lm2=EC1A2626EE18). The specialty may depend on the age of the person concerned, his symptoms and what is available in his area. It could be either neurologist, geriatrician, psychiatrist, located in outpatients or in a day hospital (http://www.alz.co.uk/havedementia/earlydiag.html).
What to do if people with intellectual disorder refuse to consult?
Even if relatives have noticed impairment in intellectual abilities or loss of the skills needed to carry out daily activities, some people resist to visit their doctor for several reasons:
- denial of the disease due to psychological defence mechanisms or to brain changes of Alzheimer's disease
- doubt on the effectiveness of drugs and non-medical treatment, or on the ability of the general practitioner to take care of these diseases
- increased frequency of such illnesses with age and fatalistic attitudes of caregivers or patients themselves toward this disease considered as irreversible Moreover, relatives and even some professionals are not always aware of the value of a diagnostic approach to appropriate care
Several ways are possible to deal with this resistance.
Disclosure of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis:
The diagnosis announcement is necessary not only because it is the patients' rights but also because the treatment and health plan depend on the diagnosis.
Even if patients and/or their caregivers have been half expecting it, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease comes as a shock. Doctors have to pay attention to diagnosis disclosure.
Who should be informed: Patients who can understand what it means has a right to know. Most doctors inform patient's relatives but this needs patient's consent.
When to inform: after fully assessment to make a proper diagnosis and after evaluation of what the patient wants to know and what he or she is able to understand.
How: doctors have to carefully chose words for disclosure and avoid some terms such as dementia.
Ongoing diagnosis disclosure: doctors will prescribe any drugs for Alzheimer's disease, refer to social services or take any needed action. They will see patients from time to time for changes assessment, advices to deal with any difficulties, and care of general health.
Alzheimer's disease drug treatments
Up to now there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease and no proven treatment to slow progression of brain lesions. But several drugs are available that may delay progression in mental impairment and may enable people to carry out their daily activities and independent living for a longer period of time.
In most European countries four drugs are marketed and reimbursed to treat symptoms of the disease by acting on brain chemical transmitters: three of them inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine (Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne -formerly Reminyl), and the last one Namenda helps regulate glutamate activity.
How best to accompany a person suffering from Alzheimer's disease or related?
The increase in the number of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease has prompted the involvement of public authorities. At the same time placing on the market in 1995 indicated a drug specifically to treat this disease has prompted the development of taken care of by health professionals.
All care should be based on respect for the individual situation of dependency or especially when reaching Alzheimer's disease.
The associations of patients and families provide information and support essential.
Some adjustments of the house facilitate the daily lives of patients and their caregivers.