Alzheimer’s disease is not just a disease that affects memory, it is a long and arduous journey that the patient and his family go through. This journey begins with mild symptoms such as forgetting recent events, and then gradually develops to advanced stages where the patient loses the ability to recognize his relatives and perform the simplest daily tasks. In this article, we will trace this journey step by step, exploring the challenges that the patient and their family face at each stage.
Stage One: Twilight I
- Early symptoms: Symptoms begin to appear mild and unnoticeable, such as forgetting people’s or place names, or getting lost in unexpected places.
- Challenges: The patient has difficulty acknowledging the existence of these changes and may feel embarrassed or denied. As for the family, they begin to feel anxious and look for causes.
- Visions: Early diagnosis at this stage can be crucial, as treatment can be started, and the progression of the disease can be delayed.
Stage Two: Loss of Time and Space
- Memory deterioration: Memory deterioration increases significantly, as the patient has difficulty remembering recent events and even old ones.
- Changes in behaviour: You may exhibit unusual behaviours such as repetition, aggression, or social withdrawal.
- Challenges: The patient becomes dependent on others in performing daily tasks, which increases the burden on the family.
- Visions: A home care program and caregiver training can help maintain a patient’s quality of life.
Stage Three: Self-Loss
- Language degradation: The patient has difficulty understanding language and expressing himself and may speak in an incomprehensible language.
- Loss of awareness of time and place: The patient becomes unaware of the time and place around him.
- Challenges: Communication with the patient becomes very difficult, which affects the emotional relationship between the patient and his family.
- Visions: Nonverbal means of communication, such as music and touch, can be used to communicate with the patient.
Challenges facing the family
- Emotional Burden: Family members feel anxious, sad, and overwhelmed.
- Changes in family dynamics: A family member’s Alzheimer’s affects relationships between family members.
- Difficult decisions: The family faces difficult decisions about the future care of the patient.
Insights that can help
- Education and Awareness: Understanding Alzheimer’s helps in accepting reality and dealing with challenges better.
- Social Support: Support groups can provide families with a place to share experiences and emotional support.
- Specialized care: Alzheimer’s care teams can provide support and guidance to families.
- Continuous Research: Ongoing research contributes to the development of new treatments and improves the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients.
The journey of an Alzheimer’s patient is a painful and arduous journey, but it is also a journey full of love and giving. By understanding this disease and providing the right support, we can help Alzheimer’s patients, and their families live better lives.
