Recently former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced that she had been diagnosed with early-stage dementia and that her doctors believed it was very likely Alzheimer's disease. She told her fellow citizens that she would be withdrawing from public life to deal with her diagnosis. Her announcement was just another example of high-profile figures being diagnosed with neurological conditions and how they addressed them.
President Ronald Reagan in 1983 designated November as Alzheimer's Awareness Month. In what is considered his farewell address to the American people, President Ronald Reagan penned a November 5, 1994 letter announcing his recently diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease, the irreversible neurological condition that is the most frequent form of dementia. With brave honesty, the 40th President of the United States explained how he and former first lady Nancy Reagan had decided to “make this news known in a public way … In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher pre-recorded her eulogy message for Reagan and attended the state funeral and interment of her long-time friend and political ally. Suffering a series of mini-strokes beginning around 2000, Thatcher herself was hampered by vascular dementia and the decline of her own keen memory and decisive thinking. An Oxford graduate and research chemist before becoming the world’s first female to lead a major Western democracy, the “Iron Lady” eventually stepped away from the public eye like her American counterpart. Living with her diagnosed dementia for 12 years, Baroness Thatcher died at age 87 of a final stroke in April 2013.
What can we learn about Alzheimer’s and dementia research and assistance for family caregivers from the stories of Justice O'Connor, President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher?
1. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease affect all people groups.
2. Silence perpetuates the stigma of dementia.
3. Families of people with progressive cognitive disease need care support, too.
4. Ongoing support and improved dementia-care training are lifelines.
5. Research advancements are vital to help prevent, slow and end progressive cognitive disorders.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), (1) As many as 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease; (2) The most common type of Alzheimer's disease is dementia; and (3) Age is the most known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease although genetics, diet and environment may play a role in developing the disease.
Right at Home of Central New Jersey, through our Right Alzheimer’s Disease Specialty Program, can help our clients manage their illness safely at home. Here's what our Right Alzheimer’s Disease Specialty Program can do for you or your family member:
Keeping Your Loved One Safe. As Alzheimer’s progresses, people suffering from it may experience memory loss, getting lost in a familiar place, decreased or poor judgment, mood changes, and difficulty managing routine tasks. Because this can lead to your family member not recognizing you or being a wander risk, we can provide 24/7 care by our caring and trained caregivers for your loved one to ensure they remain safe at home. Knowing that your family member is with someone round-the-clock can alleviate stress and worry for you and other members of your family.
Medication management. Although there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, medications can improve the quality of life of those living with the disease. Our nurses can provide medication management for your family member and our caregivers can provide medication reminders to ensure your family members takes all of their medicines as scheduled.
Home Environment. Our caregivers can assist your loved one in remaining safe at home by providing companionship, meal preparation, housekeeping and activities of daily living, including bathing and personal hygiene.
Working with Right at Home of Central New Jersey will help keep our clients safe at home, provide peace of mind to their family members and further the client's recovery through our Right Alzheimer’s Disease Specialty Program. Please call Beth Sholom, Owner/Executive Director of Right at Home of Central New Jersey to let us know how we can help you. We provide care from a few hours a day to overnight shifts to live-in care. We'll work with you to come up with the best plan for your family and always be available 24/7 to help. We care for your family as we would for our own!
Right at Home, Inc. is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those we serve. We fulfill that mission through a dedicated network of locally owned providers of in home care services.
About Right at Home of Central New Jersey – Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of Central New Jersey office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties.
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