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Alzheimer's New
Frontier Now Younger
By
Beverly Moore |
Question:
How is Alzheimer’s disease different
for people who are younger?
Answer:
I’ve become acutely
aware of the increasing number of people in their 50s and
60s who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body or
Fronto-temporal lobe dementia. The impact on this population
is different from the older person, perhaps in their 80s or
even 90s, as these younger folks may still be employed or
have their own business, may have children who still live at
home and who depend on their income. The role shifts that
must take place are numerous. Often legal issues haven’t
been addressed. The grief felt is intense needing to be
addressed sensitively.
There are support groups for these who we say have early
onset dementia. Milton Council on Aging, Emmanuel House
Assisted Living in Brockton, Duxbury Council on Aging,
HESSCO Senior Services in Sharon, and the VNA of Attleboro
all have support groups for early onset patients and their
spouses. These are very valuable groups. I’ve spoken at a
few and found their concerns are indeed different from those
of sons or daughters of elders with dementia.
There are those, however, whose spouse cannot benefit from a
support group, either because they are too cognitively
impaired or are unwilling to participate. I am interested to
hear if there is need of a support group in this area for
those husbands and wives who are not served by those other
groups.
I invite you to phone or email me about this concern. If
there is a need, I would like to make one available for you.
Please call me at (617) 233-1145 or email me at
alzheimercoaching@juno.com. |
About The Author
Beverly is
owner of Alzheimer Coaching Services. She offers coaching to
understand dementia and to learn to accommodate the person
through habilitation methods. Her company is located in
Quincy and you may reach her at (617) 233-1145, or
www.alzheimercoachingservices.com.
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