Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder most commonly manifested in forgetfulness and affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
It is frightening to know that your brain is slowly erasing the past and present memories like a virus in the computer slowly deleting all your important program files until one day the screen when boot turn black and blank.
Isn’t it better to keep a journal and write in all the good memorable things and events and the treasure of good friend in paper and ink. That day arrive, I can still read the written words and remember to smile instantly. The next day I will forget what I read yesterday.
I have my blog as a good reference.
The risk increases with age, doubling every five years after the age of 65. With the aging population this disease is on the rise. There is not cure to Alzheimer’s although there is medication available that can improve and slow down the decline in cognitive function.
Memory-enhancing training likes keeping a diary and engaging in music, art and crafts can be helpful.
Many turn to traditional Chinese medicine that recommend the use of gingko biloba, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, folate or statins for prevention of decline in cognitive function in Alzheimer’s. But there is insufficient support of evidence.
Families need to know Alzheimer’s and other dementia sufferers can be managed at home with adequate training and support. It is good to attend caregiver’s support group by the Alzheimer’s Association and read up books on Alzheimer’s. As a caregiver, you must take care of yourself first then you can give better care and your have to think positive. It is an uphill task as a caregiver!
From Associated Press
A 78 years old Italian man has been arrested after shooting dead his unconscious wife in her hospital bed because he did not want to see her suffer any more.
The hospital said the man had been told earlier on Saturday that his 82 years old wife was in the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease which severely impairs memory and affects personality. The man, a former traffic policeman went home and returned on Saturday afternoon with a pistol. He covered his wife’s forehead and chest with towels and then shot her three times. He then sat on a chair near the bed until police arrived. The hospital officials quoted the husband as saying he did not want his wife to suffer any more.
This is a sad story just like the story which I read about it in The Straits Times about the brother who suffocated his cancer-stricken sister with a pillow. He was arrested and given ten years jail for manslaughter. This is a very sad story, too.
The sister has been stricken with stomach cancer for about 2 years and had stopped working for awhile. Most of their finances had been drained by the hefty medical fees and because of illiterate; they did not approach anybody for help. Most of the time, the brother would visit worship places that offered free meals. He would takeaway portion of his meals and brought it back to his ailing sister.
For the past two years, every consultation visit to the hospital, he would piggyback his sister to and from the clinic despite rain or sunshine. Both could not afford the fare for a two way ticket to the hospital. Nobody knew their plight not even the closest neighbor next door or two doors away. The hospital staff and doctor knew nothing about their suffering. The sister would bring back only the usual medicine. Never a day gone by without the groaning and grinning on the bed and the brother could just watch his beloved sister weaning away to a skeleton frame with skin.
There were no pain management to elevate her pain away and no human touch from the doctor who jolly well knew that in cancer, the degree of pain is always and extremely excruciating. If only the doctor is a Samaritan then the conclusion will be totally different. If only the neighbor pay a little attention. If only the caretaker in the worship places cared to ask him on his takeaway meal portion. If only the nurses at the hospital take time to talk to both of them. If only those pedestrians who saw the brother piggyback the sister to the hospital care to stop and ask.
There were many “if only” we care about others.
Sad isn’t it that nobody knew until a tragedy happened, then the newspaper reported and everyone knew about it including the neighbors, temple caretaker, the hospital nurses, doctors and Me. Take time to care about others including those you do not know.
It is frightening to know that your brain is slowly erasing the past and present memories like a virus in the computer slowly deleting all your important program files until one day the screen when boot turn black and blank.
Isn’t it better to keep a journal and write in all the good memorable things and events and the treasure of good friend in paper and ink. That day arrive, I can still read the written words and remember to smile instantly. The next day I will forget what I read yesterday.
I have my blog as a good reference.
The risk increases with age, doubling every five years after the age of 65. With the aging population this disease is on the rise. There is not cure to Alzheimer’s although there is medication available that can improve and slow down the decline in cognitive function.
Memory-enhancing training likes keeping a diary and engaging in music, art and crafts can be helpful.
Many turn to traditional Chinese medicine that recommend the use of gingko biloba, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, folate or statins for prevention of decline in cognitive function in Alzheimer’s. But there is insufficient support of evidence.
Families need to know Alzheimer’s and other dementia sufferers can be managed at home with adequate training and support. It is good to attend caregiver’s support group by the Alzheimer’s Association and read up books on Alzheimer’s. As a caregiver, you must take care of yourself first then you can give better care and your have to think positive. It is an uphill task as a caregiver!
From Associated Press
A 78 years old Italian man has been arrested after shooting dead his unconscious wife in her hospital bed because he did not want to see her suffer any more.
The hospital said the man had been told earlier on Saturday that his 82 years old wife was in the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease which severely impairs memory and affects personality. The man, a former traffic policeman went home and returned on Saturday afternoon with a pistol. He covered his wife’s forehead and chest with towels and then shot her three times. He then sat on a chair near the bed until police arrived. The hospital officials quoted the husband as saying he did not want his wife to suffer any more.
This is a sad story just like the story which I read about it in The Straits Times about the brother who suffocated his cancer-stricken sister with a pillow. He was arrested and given ten years jail for manslaughter. This is a very sad story, too.
The sister has been stricken with stomach cancer for about 2 years and had stopped working for awhile. Most of their finances had been drained by the hefty medical fees and because of illiterate; they did not approach anybody for help. Most of the time, the brother would visit worship places that offered free meals. He would takeaway portion of his meals and brought it back to his ailing sister.
For the past two years, every consultation visit to the hospital, he would piggyback his sister to and from the clinic despite rain or sunshine. Both could not afford the fare for a two way ticket to the hospital. Nobody knew their plight not even the closest neighbor next door or two doors away. The hospital staff and doctor knew nothing about their suffering. The sister would bring back only the usual medicine. Never a day gone by without the groaning and grinning on the bed and the brother could just watch his beloved sister weaning away to a skeleton frame with skin.
There were no pain management to elevate her pain away and no human touch from the doctor who jolly well knew that in cancer, the degree of pain is always and extremely excruciating. If only the doctor is a Samaritan then the conclusion will be totally different. If only the neighbor pay a little attention. If only the caretaker in the worship places cared to ask him on his takeaway meal portion. If only the nurses at the hospital take time to talk to both of them. If only those pedestrians who saw the brother piggyback the sister to the hospital care to stop and ask.
There were many “if only” we care about others.
Sad isn’t it that nobody knew until a tragedy happened, then the newspaper reported and everyone knew about it including the neighbors, temple caretaker, the hospital nurses, doctors and Me. Take time to care about others including those you do not know.
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