This is a story of Brian* and Linda*. The two asked that their real names not be used because they do not want sympathy or pity from those who may read their story.
At a recent function to mark World Alzheimer's Day, Brian and Linda spoke to the audience about coping with the disease that affects some elderly—a group that represents 12 per cent of the population. It is a disease of the mind that robs persons of their memories.
The couple spoke at a function organised by the South West Regional Health Authority, held at City Hall in San Fernando.
Brian and Linda have been married for 45 years.
This is Brian's story.
"I was employed by a pharmaceutical company for 30 years and in 1995 took early retirement at age 55. My life followed a reasonably good and healthy pattern from then on, until exactly one year ago, when I began experiencing short term memory loss.
At age 70, in August of last year, actually, I was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's disease. After doing some memory tests and a review of my MRI scan, the doctor gave me the diagnosis in the presence of my wife. I was told that one of the causes of the condition could be genetic since some of my older relatives had suffered from the same condition in the past.
Vascular Dementia was also a possibility as I have been suffering with high blood pressure for some time.I was then forced to understand how the words Alzheimer and dementia affected a person with the disease. The doctor gave me some advice on how to cope with the condition, medication was prescribed, what things had to be put in place. And I then had to inform my loved ones.
I don't have to tell you how shocked we were and how we cried for the next half day. It took us a little while for the diagnosis to sink in but we accepted it. For us acceptance was the key in getting on with this new and unexpected phase of our lives.
We realised that we had to cope with the condition and have been trying our best ever since to stay on top of it apart from the realisation that I have to deal with those 2 words dementia and Alzheimer.
I have always had all kinds of friends during my life and fortunately have been blessed with a jolly nature as anyone who knows me can testify. Many of my friends, like myself, have had to deal with memory-loss problems, particularly with forgetting people's names. We have attitude changes, mood changes and some of them have gone into hiding so as not to be seen.
I am 71 years old and have lived a life rich in blessings. For example, the job I held afforded me the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the Caribbean which was my area of responsibility. Plus my wife and I have done quite a bit of travel on our own. I am so glad we did this at that time, because who would have thought we would have to deal with Dementia and Alzheimer's.
These days I find myself reading useful information on how to deal with my condition, attending our Alzheimer Association Support Group meetings which help to build our coping skills and lift our spirits.
I carry on as much as I can with my normal activities which include walking and some gym workouts for exercise since I was told that exercise is important.
To date I am still enjoying life with my wife, thank God. I try not to make my condition a problem but dealing with forgetting the names of friends who have known me and whom I know from way back, annoys me immensely. For God's sake, "Why can't I remember names of persons whom I met recently but more so the names of family members?"
I enjoy communicating with some of my friends with whom I go way back many years regarding our situation or other stuff. Basic communication with friends is not as easy as I first thought. What I do is, I tell them up front of my short term memory problem and they respond positively.
I don't feel ashamed to let them know this and they seem to appreciate my honesty. I try to use my gift of humour to do this. In fact, I often tell them that "These days, my memory is the thing that I forget with!"
It's a challenge for Linda* and myself not to think of the future and the high cost of medication for my condition does not make it any easier on us retirees. I often ask myself ,"If you can't afford these expensive drugs how can persons suffering from Alzheimer's survive?"
It is my hope that the Ministry of Health may be able to assist Alzheimer's patients by putting them on the CDAP list since it appears that Alzheimer's is now becoming sort of an epidemic worldwide.
Spiritually, I know in my heart that God is looking after us, day by day. And He will continue to do so.
I thank God for my wife who is so forgiving – most of the time and the doctors who have been very helpful.
I would like to leave you with these lines from the Alzheimer's Association of Lebanon guide titled: "Under the cloak of Alzheimer's disease there is a person with infinite value, a person with a name, a person with a spirit, a person with feelings, a person with a will and personality, a person with a life story, a person with an environment and a person with a present moment"
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