A recent study found that only about 45 percent of Alzheimer’s patients had been informed by their doctor that they had Alzheimer’s disease. This by itself is not disturbing given the memory issues that those with advanced dementia face, but the numbers were also confirmed with caregivers and family members. This study was conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association and was released in their 2015 Facts and Figures report.
This is a difficult concept for those of us without cognitive problems to grasp, but even if someone has advanced Alzheimer’s, even if they have difficulty comprehending what is being said to them, doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t benefit from this information. It would give those already facing a tough situation be able to make a little more sense of their predicament.
The even bigger issue here, though, is senior rights. Everyone deserves to know the details of their medical conditions, even if they are unable to fully comprehend the ins and outs of it. One additional finding was that those that were told by their doctor about their condition were not told about it until the disease had become more advanced. And because of this, the symptoms of the disease become much more difficult to treat with success. While it’s true that there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s there are little things that can be done to slow its growth. For example, it’s been shown that regular exercise can help reduce the speed at which the disease progresses, but the more advanced it becomes, the more difficult exercise becomes. Alzheimer’s affects a lot more than just thought processes, but the entire brain, too. Exercise can become almost impossible at later stages. So, by not being told about the disease, or by being told too late, doctors are actually doing their patients a big disservice.
Late disclosure also makes it difficult for the patient to help with their own care plan. If they are still mentally cognizant, then they will be able to discuss what kinds of care they want, and what kinds they don’t want. Many people want to stay in their own homes, but if they aren’t able to tell you this, the person you love might find themselves stuck in a care situation that they despise, but can do nothing to change. It’s not something that you would want your loved one to ever experience, but unfortunately, it is something that could potentially happen to millions of Americans because they are not being told what their official diagnosis is.
What can you do to fix this? You can work closely with your loved one’s doctors at the first sign of trouble. You can share information with your mom or dad and let them know that you are there to help them and that you love them. They might be scared of what they are going through, and even if it’s only a slight amount of comfort to know that you are by their side, wouldn’t you want to give them that? The sooner you can act, the better.
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