Alzheimer's Disease: What is It?

Greetings Dear Sisters,

This month, in support of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness, we will take a journey into the lives of caregivers for persons with Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on the wellbeing of these caregivers.

Imagine your loved one, perhaps your mother or father, who always took care of you as a child, now requiring your care and declining right before your eyes. Although caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s is sometimes rewarding, it is also difficult, and at times devastating. The pressure of the commitment of time, treasure and talent and the frustration that emerges from the apparent inefficacy of that investment, can lead caregivers to experience burnout and even depression.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that leads to memory loss and a decline in ability to respond to others and the environment. It involves the part of the brain that forms thoughts, words and memory, and can severely limit the person's ability to take care of themselves. Persons suffering with Alzheimer’s frequently cannot perform basic self-care activities, like eating, bathing, and getting dressed. Caregivers are most often family members, a son or daughter caring for a mother or father, or a spouse caring for her or his spouse. Whereas, sometimes the role of caregiving is shared amongst a larger group of adult family members.

An integral step supporting the care of caregivers is a proper understanding of what Alzheimer’s Disease is. Watch the videos below to get a clinical and caregiver perspective, respectively, on what Alzheimer’s Disease is :

The resource walks you through the process of Alzheimer's diagnosis:
https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/alzheimers-diagnostic-tests/

The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting you to fundraise to support research to find treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s Disease. They have even come up with some great ideas for how you can help during social distancing.

Happy Temple Building!