By John Gardiner
Gathering for a photo for the cktimes camera just before the Alzheimer Society's annual general meeting. (from left) Executive Director Cheryl Prince, Social Worker Megan Mackay-Barr, guest speaker Marilyn, President John O'Reilly, Social Worker Susanne Smith, Volunteer Coordinator Sue Boyle and Day Away Program Coordinator Lina DeMattia.
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Being diagnosed with Alzheimers can have a devastating effect
on an elderly person, but imagine finding out you had the disease
when you were in your early 50's. For most of us, it would seem
like the end of our lives, but guests who attended the Alzheimer
Society of Chatham-Kent's annual meeting last week heard an inspiring
message of hope.
Marilyn, who asked that her last name not be used, is 58-years-old
and she's been suffering from the Alzheimers since shortly after
reaching her 50th birthday. Instead of letting the disease devastate
her and her family, she has become a volunteer for the Alzheimer
Society, travelling widely with a message of hope for the future.
Marilyn said that being diagnosed with Alzheimers changes your
entire life. "There are major changes in your identity,"
she said, "as you struggle from being a capable person to
being someone you don't recognize. It's a re-shaping of your whole
identity. Once you've done that and adjusted your coping mechanisms,
you can have a positive life."
She said there are several pro-active things that Alzheimer patients
can do to improve their quality of life. Medication made a huge
difference in her life. "It lifted me out of a fog of confusion,"
she said. "I can cope better."
She said having a good doctor is important. "You need someone
who listens to your memory complaints from the beginning,"
she said. "I had those types of doctors – they listened."
Family is another important consideration. "I have a wonderful
family," she said. "My husband and children immediately
learned all they could about the disease and they keep on learning.
They help me stay positive and they fill in the gaps without complaints
or criticism. I don't mean to forget and I don't need to be reminded
that I'm failing."
Marilyn also talked about taking advantage of other therapies
that can help. "There are fantastic nutritional supports,"
she said. "I want my body to be as healthy as it can be.
I want to stimulate my mind and body as much as possible. Physical
exercise and contact with people are both important."
She also talked about the importance of the Alzheimer Society
and the work it does. "Their support has been absolutely
priceless," she said. "I didn't feel like I was struggling
alone. I was meeting with people like myself. In groups, we talked
about the problems we were having and shared our coping strategies.
We share our hope and help each other with problems. It can really
help give you a push."
Marilyn has been travelling and talking about Alzheimers almost
since she was diagnosed. "At first, it was incredibly tough
to talk to the public about my pain," she said. "But
the message is so well received that I'm able to overcome my discomfort."
She said she remains positive and upbeat despite the disease.
"The future looks rosier that it did some time ago,"
she said. "I'm quite enjoying life now. My message in the
beginning was about dealing with the fear, but now I talk more
about living positively."
She said it's important to educate people about diseases like
Alzheimers. "If I can help reduce the public's fear of people
with these diseases," she said, "and help people with
dementia to enhance their lives"
She said her talks are as much for family members as patients.
"People are glad I give these talks," she said. "I
can tell people what their loved ones are going through. It helps
them to know what it feels like."
This Article taken from Chatham-Kent Times
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