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November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Association, together with advocates in the early stages of the disease, are encouraging families to talk about memory and cognition concerns sooner.
These advocates know firsthand that an early diagnosis offers many benefits, including access to more effective medical and lifestyle interventions and the ability to take an active role in planning with family members for the future.
“Denial and rationalization are common responses to the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s — it was a part of my experience,” said Darrell Foss, a member of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Early-Stage Advisory Group, which is composed of people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
“Too often, people experiencing symptoms, or family members seeing them, wait to speak up, even when they know something is wrong. It can be scary, but that is why I’m sharing my personal experience — to illustrate why talking about Alzheimer’s concerns early is so important,” Foss said.
“Unfortunately, people often avoid conversations due to denial, fear, anxiety, lack of awareness, and difficulty having hard conversations about health issues, particularly with Alzheimer’s or other dementias due to stigma and perceptions associated with the disease,” said Ruth Drew, director of Family and Information Services for the Alzheimer’s Association.
New findings from an Alzheimer’s Association survey found a majority of Americans would be concerned about offending a family member (76 percent), or ruining their relationship (69 percent), if they were to approach that person about observed signs of Alzheimer’s.
More alarming, 38 percent said they would wait until a family member’s Alzheimer’s symptoms worsened before approaching them with concerns. Additionally, nearly 1 in 3 Americans (29 percent) would not say anything to a family member despite their concerns.
To help families overcome common communication obstacles, the Alzheimer’s Association is offering Six Tips for Approaching Alzheimer’s, a list of best practices for talking about the disease with someone who may be experiencing symptoms. These include:
• Have the conversation as early as possible
• Think about who’s best suited to have the conversation
• Practice conversation starters
• Offer support and companionship
• Anticipate gaps in self-awareness
• Recognize the conversation may not go as planned
“We know that initiating conversations can be difficult; these tips are aimed at making a discussion about Alzheimer’s less daunting and more productive,” said Drew.
“We also know from talking to families that, while individuals may wish they didn’t have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, they never regret being able to prepare for the future, play an active role in their own financial and care planning, and make their wishes known to their family members.”
The Value of Early Diagnosis
There are many medical, financial, emotional, and social benefits to receiving an early Alzheimer’s diagnosis — both for those living with the disease and their families. These include:
• Accurate diagnosis – Can help determine if someone’s cognitive changes are truly due to Alzheimer’s or some other, perhaps even treatable, condition
• Medical benefits – Allows individuals to explore medications for memory loss, sleep changes, and behavior changes resulting from the disease, as well as to adopt lifestyle changes that may help preserve their existing cognitive function for as long as possible, such as controlling one’s blood pressure, smoking cessation, and exercise
• Participation in clinical trials – Enables individuals to enroll in clinical trials that advance research and may provide medical benefits
• Planning for the future – Allows individuals more time to plan for the future while they are cognitively able to make legal, financial, and end-of-life decisions
• Emotional and social benefits – Provides individuals with the best opportunity to spend time doing meaningful activities and interacting with the most important people in their lives; it can also open doors to many educational and support programs
Mary Tarbell, 66, an Alzheimer’s Association early-stage adviser who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, said getting her diagnosis has helped refocus her priorities.
“Learning I had Alzheimer’s was painful,” said Tarbell. “But getting an early diagnosis has given me the chance to make informed decisions about the future with my family. My husband and I are using this time to plan some vacations and do the things we want to do while we still can.”
Living with Alzheimer’s
In addition to encouraging families to talk about Alzheimer’s openly and to seek diagnosis earlier, Alzheimer’s Association early-stage advisers are sharing their stories about life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, including steps individuals can take to move forward and live their best lives.
“Many see Alzheimer’s disease as the end of life and, while there is currently no cure, living with the disease is a complex experience that often runs the course of many years,” said Pam Montana, an early-stage adviser who was diagnosed in 2016 at age 61.
“It is so important for me to encourage others with a diagnosis to stay active and engaged as long as possible. I encourage people to seek out life-affirming moments. For example, I’m an advocate for the cause … and that leads to an enormous sense of accomplishment, even with this extremely difficult diagnosis.”
The Alzheimer’s Association helps families and friends navigate challenges and considerations at each stage of the disease, through face-to-face conversations with experts in local communities, a free 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900, and comprehensive support and resources on www.alz.org.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association