Alzheimer's From The Patient's Perspective

Although the symptoms of the disease happen to the person with the disease they are often not recognized at first. In fact, if the individual lives alone and does not socialize often, the disease may not be caught in the mild stage. There are 3 stages to the disease (mild, moderate and severe). The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is usually made in the mild stage of the disease. The symptoms are cognitive, or behavioral in nature. The individual with the disease may notice the symptoms but may decide that they are just "old age creeping up" and brush them off until the time comes when the cognitive symptoms pose a threat to their safety or to the safety of a loved one.

When diagnosed the individual is usually upset over the prognosis and the prospect of losing touch with reality and not being able to recognize family members or close friends – this is perhaps the most frightening aspect of the disease. They will also fear not being able to make choices about their care or about how they are treated as they advance into the moderate and severe stages of the disease. It is important that these fears be addressed early on in the disease so that the individual’s mind can be put at ease as much as possible. There are legal protections that can be put into place that assure the patient that there wishes will be carried out even when they can no longer communicate with others. The treatment plan can be outlined in advance for the moderate and severe stages of the disease when the patient is first diagnosed so that the doctor and staff are aware of preferences later on when the patient may not be able to understand or communicate them.

The individual should receive as much support as possible from the community and from Alzheimer support groups. Getting information about the disease will help him or her to understand in advance what to expect and what things can be done to make her or him more comfortable and to be able to feel safe. Care options can be explained so that the patient can make choices while the cognitive skills are still able to allow the individual to do so.

Preparation and planning are key to the individual being as confident as possible that she or he will have some control over their body and how they are treated in the later stages of the disease.

Alzheimer patients often worry about loved ones while they are still in the mild stage and go through the same stages of grief and emotional processing as most any patient does when they learn they are going to die. The prognosis for Alzheimer's is grim and any of us would admit that we would not want to face the disease.

The patient will be best served if they can not only be educated but also feel confident in the doctor and other medical team members that will be caring for them throughout the disease process. Care arrangements can be made in advance so that the patient can meet all caregivers (as much as possible) while still in the mild stage of the disease.