Alzheimer's disease and dementia is a really difficult diagnosis and process for a lot of people to understand... I think because nobody really does understand it. Nobody has really found a way to explain it that makes sense to people. It's not really "physical" like how we see other illnesses and injuries. I am around the impact of Alzheimer's all day, every day. So sometimes I forget that it is uncomfortable for a lot of people to be around or to talk about. I have a lot more to share on this topic. However, for now I just want to share this short video. I think it is very powerful and it shows how IMPORTANT it is to not just ignore this disease. It doesn't impact just the individual, but has a huge impact on family and caregivers. (Not to mention the economical impact... if medicare is struggling now, it better get it's act together for the coming 40 years...) All members of the team matter: doctors, pharmacists, therapists, nursing assistants, social workers... And even if you don't know anyone with Alzheimer's, there is a good chance it will impact you one day... maybe it affects a loved one, maybe it affects your taxes or insurance policy, or maybe it affects you. It's time for people to get over that discomfort and fear about this disease and join us in the fight of working against it and working for these individuals.
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This all stems from attending an interdisciplinary continuing ed course on cognition and dementia today. It was for Occupational Therapists (me), Speech Therapists, and Physical Therapists (and assistants). Probably half of my caseload is individuals who live in "memory support units" and have true diagnoses of dementia in advanced stages. Out of the rest, probably half of them also have dementia (diagnosed or undiagnosed) or mild cognitive impairment. And to think that most people with dementia live in the community, not in facilities...... It is everywhere and will only continue to increase.
Even though I've heard all the information at the workshop a million times, it never hurts to hear it again, to brainstorm with other therapists and get some new ideas. I'm really glad I went even though my Saturday disappeared.
The workshop was actually only for company employees, and so the presenters are experienced therapists who travel around to different company site in NC for staff development and such. It was good to rub shoulders with some other therapists, in case I have to move around NC for any reason in the next couple of years (because I can think of one reason that might happen...). At these kind of presentations there is always that awkward silence where they try to involve the attendees and ask questions and such... so I was "that girl" in the course who answered every question and volunteered examples. Let's just say by the end of it, everybody in that room knew my name. Never too early to brand yourself and make yourself known. :)
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