Support for Alzheimers

Many forum members have been touched by Alzheimers, some caring for a loved one, many through the experience of a close friend or relative suffering from this terrible disease.
Alzheimers is the most common cause of dementia, affecting around 465,000 people in the UK. It was first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, as a physical disease affecting the brain during the course of which, 'plaques' and 'tangles' develop in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells. People with Alzheimer's also have a shortage of some important chemicals in their brains. These chemicals are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain.
Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, which means that gradually, over time, more parts of the brain are damaged and as this happens, the symptoms become more severe.
People in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease may experience lapses of memory and have problems finding the right words. As the disease progresses, they may also become confused, and frequently forget the names of people, places, appointments and recent events. They will experience mood swings causing them to feel sad or angry and may feel scared and frustrated by their increasing memory loss. They can become more withdrawn, due either to a loss of confidence or to communication problems.
As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's need more support from those who care for them and eventually, they will need help with all their daily activities.
While there are some common symptoms, it is important to remember that everyone is unique. No two people are likely to experience Alzheimer's disease in the same way.
There is currently no cure, however, some drug treatments are available that can ameliorate the symptoms or slow down the disease progression in some people.
Caring for a person with Alzheimers is often a series of grief experiences as you watch memories disappear and skills erode.
The disease impacts every aspect of daily life as patients lose one ability after another and carers face tests of stamina, problem solving and resilience. During this long and difficult journey, communication diminishes, rewards decrease and without strong support carers face challenges to their own well being.
There is now a group in Wyre that will contribute to helping anyone caring for a person with Alzheimers. They held their inaugural meeting recently in Cleveleys and plan to meet on the first Thursday of every month in Cleveleys Park Methodist Church.




It is hoped that they will be able to accommodate the carer with their partners and allow them to decide the format.  It may range from just coffee and a chat to activities and information on relevant topics from outside speakers and even trips out.
 
They will be supported by the Fleetwood Memory Assessment Team and other volunteers.
Many carers are reluctant to leave their partners to join carer support activities but this new group will allow both to attend and so both will benefit. I had the pleasure of going to the inaugural meeting and the presence of patients, carers and friends created a unique atmosphere of shared understanding and achievement for those on this long journey.
I would urge anyone who is currently caring for a loved one with Alzheimers to contact Alison Falloon on 01253 312 893 for more information about this much needed group.