Patients Shed Light on Coming to Terms with Alzheimer's Disease

Dorothy, a resident of 'Life Guidance' or Alzheimer's Care Unit, said she was shocked a year ago when her doctor diagnosed her with Alzheimer's Disease.

"I would forget things, but I thought it was just old age," she said. "I might have forgotten a birthday—something like that—but I didn't realize it was happening more often."

Wednesday, Sept. 21 was World Alzheimer's Awareness Day, and in honor of the event, both residents and staff at Ardsley's Atria Woodlands Senior Living center dressed in purple to show solidarity in their fight against the disease that has become the fifth leading cause of death for Americans over 65.

Up until her diagnosis, Dorothy said she had maintained an active lifestyle, volunteering and continuing to do some work in retail—at the height of her career, she was a buyer for B. Altman and Co., traveling abroad regularly to Europe and Asia.

"It's a funny thing that I didn't recognize it," Dorothy said. "You have to come to terms with what you can and can't do because of it. You can't get into a fit and say, 'Go away, go away, Alzheimer's.'"

Jeanne Ferrando, LCSW is the director of Atria Woodlands' Alzheimer's Care Unit.

"Getting a diagnosis of Alzheimer's is just the beginning of a huge mountain to climb, both for patients and caregivers," Ferrando said.

Spending her professional life with people who suffer from memory loss, Ferrando is a strong believer in the active steps caregivers can take to improve patients' qualities of life and even slow the progression of the illness.

"Here we play lots of games, like word jumbles, hang man, trivia and simple cosswords," she said. "Engaging in these activites gives residents a sense of dignity and self-worth. When they know an answer, they feel as if they're making a contribution."

Ferrando also stressed the importance of music and physical activity, like dance.

"It's amazing, you can have a person who can hardly finish a sentence. Pop in a CD of old music and she'll start singing along, not missing a single word," she said. Even the most practical aspects of life, like keeping to a regular eating schedule, Ferrando said, can help Alzheimer's patients.

For family members—especially those who care for aging parents, aunts or uncles at home—Ferrando said support groups can be hugely helpful. The National Alzheimer's Association offers a group for caregivers at Atria Woodlands the first Wednesday of every month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Marjorie is also a resident in the Alzheimer's Care Unit; her daughter Meg lives close by and visits often.

"I don't notice I have Alzheimer's," said Marjorie, dressed impeccably in a purple suit jacket. Meg briefly looked away.

"Here, I like to play golf, and tennis. I like to be with the men," Marjorie said.

Meg laughed. "Mom, you've always been that way," she said.

Despite the mother/daughter banter, it's clear Alzheimer's Disease has taken something from Meg and Marjorie's relationship, though Marjorie still insists she doesn't have it.

"It's a rotten disease," said Dorothy. "But the first thing you must do is acknowledge you have it. You need to keep busy, but you can't ignore it."

Dorothy said she feels lucky that her family doesn't treat her any differently because of her diagnosis. "They don't treat me like a vegetable—I don't know what I would do if they did."

She added: "I now have to accept that things I was very good at, I can now be mediocre at."

Alzheimer's facts courtesy of Atria Woodlands:

• Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older.
• 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – 5.2 million aged 65 and over; 200,000 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s. By 2050, as many as  16 million Americans will have the disease.
• Two-thirds of those with the disease – 3.4 million – are women.
• Of Americans aged 65 and over, 1 in 8 has Alzheimer’s, and nearly half of people aged 85 and older have the disease.
• Another American develops Alzheimer’s disease every 69 seconds. In 2050, an American will develop the disease every 33 seconds.
• Most people survive an average of four to eight years after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but some live as long as 20 years with the disease.
• On average, 40 percent of a person’s years with Alzheimer’s are spent in the most severe stage of the disease – longer than any other stage.
• Four percent of the general population will be admitted to a nursing home by age 80. But, for people with Alzheimer’s, 75 percent will be admitted to a nursing home by age 80.

Find more information on the Alzheimer's Association's website here.

Click here for the local chapter.