Imagine that you are visiting a friend who cares for her mother. While there you notice that she has just helped her mom take a bath because she is unable to care for herself. Then you notice that her mother repeatedly asks her the same question: Who are you? Calmly, your friend repeats the same answer every time. You are shocked. How is it possible for a mother to be unable to recognise the face of her own child?
Sadly, this is the reality of many people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. It is the most common type of dementia, a condition which causes memory loss and creates difficulty with thinking, problem solving and language, as well as the ability to carry out familiar tasks. Patients also experience confusion with time and place, changes in mood and personality and often misplace their belongings. Though it is a progressive disease, treatments for the symptoms are available and research continues in an effort to find a cure.
However, in the Caribbean, Alzheimer’s disease is often mistaken for normal signs of aging. Many people do not always receive the care and attention they need and deserve. As we age, it is normal to sometimes forget to pay a bill, to misplace an item or even forget what day it is. However, it should always be a concern when this type of memory loss becomes persistent and is different from the individual’s normal behavior, and it should be brought to the attention of a medical practitioner.
While the condition has been associated with older folk, there are people in their 40s and 50s who experience the early onset of dementia.
As the world becomes more aware of Alzheimer’s and its devastating effects, people across the Caribbean region have recognised the need to raise awareness of the disease in their own countries. As a result, Alzheimer’s Associations and support groups have been formed in order to provide support to families. On February 25 – 27 this year, Barbados hosted the Third Regional Caribbean Conference on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, at which many of these advocates were present.
It was noted that out of every ten people living with dementia in the Caribbean, only one has been diagnosed, while in more developed countries only four out of ten are diagnosed. The participants also discussed dementia policy, care of patients and prevention of the disease. The conference representatives came from many islands, including Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis and Cuba, as well as from the United States and the United Kingdom. The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and a number of other organisations were also represented.
On September 21 every year, World Alzheimer’s Day is recognized. Around the globe, various organisations focus their efforts on raising awareness of the disease. As the date draws nearer, let us be mindful of those who are suffering either from or due to the effects of Alzheimer’s and do what we can to provide support to our local organisations.
