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Editorial: "Eight is Enough" May Be Too Much
June 20th, 2002

Editorial: Cedar Key Plantation: Albatross or Opportunity
June 16th, 2002

Editorial: Hello Cedar Key Plantation, Goodbye Clam Beds
June 14th, 2002

Editorial: All`s Quiet on the Water Front
June 8th, 2002

Editorial: A Cop in Trouble
June 6th, 2002

Editorial: Community Redevelopment Wish Lists
June 3rd, 2002

Editorial: Heath Davis and the Power of Politics
May 19th, 2002

Editorial: Do We Need Another Hero?
May 16th, 2002

Editorial: Support Groups
May 8th, 2002

Editorial: Clarification of Speak Out
May 7th, 2002

Editorial: Introducing Our Editor
April 22nd, 2002


Alzheimer`s Sentence

Alzheimer`s Sentence

Editorial

How would you feel if you heard you had Alzheimer`s disease? What if you were old and sick and not completely aware of what was going on? What if you didn`t have someone to speak up for you and your case was simply plopped in the Alzheimer`s can? And what if you didn`t actually have Alzheimer`s?



After a recent incident those questions have plagued me and I have talked to a few people, but there are far more who should know.



My father will be 96 in November. He had been living alone but located very near my brother. Early one morning on a freezing day my brother found him wandering around outside, incoherent, without his shoes and very cold. He was rushed to a hospital where he gradually regained strength, as we expected, for he is an unusually hale and hearty senior. Because of past problems we thought his confusion was due to pain killer medication he had been prescribed. He simply cannot take anything much stronger than aspirin.



While I was with my dad at the hospital a medical specialist came in the room, briefly chatted, and then said my dad had Alzheimer`s disease. I was stunned. (Our mother died of Alzheimer`s so we were not without first-hand knowledge of this awful disease.) Dad is hard of hearing so he was spared the terrible announcement. I strongly objected to the diagnosis so much so that the doctor said he would return and requested that other family members be there. We learned that another doctor first put the Alzheimer`s label on dad, another doctor picked up this diagnosis from the first doctor and then the specialist repeated what the first two doctors had in their files.



After talking with family members the specialist changed his diagnosis. My dad is now doing very well in a home, and from what I`ve seen he is the most mentally alert of the patients I`ve encountered. My dad is very sociable and loves interacting with the staff and is a regular visitor with other patients. He also takes himself down to the exercise room five mornings a week and he "works out" in his room every day.



Aging brings on its own special problems. Things that you may not have thought about doing with a loved one`s private life become very important for that person`s well-being in their later years. Know what your loved one`s medical file contains. Ask questions and for heavens sake, when you have doubts, don`t accept a diagnosis at face value. Be alert and an advocate for your loved ones` medical needs.


Linda Dale

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