As a caregiver for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, you probably have concerns about what the future holds. How fast will changes occur? What can I expect to happen next? How will I know what to do?
Because progressive memory loss affects individuals in different ways, it can be very difficult to predict the future with any degree of accuracy. As memory care experts remind us, the only thing you can be certain of is that the challenges facing your loved one – and you – will only increase with time.
For loved ones who are dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, the ability to communicate will typically decline with the passage of time. The progressive nature of these forms of memory loss result in the slow erosion of verbal communication skills as the pathways in the brain are damaged. Because of this progression, it becomes increasingly difficult for loved ones to find the right words to converse, as well as to understand what others are saying.
A recent Commonwealth Fund study reported that 60 percent of the family caregivers surveyed, ages 19-64, reported “fair or poor” health and one or more chronic conditions or disabilities, compared with only 33 percent of non-caregivers. This report comes as no surprise to family members who are the primary caregivers of loved ones who need help with everyday living. In fact, the physical, emotional and economic burdens on caregivers today can frequently become overwhelming without some form of personal support.
Recently, TheNational Institute on Aging estimated that as many as 5.1 million Americans might currently have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia today. They also projected that there could be as many as 16 million cases by 2050.
