DOSS I ER
Loving and living with someone struggling with Alzheimer’s
ALEXIA MARSILLO alexia.marsillo@eap.on.ca
Alzheimer’s disease affects most Cana- dians, whether it is through a personal diagnosis or that of a loved one. It is a dis- ease that starts gradually and inevitably worsens over time. Alzheimer’s undoubt- edly changes the nature of relationships and of lifestyles, of the diagnosed person, as well as that of their friends and family. More and more awareness is being raised about this disease, fundraisers are being held and organizations are providing sup- port as Alzheimer’s research is ongoing and new facts are discovered often. KarenMartin, a resident of Russell Town- ship, has also been learning new things ev- eryday about the disease, since her hus- band, Robert, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s one year ago at the age of 57. “The beginning is a very gradual loss of memory and you’re sort of wondering if there is something wrong with them or is it just forgetfulness?” said KarenMartin. “Then it gets worse and worse and you realize, ‘Yes, there is something wrong’ and you have to take them to get tested.” Martin started to notice the changes in her husband’s memory and upon receiving the diagnosis a year ago, he is still undergoing testing to figure out exactly what type of Alzheimer’s he has. At 58 years old, at the insistence of his neurologist, Robert was forced to stop work- ing due to the disease. “He couldn’t work anymore and that was very, very difficult because he’s always worked all his life and he’s always worked long hours all his life… To be told now ‘You can’t work,’ was a re- ally difficult thing for him to accept,” said Martin. The married couple of 40 years was also forced to sell the house they have lived in for 30 years – a house that Robert built himself – because the maintenance would become impossible to keep up with after the diagnosis.The two have nowmoved to a campground, where Robert has found some work he can do around the grounds, picking up the recycling and other simple tasks that keep him occupied. “His morale is pretty
La maladie d’Alzheimer affecte la plupart des Canadiens, que ce soit par un diagnostic personnel ou celui d’un relatif. C’est une maladie qui commence graduellement et se détériore inévitablement avec le temps. Lamaladie d’Alzheimer change indubitablement la nature des relations et desmodes de vie, de la personne diagnostiquée, ainsi que celle de leurs amis et de leur famille. On sensibilise de plus en plus à cette maladie, on organise des collectes de fonds et les organisations fournissent du soutien. La recherche sur la maladie d’Alzheimer est toujours en cours et de nouveaux faits sont souvent appris. KarenMartin a également appris de nouvelles choses tous les jours sur lamaladie, car sonmari, Robert, a été diagnostiqué avec une apparition précoce de lamaladie d’Alzheimer exactement il y a un an, en septembre 2016 à l’âge de 57 ans. —photo fournie
good right now because of the work. They need to be kept busy,” said Martin. “With this, he can work as he pleases, when he is having a good day, and it’s not very taxing and mind demanding.” According toMartin, her husband’s mind- set changes on a daily basis, in which half the time he is himself, and the other half the disease is in the driver’s seat. Robert’s Alzheimer’s is focused primarily in the fron- tal lobe, which leads to aggression and other inappropriate things in public. “He doesn’t realize what he’s doing is wrong,” she said. “If I argue with him, it just aggravates the situation. For me that’s re- ally hard, because I’m very strong and vo- cal myself and I have to really pull myself back.” Martin acknowledges the support she has received from Alzheimer’s Society of Cornwall and District, most notably from the family’s case worker, Jeanne Poirier, who has done house visits to speak to Martin and her three children. Martin also attends monthly Alzheimer’s Support Meetings to cope with the lifestyle changes that come
with a loved one being diagnosed. Once Robert was diagnosed, it took the family all year to get him in to see a neurolo- gist and they are now waiting to complete tests at the Memory Disorder Clinic at the Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital in Ottawa. Ac- cording toMartin, her husband is scheduled to run tests this week, in which they can expect to wait until early next year for the results.
“That’s the hardest part, waiting and wait- ing and waiting,” saidMartin. “We needmore resources and doctors for Alzheimer’s so things can progress quicker for these people, especially when it’s early onset, because they’re young and can maybe live a more productive life for a little while longer.” The family will be participating in this year’s Walk for Alzheimer’s organized by the Alzheimer’s Society of Cornwall and District
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