We’re all afraid of getting old. I think as a nation we are terrified that we would end up with Alzheimer’s – and because there’s no cure, we believe it’s the most hideous thing. And that’s true. But the problem with that stigma is that it delays diagnosis. The individual that begins experiencing some symptoms of Alzheimer’s often waits a number of years before he talks to his primary care physician about this. Spouses often take even longer before they take their loved one to get help, and they’ve all admitted it’s because of stigma.
A-I: Why is it so important that individuals with Alzheimer’s get diagnosed so quickly?
EH: Early diagnosis of the disease is important because you can get treatment early, but equally important is that without that early start, families have no chance to put together a plan for caring for their loved one. It’s almost twice as hard on families [if they wait] than if they had more time to construct a plan and also connect themselves to an organization like AFA – we might be able to alleviate some of the burden.
A-I: What can we do to turn this trend in delayed diagnosis around – to help individuals and caregivers feel comfortable and confident seeking help?
EH: I think the one thing that’s important and necessary, that the AFA is looking at, is a nation-wide campaign equal to that of breast cancer, or cardiovascular disease – these initiatives have been very effective in lowering the rates of those diseases because they get individuals to go see their doctors. For Alzheimer’s disease, it’s time. I think we could eradicate the stigma by getting information out.
Because the stigma exists, caregivers are not as likely to reach out for help, but there are resources available to help with all of the issues covered in the journey from diagnosis all the way through the end stages of Alzheimer’s. There are specific issues related to this disease state that are unique to it. This disease eradicates the person’ memory, and thereby eliminates the person, and so that type of behavior and what comes from that type of deterioration are profound, and training and education are important, as well as support. Caregivers need to be willing to lean on other people.
