SAN ANTONIO — Caring for a relative or loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia can be challenging. But providing proper care can be especially difficult during the holidays.
When you are planning your holiday get together experts recommend having a conversation with other family members prior to the event, so there are no surprises when it comes to that family member with dementia. Sue Peschin, the President & CEO, Alliance for Aging Research told us, "They may not recognize that their loved one has, you know, kind of moved along the course of disease and might be experiencing symptoms they haven't experienced before."
Nearly seven million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's. That number that is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. And one in three seniors die with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Peschin added, "It can be helpful to have communication tips like, you know, your loved one might repeat things a lot. That's very common. And, you know, not to argue or correct them."
Also, make sure your loved one is socializing with others. Not just sitting in a corner or watching TV alone. Peschin explained, "I think the key is being able to have family that accepts you and wants to interact with you and, you know, doesn't treat you like this inanimate object that you that you can have a conversation with."
Peschin says one of the big problems to lack of proper care that could be so useful during the holidays are barriers that prevent patients from accessing drugs to slow the disease's progression. She told us, "Some of the places that that would provide these therapies are more apt to put cancer patients in the front of the line and Alzheimer's in the back of the line because the companies were pressured to lower the prices."
For the results from a poll conducted by the Alliance for Aging Research about the overwhelming demand for easier access to FDA-approved early treatments for Alzheimer's click here.