Prepare for the worst
Prepare to be depressed.
Prepare to take just the first step in what for some becomes a decades-long march into a nightmare.
Most of all, prepare to be prepared. Help figure out the best way to mitigate not just the emotional devastation from this pervasive affliction, but its almost incomprehensible financial impact, as well.
We're talking about Alzheimer's, and before you flip to the funnies page or head off for work because it's easier to confront than this terrible topic, please read this.
Alzheimer's. You've heard that word for ages and, unless it's shattered someone's life close to yours, it's about as threatening as global warming is to your flowerbed this spring.
A reader whose family has crossed the precipice with a loved one's dementia urged us to interview PJ Christo, who heads the Alzheimer's Association's Inland Northwest Chapter. The reader's intent was twofold: To introduce PJ to those who don't know this wonderful human being, and to warn residents of the perils ahead.
We published the interview with PJ on Sunday, with several details of that story jumping off the page. On a personal, visceral level, it's hard to imagine that some Alzheimer's patients need 24-hour supervision for up to 20 years. How would you feel about being the one primarily responsible for that?
And on a financial level, it's even harder to comprehend the impact on families and the health care system of a problem afflicting more than 5 million Americans right now and almost certainly many more than that as Baby Boomers get older and older.
We strongly encourage our readers - not just our fellow Baby Boomers but their children and grandchildren - to learn more about Alzheimer's and dementia by visiting alz.org. Most importantly, review the 10 signs of Alzheimer's and follow the suggestions for early detection. By doing so, you can:
* Get the maximum benefit from available treatments.
* Have more time to plan for your future.
* Find help for you and your loved ones.
In the meantime, if a friend, co-worker or other associate is dealing with a loved one experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's, try to put yourself in her or his shoes. A little compassion can make a world of difference.