Old Age and the fear of Alzheimer's
By Inlemay
@Inlemay (17713)
South Africa
October 30, 2015 12:55pm CST
Thursday I was meandering with a friend in a small little Village town called Parys in SA. Its name is derived from the Afrikaans translations of the French Capital PARIS.
The place is quaint and if I had to choose anywhere to retire in a HOME, it would be there. Many of the inhabitants are parents of children that have left South Africa to make new lives in Australia, USA, UK and Canada. This information was given to me by the Matron while my friend - whom I chauffeured to Parys due to a broken leg, was handing out the medicines dispatched.
So they are quite family-less. SAD.
Last stop was a section called "Happy Wanderers" . . . this was the ward for the Alzheimer folk - frail in their minds, wandering off in all sorts of directions, not knowing anything of where, what, how, and why.
This touched me - as they sat in silent chatter - looking and waving as we walked in, but back to blank stare again as we passed.
The fear of Alzheimer's, I think I have felt that today. But if at any time I get to that point, I have written a codicil in my will, that my children and hubby take me there - Happy Wanderers, a place next to the river with a view of heaven.
Have you any fears?
21 people like this
20 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
30 Oct 15
pending homelessness - losing all my precious books along with my home scares me
5 people like this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
31 Oct 15
I am losing my precious books with age. There are some that have a small fort. It stresses my eayes to read them. There are others, too dense such as linguistics and philosophy that I left some time ago and others (too light) that I don´t care to read.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
2 Nov 15
@marguicha Some things come, some things go with age. My taste in books has changed over the years. I, too, have always been a bookworm since I started reading. I studied Literature and then taught it at the University. And I write in my native language.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
2 Nov 15
@marguicha sad to lose books - they have always been my best friends in life
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
30 Oct 15
I feel being the last survivor of my friends and family, that would be terrible.
5 people like this
@mrdprince (293)
• United States
31 Oct 15
It is a sad thing, for sure, but maybe not so terrible because then we do not suffer from so much loss. I know, ahead of time, that I will be alone when my time comes and I can accept that. It is now only a question as to how I will spend my last days.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
31 Oct 15
The older I get, the more I have to deal with memory loss. I know that it comes with old age nd that it is not Alzheimer´s. Still, I´m afraid at moments.
3 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
31 Oct 15
@marguicha
I also believe if our departed loved ones remin in our memories we can still talk to them in our mind.
1 person likes this
@mrdprince (293)
• United States
31 Oct 15
Now i believe that memory loss is the worst part. It is the memories of those already gone that helps us to survive the loss. Without them we have nothing.
4 people like this
@martygoldeng (47)
• United States
31 Oct 15
The best advice to those who are fearful of Alzheimers is to make sure they are not going to be living alone or left alone.
They have to be sure that a loved one will be with them, almost at all times, at least in the house with them.
Otherwise, they may become paranoid, if they sense that people are indifferent to them.
If a professional service has to be hired for home-care of a senior with Alzheimers, it's very important that the person in the house is completely honest and trustworthy. Selfish phone calls and neglect are too common as distractions and detriment to senior citizens.
@rebelann (112962)
• El Paso, Texas
31 Oct 15
I've noticed that a too often a CNA is very young and has no real grasp of the elder persons condition so even when the elder does not have dementia or Alzheimers they still tend to ignore them @martygoldeng I can imagine how hard it is for both young and old to deal with problems of the mind in the elderly.
2 people like this
@mrdprince (293)
• United States
31 Oct 15
You gave me chills with this. It sounds like a nice place to go to when the time comes. By the way, glad to see you here, my friend.
@allknowing (137597)
• India
31 Oct 15
Atleast there is a place for those who have lost their memory. Those who do not have that facility are often a burden on their family as they are not equipped to care for such patients.
2 people like this
@makarandthakare (50)
• India
31 Oct 15
i am not scared of alzheimer because i don't know what it is actually...
i am 20 old, i have very good health due to regular exercise, dance, jim...
so tada...
i am 20 old, i have very good health due to regular exercise, dance, jim...
so tada...2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50607)
• United States
31 Oct 15
It would be a horrid thing to get.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
31 Oct 15
It is a cruel illness for both the patient and the family. However the more stimulation the patients receive the better for them. Not to sit like zombies around the periphery of a room but to wonder and explore and carry on living an active and interesting life!
2 people like this
@Macarrosel (7498)
• Philippines
31 Oct 15
At my age right now, that's one of my fears. I hope my daughters will take care of me when the time comes.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
31 Oct 15
It is sad that the alzheimers patients have no families there to help care for them. Happy Wanderers sounds like a place with a view of Heaven. Hopefully your friend will not have to stay there to long. As we age we know we do not want to be a drain on our children and hopefully we do not have to many medical problems but I do think as we start to forget things we do think of alzheimers.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
13 Nov 15
There is a tendency for fears to build up as we grow older. It's natural as we begin to see some deterioration coming along with wear and tear and worry. I try to follow Jesus' advice not to worry about tomorrow because there are enough worries for today. Mostly I manage to do that.
1 person likes this
