The Good Life – September-October 2020

disease and they are not clear-cut in any way. One day
the affected may be completely "with-it" and the next day
has no idea what's going on, so you find yourself getting
your hopes up only to have them dashed over and over
again. It is critical to accept the situation at hand and
understand that although some days are better there is
no going back.
FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF
Stage 1 – Denial. When you first hear the
diagnosis, you may deny its accuracy,
continue to expect your loved one to
get better, or convince yourself that the
symptoms are not Alzheimer’s.
Stage 2 – Anger. You may be angry with
the person or with the disease itself.
You may easily become frustrated or
feel abandoned and resentful toward
family members.
Stage 3 – Guilt. You may regret previous
actions, or harbor negative thoughts
about your loved one.
Stage 4 – Depression or sadness. You
may lose hope, withhold your emotions
or even withdraw from social activities.
Stage 5 – Acceptance. This occurs
when the patient’s loved ones ultimately
acknowledge the diagnosis. It's possible
you can find meaning in caring for your
loved one. You can learn to enjoy the
remaining time you have together.
If I could give anyone reading this who is affected by this
disease a piece of advice is to take the time for you. You
can't give the kind of support your loved one needs if you
are in a low place.
Throughout this experience, I have learned that my
family is resilient and my community has stepped up
to provide support at every turn. Whether it is support
groups, fundraising events, or conferences, people want
to help and that is a beautiful thing.
Of course, you can find many other fundraising
opportunities throughout our community.
Head over to the Alzheimer's Associations website at
www.alz.org to see where you can provide help. •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 9