In general, Alzheimer's disease is regarded as a cruel and devastating illness that destroys its 'victims' as well as their relationships with friends and family. Alzheimer's can rob people of their very humanity. Even caregivers of patients suffering of Alzheimer's may fall into a period of deep depression trying to deal with this unmerciful disease. It is also possible that anticipatory grief may develop when someone realizes to lose forever that life as it had been planned. Intimacy, relatonships, and companionship may appear to have vanished.
The caregiver also can get angry at the difficult situation when realizes the painful reality that a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Sometimes the caregiver may even become angry at his loved one who developed this cruel and unpleasant disorder.
It is true that Alzheimer's is a devastating disese. It may seem that those who have it will never enjoy life again. However, according to several experts on the disease, the picture that emerges is somewhat different. Studies have shown that although Alzheimer's is a terrible disease, those patients suffering of this illness can retain the capacity to enjoy life.
According to David Troxel and Virginia Bell writing in The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer's Care, Alzheimer's is a terrible disease indeed, yet is too easy to victimize people by dwelling on the negative. This attitude can only lead to settling for "lower standards of care", according to the two experts.
A renowned expert on Alzheimer's caregiving, Teepa Snow, also believes that people suffering of Alzheimer's can still enjoy life. She declared in an interview that almost all people with dementia can enjoy life but in order this to happen they really need "to have the right support and environment."
An entire book intituled Creating Moments of Joy: A Journal for Caregivers by Jolene Brackey is dedicated to the issue of caregiving for people suffering of Alzheimer's. In the book Brackey states that we will soon focus more of our energy on creating moments of joy and look beyond the challenges of Alzheimer's disease. The author adds that it is absolutely attainable to create perfectly wonderful moments for people with Alzheimer's, to trigger pelasant memories for them or to put a smile on their face.
