Interesting how this is beginning to show up. In summery, "How we talk about Alzheimer’s and other dementias has a profound effect on how we perceive and deal with the illness.”

Interesting how this is beginning to show up more and more or am I just tuning in? I know you have been talking about this for a while.

I too believe how we talk about Alzheimer’s and other dementias has a profound effect on how we perceive and deal with the illness.

I just reviewed all of the descriptors on my blog (which just passed 50,000 hits with 178 posts) http://mhorvichcares.blogspot.com

I was pleased (and somewhat amazed) to find that most of the negative descriptors were more about how I was dealing or "suffering" through being a caregiver for my life partner of 40+ years Gregory.

I did compare some days to "being in hell," suffering, experiencing Gregory's violence towards me and a few others, feeling out of control, dealing with this "insidious" disease, feeling flummoxed. 

My use of words and attitudes towards Gregory and his dealing with the disease were mostly positive and reflect something I have been saying from the beginning, "Gregory is NOT a VICTIM of Alzheimer's, he is a HERO!"

Michael

The Poetry of Alzheimer's

Alzheimers, like poetry, is about words.
Letters combined into words into sentences,
Making up thoughts, and ideas and stories.

A poet searches for just the right word,
To convey meaning, experience, emotions
The essence of the things of life are told.

A person with dementia searches as well,
Through the emptiness, confusion and fear,
Trying to express the simplest of ideas.

At times the poet is can be articulate,
And often times beautifully lyrical,
But always in control of his words.

The person with dementia can be articulate
But at times cannot express himself at all
And over time the control of words escapes.

New Language

Gregory has created a new language out of his Alzheimer's.

Whether it is too cold or too hot in the condo he asks for "another tick" on the furnace.

For breakfast he likes "thin thins" with honey meaning the new thin round bread that has appeared in the grocery stores.

He let me know "Michael, Ding, Ding, Ding" happened in the kitchen as the oven reached temperature and we could begin making some cookies.

Various waves of the hands try to narrow down his message.

When he needs help with the computer he announces, "It happened again!"

Showing is always easier than telling, which ironically is the professional writer's mantra.

"Over There" represents everywhere that isn't here. For example, he is looking forward to going over there (Mexico,) he saw a neighbor over there (in the lobby,) he wants to go over there for dinner (a restaurant we haven't been to for a while,) we need to call one of his friends over there (in California? ... John?)

"You know!" said urgently after his having tried to explain something but not being able to come up with any words at all, just huffs and puffs and hems and haws means, "Michael, please tell my story for me."

Sometimes we both get the giggles at the new language he comes up with and sometimes I cry.