Alzheimer’s reach extends beyond seniors
Gaile Guevara is no stranger to the impact of Alzheimer’s.
The Vancouver- based interior designer’s mother Ebie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year at age 58, which is younger than most diagnosed, and Guevara, her father and sister are now helping her mother cope with the disease.
“Once she forgot to turn off the stove and a pan burned,” said Guevara, an interior designer with Modern604 who has raised tens of thousands of dollars across British Columbia to support people afflicted by Alzheimer’s.
“So, we started putting notes around the kitchen to remind her to turn off the stove,” added Guevara, who also writes a column in Homes & Living Magazine.
The family also noticed that she wasn’t dressing appropriately for the weather.
“She forgets that it’s cold outside, so she might wear a spring jacket,” said Guevara. “So we’re organizing her wardrobe, minimizing failure in choices. We’re making it really easy for her to get dressed.”
Guevara was instrumental in developing the H & L Laneway Home at the Interior Design Show West, which was auctioned off with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer Society of B. C.
Roughly 10,000 of the 70,000 people impacted by dementia in B. C. are under 65, and it’s even showing up among people in their 40s.
On top of that, as many as 50 per cent of Canadians with dementia are not diagnosed early enough, according to the society, losing precious time when care, support and medications can make a big difference in their quality of life.
That’s why the society is launching a new campaign focusing on promoting the benefits of early diagnosis.
The Guevara family didn’t notice the signs of Ebie’s Alzheimer’s until Guevara’s sister Daniele, who lives in Toronto, visited in Christmas 2012 and noticed changes in her mother.
“We hadn’t noticed, because it was gradual. But within her daily conversation, my mother would repeat herself and ask the same questions. It was sometimes five to eight times in an hour. It would be like starting the same conversation all over again.”
Guevara and Daniele set up an appointment for their mother for a memory test at an Alzheimer’s clinic.
The exam was eye- opening. “There’s change on the table, five different coins, and my mum couldn’t count the value.”
According to the society, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia in B. C. is expected to double within the next 25 years.
However, fear and stigma continue to be huge barriers to seeking help.
In a recent survey, 60 per cent of Canadians polled said it would be harder to disclose if they, or someone close to them, had Alzheimer’s disease compared to other diseases because of the social stigma associated with mental health issues.
“Seventy- four per cent of Canadians know someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia,” said society CEO Maria Howard. “Early diagnosis can bring a measure of relief to people with dementia and their families and help them take control of their lives and plan ahead.”
Guevara, who is also participating in the Investors Group Walk for Memories Jan. 26 to support both research for a cure and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementias, said awareness is critical.
“Most people in my generation don’t think enough about checking their brain and emotional health. There’s a lot of stigma around mental illness.”