This morning on the Today show, there was an article about how singer Glen Campbell was doing farewell concerts because he was being forced into retirement by the onset of Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's isn't picky about the type of people that it causes problems with, and anyone no matter how rich they are can be affected. There is a lot of difference, though, when it comes to the type of care that's available to the different groups. For the rich and famous, it isn't difficult to find and pay for experienced caregivers; for middle- and lower-class citizens, however, it can be a much larger challenge.
Those with this disease will undoubtedly benefit from having someone at home with the time to care for them. Alzheimer's is a disease that gets worse over time, so it will become a bit more difficult to care for patients properly. Certain long-term care facilities and nursing homes will accept patients with Alzheimer's, but an appropriate facility can be a huge expense and located so far away as to put a huge burden on family members.
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, patients often live 8 - 10 years following diagnosis. There are a range of symptoms that they will experience during this time ranging from mental to behavioral issues. They may begin wandering away if not watched and can make decisions that are dangerous for both themselves and others. However, most people will have at least some hesitation when it comes to putting their beloved family member in a nursing facility. It's extremely hard watching a person who was so strong and self-sufficient during his life become increasingly more crippled with the disease while not being able to do anything to rectify the problem.
Although medications exist to help people deal with the disease, they have side effects and don't produce the same effects for everyone. Also, not everyone will benefit the same way from these medications. The drugs can slow the disease down, but they aren't going to cure it. Eventually the person will sink deeper into dementia which requires professional care. If you want to ensure that your family member will be cared for properly, then you will need to find a great nursing facility with staff members who have all of the necessary training to deal with the condition.
It isn't easy getting old, and it's that much harder when you have to deal with conditions such as Alzheimer's. Don't try to do everything on your own when it comes to caring for your family member; look into using quality professional care.