Today in the US, we celebrate Father’s Day and in June, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness is front and center. Interesting for me to link this day and this month, isn’t it? Why? Because some of the greatest lessons I learned came through dad’s Alzheimer’s.
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Worldwide, there are 50 million people worldwide living with Alzheimer’s and other Dementias. *50 Million* If you are interested in learning more, visit this site https://www.alz.org/alzheimer_s_dementia #ENDALZ
Looking back 21 years I had no idea what Alzheimer’s was. When Alzheimer’s first became a word in my vocabulary; I was living in Asia, moving up and along the corporate ladder, and made a decision to return to the US to participate in life with my parents after dad was diagnosed with the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.
The impact of Alzheimer’s is steady. It is a disease. The progression of the disease is akin to what I’ve come to explain as, “areas of the brain going to sleep”. When this occurs, tasks and day to day activities are impacted in many ways. Pay attention to these signs:
- Short-term memory loss that disrupts daily life. i.e. forgetting recently learned information and/or important dates or events
- Difficulty with planning or problem solving. i.e. crossword puzzles, paying bills and following a recipe
- Ability to complete familiar tasks. i.e. driving to familiar locations, remembering where you park the car
- Confusion with time or place. i.e. no longer understanding how to tell time or remembering where they are
- Changes in vision. i.e. difficulty with reading, judging distance, determining color or contrast
- Problems with words, speaking or writing. i.e. stopping conversation all together, not knowing names (people and things), repeating stories
- Withdrawal from work and/or social activities. i.e. noticed changes may prevent involvement in outside activities
- Changes in mood and personality. i.e. fear, apprehension, suspicion, anxiety are heightened
Maintaining compassion, patience, care and kindness in the face of any adversity has served me well. Learning how much we “label” in life was a wake-up call for me. It’s funny, facing not “having a name, a pecking order in the family tree or a job title” taught me the importance of living beyond how we describe ourselves and may be “pegged” by others. Taking off my watch was liberating! Dad’s Alzheimer’s taught me valuable life lessons.
On this Father’s Day, know how valuable you are as a person, a father, a person of significance in lives of others. Remember you are much more than “a label” and enjoy the moments of this day!
If you want to pursue some proactive steps to care for your future at home and work, let’s talk. We’ll tackle those “what if” situations with diligence and some fun along the way and take the unintended consequences off the table.
When you’re ready to take this on, contact me via Email. Additional information is available upon request or on the website @ The Living Planner
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