Blog 3 Chapter 5  Mental Health

I chose this chapter because it was apart of my life. our mother was diagnosis with dementia at the age of 67 year old. Alzheimer's Association says " Ahzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging." (Alzheimer's Association.org).  Understanding this was not a part of our mother just getting old was good to know also hard to know, because than the question is what did we don wrong or why didnt we do requrie he to do more, these are the question you ask your self over and over. Hillier & Barrow wrote " the affected individuals gradually lose their memory; their thought processes slow, their judgment is impaired...  is tragic for all concerned."(Hillier & Barrow p. 288). "Problems become harder to make.. one may lose interest in life and become apathetic or irritable."(p.287). Our mother would forget how to work the television, as well as use the phone to make a phone call, she would make excuerse for not being able to use the phone. Secondly she would ask the same question over and over again than would get very upset if we said mama you ask that question, in her mind this was something new she just ask. The disease affects the short-term memory in the begning stages. " in the early stages of dementia, emotional responses to ordinary daily affairs, previously handled without difficulty, may be extreme to inappropriate."(p287).  Thirdly Hillier & Barrow writes " further declines come as one has trouble receiving, retaining, and recalling new information.. a newly acquired fact may be forgotten in minutes."(p287).
 Final learning how to cope with a person who is living with this disease is truly a task, coming to terms with the facts thats this person will at some piont not remember a love one is catastrophic to the whole family as well as caring for the person. Hillier & Barrow says " The burden can be great on families caring for the mentally ill elderly at home."( p.291).  Familys  in most cases will have to come out of pocket to shoulder some of the cost for their love one if needed.