What is Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer's Disease is a neurological disease that causes brain matter to shrink. This shrinkage of tissue causes people to lose their memory and be unable to carry out simple tasks and can often lead to Dementia. It's a progressive disease that gets worse as it progresses, causing more and more of the brain matter begins to shrink and lose mass.
(Image comparing a brain with advanced Alzheimer's disease and without as seen by the shrinkage of mass and large areas of empty space. (The Star))
How bad is it?
Well, the thing is that Alzheimer's is a global disease, it's an issue of global importance, so there is no way to 'escape' it or stay safe from it. It's also a disease that has no known cure as of now which makes it impossible to combat. As well as this, although Alzheimer's isn't a primary cause
death, it can be a secondary cause given that people with Alzheimer's eventually
become unable to respond to their surroundings.
(Global Alzheimer's death rate per 100,000 people (WHO 2011))
How do we cure it?
As noted before, there is no cure for Alzheimer's. The only thing we can do for it now is take care of the people that have it and try to make them feel less alone and less scared in their situation. It's a matter of ethical implications; choosing to help those who are not as fortunate as you without pitying them, simply lending an ear so that they can talk to you and feel connected, relevant, to the world. Caring for patients include tasks as menial as playing board game or singing songs to helping the with daily activities like eating or walking. Things we take for granted such as counting, using the bathroom, talking, are all tasks that Alzheimer's patients struggle with and need help doing.
Alzheimer's as CAS in OSC
Alzheimer's in OSC is a student run, student led group that works with the Alzheimer's Association in Sri Lanka to try and help Alzheimer's patients in the country. As part of our group, co-led by me and Anjleen, we visit the Alzheimer's center once a month in order to spend time talking to and helping the patients that visit the center. This year, it is opened up to Grade 6 students and above should anyone feel like joining us on a Wednesday morning on a trip to the Alzheimer's Association.
Some of the activities we carried out last year was making cookies and baking, having 'Just Dance' sessions, playing board games and talking and having an end of the year tea party. They were all activities that the patients enjoyed as they were unusual and a break from the norm. All the patients are really quite fun to interact with and enjoy having us there.
(Making cookie dough at the Alzheimer's Association (Photo credit:Anjleen))
I'd have to admit that Alzheimer's Service is an incredibly rewarding service group to be a part of. Often times I've been told that a patient won't remember me after we visit them and often times, they haven't/ Occasionally though, there are patients that do remember and are overjoyed to see you come back to talk to them again and the feeling of knowing that someone who has a loss of memory can indeed remember your name. As I am the only student in the group that speaks Sinhala, I have the unique opportunity of helping the Sinhala speaking patients, translating conversations and for the most part, giving them my one on one attention.
For me, the service is really quite personal as I have a grand-uncle on my father's side who is diagnosed with Alzhiemer's. Every time I help a patient in service, I remember my uncle and it makes me feel good that I'm helping out people that really do need help and it makes me feel warm inside.
(Last year's Alzheimer's Service group 2013-2014)
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