A child is born to a loving couple. The parents of this child celebrate his or her every developmental milestone: turning over, babbling, crawling, walking and perhaps the most exciting moment, when the child speaks his or her first word, usually some variation of Mommy or Daddy. And so begins a dialogue between child and parent. While every subsequent word is certainly not celebrated, the conversations, the sharing of ideas, the teaching, the listening and even the arguing, disagreeing and complaining as the shared life experiences unfold are among life’s greatest gifts.
Most relationships naturally change as time passes, and that between parent and child is no different. During the child’s teenage years, the parent-child discussions are often a source of aggravation. But the arguments, the muttering and the eye rolling of the teenage years usually pass, especially once the teenager leaves home and enters the next phase of life as a young adult and then a not-so-young adult. If all goes well, the parent-child relationship shifts gears and a friendship blossoms. The parent is still there to provide advice, emotional encouragement and at times child care and financial support, but the child can and usually does reciprocate in many ways as well.
As the child reaches middle age, the parent obviously has also aged and there is a possibility that one or both parents may begin to suffer not only from some physical ailments, but may also experience cognitive changes, such as some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The parent that you could chat on the phone with for hours may start becoming quiet. He may repeat the same story over and over again. She may forget that you spoke earlier on that same day. The person that you loved before you loved anyone else, the person that you shared every bit of your life with, may no longer be able to have a “regular” conversation with you.
The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia increases each year as the size and proportion of the US population aged 65 and older continues to increase. It is currently estimated that by 2025, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease will reach 7.1 million—a 40 percent increase over the 5.1 million aged 65 and older affected in 2015. By 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease may nearly triple, from 5.1 million to a projected 13.8 million, barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease.
Caring for someone undergoing cognitive decline can be not only extremely challenging, but both emotionally and physically stressful. In my practice, I work with a number of adults who are caring for their elderly parents, and the everyday strain has a negative impact on their own overall health, resulting in such things as weight gain, insomnia and generalized aches and pains. There are some younger women with whom I work who still have little children at home and are caring for an elderly parent at the same time; balancing the care of the child with the care of the parent is often overwhelming.
On Wednesday evening, June 10, Wellness Wisdom is pleased to offer the community a free lecture entitled “Caring for Our Parents” to be presented by Vivian Green Korner, MA, Certified Dementia Specialist. Vivian has over 25 years experience enhancing the lives of individuals challenged with Alzheimer’s disease. The presentation will offer guidance, practical tools and support to help adult children manage the challenges of caring for their parents with dementia. Issues to be addressed will include the warning signs indicating possible dementia, helpful tips as to how to manage care, the effects that dementia can have on the family of the person experiencing it and suggestions about balancing caregiving with existing responsibilities.
The program will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Stone Center of Yoga & Health, 1415 Queen Anne Road in Teaneck. RSVP preferred: [email protected] or 917-748-2956.
By Beth S. Taubes
