I think these articles are great and a source of strength for me. My husband has Alzheimer's into his fourth year. He is a trained counselor so from the very beginning we were able to share and talk about his illness, unlike my niece who said she was unable to say the word for a year after her husband was diagnosed. I attend a support group for caregivers and was able to share that when my husband's Dr. wanted to give him a pace maker I felt I did not want that. My children agreed, We know where this disease is going and did not want a pace make to prolong his life. His father had a pace maker which kept him alive for seven years. I felt "safe" in sharing this information w/my support group. Who else would understand?

I have thought that it would be helpful if those with early dementia, while still able to, would contribute to this site
Dr Hifikers contributions show things "from the other side"

I think you have a very good point. When we got to the point where we needed to send my mother to a day center for people with early memory loss - after we convinced her to go there, like your AA friend, she did not want to be with "those people" - she found it so comforting to be with people who had Alzheimers. She told me that she loved it there because she didn't have to explain and cover and worry that people would laugh at her when she forgot or repeated a story. And the center workers never asked her if she remembered something or wondered why she didn't know something. The director of the center says that this is the strength of program like hers. My mother flourished there and regained her sense of humor and joy in life. When she had a heart attack and couldn't go any more, it's all she wanted to do - go back to the club and every day she would wait for the bus. Even though she was so frail, I finally arranged for her care provider to take her. Again, it brought joy back into her life. I would urge people to seek out early memory loss centers before you "need" it. It will provide the kind of support that AA does.

I agree however I do not think it should necessarily be anonymous. The only way to remove stigma and shame is through being open, I don't see why there would be any shame placed on this disease at all. I could understand perhaps on alcoholism because ignorant people think it is a morality issue.

Beautifully said, David. I've long believed that caregivers needed other caregivers for this very reason. Other caregivers understand what no one else can, just as others with Alzheimer's understand what no one without dementia can really know - even those who love them the most. Thank you for your amazing contribution to Agingcare and to all of us.
Carol

Strength comes out, in a free society when people share their stories, a sense of understanding and what to do next, comes about. That was my journey when I had several strokes within 5 years.

I thought I was nuts until there were other people who shared my story, feeling the same things, our sense of new found power allowed us to become community activists.
One thing I noticed about being part of the group after the initial statement of "how you got there" is over, you are able to go, you don't have to explain yourself, so other people will understand you, the people in your group already know... and understand, you become empowered.