A wonderful study is taking place at Northwestern University in Chicago. Called the "buddy" program, retired physician and educator Dan Winship is working with first-year medical student Jared Worthington. Together they are creating a friendship as well as expanding medical studies. Winship is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a recent diagnosis. His wife had noticed a decline but then his occasional forgetfulness and difficulty learning worsened. The identification of the problem as Alzheimer's devastated the couple. They decided to research methods for using this disease as a learning tool for other doctors. Online they discovered this NU special program.
In the program students are matched with patients based on common interests. Winship and Worthington enjoy dining out, visiting museums, and chatting about their careers, past and future. One of the best aspects of this relationship is the socialization that takes place. Often those with the disease withdraw from society, embarrassed by their forgetfulness and the stigma attached to Alzheimer's. Some still believe it is contagious or self-induced. Others find that seeing someone with the disease is just too horrible, and so visits cease. Having somewhere to go where enlightening conversation resounds stimulates Winship and it provides essential interaction. Worthington also reaps the benefits of knowledge of medical practice and techniques to incorporate into his future profession when working with patients with Alzheimer's or other dementias.
Winship's wife Jean also gains free time to pursue her other interests with respite from caregiving. She profits from the added joy in her husband's life as feeling valued enriches him and brightens his daily outlook.
Northwestern pronounces the program a success with about 75% of students participating in it then entering fields of medicine that deal with Alzheimer's patients. Students are committed to the belief that those with dementia still need to live and enjoy life. Worthington views the experience as a way to improve his skills for understanding and helping future patients. Winship regards it as a way to contribute and give back while also enjoying a meaningful friendship.
I hope that in the near future all first responders and medical professionals will receive a similar opportunity to learn and to develop skills that are critical in serving those with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The current lack of training and understanding how to best help a confused patient may cause a simple case of wandering to escalate into a war as the frightened victim of dementia becomes combative. If you have never dealt with this it may appear that going on the offensive is the best means to a calm end. However, with Alzheimer's victims aggression incites fright and anger and pacification becomes impossible without a soothing, reassuring approach.
Alzheimer's is also often a quick diagnosis to a seemingly confused patient, one who forgets his name or acts agitatedly. Instead the true problem might be a poor mixture of medications or an infection. Education makes a tremendous difference in understanding and live interaction such as that at Northwestern is some of the best training imaginable.
The Nevada Task Force on Alzheimer's is seeking ways to advance the knowledge of medical professionals and other first responders. The language of the law now is "encourage" training in dealing with those with dementia. I hope that we address this at the next legislative session with stronger wording, like "require". This does not have to be a full-term course, but a few hours of education coupled with real life experience will make a tremendous difference in best practices.
With all of this in mind, think about a family member or neighbor who spends too much time alone. Maybe they have driven you away through angry words and poor actions. Consider if this is a good time to resume a relationship and offer an olive branch. Regardless of which side caused the break-up, your kindness and friendly conversation might be a way to bridge the gap and make a lonely person very happy.
Maybe you have not visited because you are too busy. I can really relate to that overwhelming mountain called responsibility. Determine a way that you might toss a little stuff out and use those gained minutes to visit Grandpa or take Aunt Ruth a lunch to share. You might be the brightness in an otherwise darkened day. Even though it is heart wrenching to see a loved one with dementia, your presence adds to the victims heart-warming. And we all could use more of that.
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