Steve called and spoke with Debra Cherry, Executive Vice President and Amy Landers, Director of Helpline and Early Stage Services. Here is the link to Steve's column today,
www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0514-lopez-dementia-20140513-column.html
Debra Cherry was quoted yesterday as saying that "50% of people with dementia never get diagnosed". How sad is that? There are families that have a loved one with dementia and they never talk about it and never even admit it. They remain in denial. I cannot imagine, but it is quite common. I experienced this while I was working as a Senior Living Advisor with A Place for Mom, helping families place their loved ones in Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Never acknowledging it and never talking about it is the hardest way of going through this journey and sadly will most likely end up in a crisis at some point down the road. I say, come out of the shadows, there is a life to be lived...you are not alone.
LB
“May you live every day of your life”, Jonathan Swift