Upon reading the news about the deteriorating condition of
former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, a man not yet 71 years of age, suffering
from frontal lobe dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD),
it should remind us all that no one is immune to being robbed of their memory
and eventually their independence. It is unfortunate that Klein, a man who led
Alberta for 14 years (1992-2006) and once a Mayor of Calgary will not get the
chance to savour the so-called golden years.
For some people, the word dementia and Alzheimer are one and
the same. While Alzheimer’s is an awful incapacitating disease with a sorrowful
name recognition, it is one form of dementia. Vascular dementia, the second
most common form of dementia, is caused by problems in the supply of blood to
the brain which often leads to a series of minor strokes. The location of the
strokes determines its affect on the individual’s memory. Having been a regular
visitor to a dementia wing of a nursing home for 3 years, and notwithstanding
the affects of vascular dementia a condition my Mother had, I take some
consolation knowing that she did not develop the more devastating form of
Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s robs people not only of their memory but also their
dignity, a degradation that few other diseases can match.
With the aging population, the number of people affected by
dementia related health problems will increase. Our nursing homes are already
having a difficult time keeping up with the demand for care. While the
government has recognized the urgency in adapting to the aging population,
their verbal pronouncements have yet to be translated into concrete solutions.
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