See listing of Recent and Most Popular articles on the Home Page

Senior Moments

Category: Health & Wellness / Topics: Disaster Health Care

Dementia Rethought

by Dan Seagren

Posted: January 28, 2007

Memory loss is not, and I repeat, is not a phenomenon belonging only to seniors.…

There are two more serious senior moments: one when we think we have dementia (or possibly Alzheimer’s Disease). The other is when we actually are diagnosed with a form of dementia. Memory loss is not, and I repeat, is not a phenomenon belonging only to seniors.

As a seven year old where he put his lunch bucket and he’ll answer, I forgot. But he does know. Ask a teen where her homework is and she’ll mutter, I forgot it but she didn’t. Ask a husband to take out the garbage and he’ll say, Yes dear and promptly forget. Ask a top executive if he mailed the contract and he’ll reply, Of course thinking he did but hadn’t. Ask a senior if she knows where the checkbook is and she’ll say It isn’t where it belongs but it is.

Dementia is a fearful word. Unfortunately, there are many kinds of dementia with varying causes and symptoms. We forget because we forget (yes, this is printed correctly). We forget because it is convenient. We forget because we’re lazy. We forget because our memory bank is overloaded. We forget because we’re told to forget (do not hold grudges, forgive and forget). In other words, we do forget. Sometimes it is a good thing; at other times it is not. Forgetting is not always a sign of dementia but sometimes it is. Knowing the difference is crucial.

Unfortunately, I am not an expert on the matter (even though I am somewhat skilled in forgetting). I was first concerned about short term memory loss some ten years ago. It was one of the deciding factors in my retirement (I retired at 68). Of course there were others, but I felt I had a couple more books in my system I wanted to get out of the way. My children set me up with a brand new state-of-the-art computer and here I am, more than ten years later, still writing, still dreaming, still forgetting (but not with the same computer).

Yes, I draw blanks now and then, both on the computer as well as conversationally. I sometimes am baffled because at times I cannot think of someone’s name (whom I know very well). And then I am amazed at what I do remember (both short-term and long-term). I was with friends last night when I was reminded of a journey I took across the country when I relocated from Michigan to California. While at the Grand Canyon we took a small plane ride over the magnificent gorge. I had forgotten, and even today I cannot picture that trip in my memory. Alzheimer’s? Dementia? Hardly.

Memory loss is an unfortunate malady. It happens. At times it is difficult to diagnose. It makes it difficult, not only for the individual but for others who surround him. Sometimes memory loss is temporary, a fleeting phenomenon. Memory loss, like other illnesses, can start slowly and pick up momentum ultimately becoming devastating. Some memory loss plateaus and is more pesky than lethal.

Memory loss takes its toll on others. A difficult time arrives, at times rather slowly, when a spouse, a child or a dear friend (they’d have to be dear) must make tough decisions. Regretfully, there are institutions that welcome those with dementia but there are others that are not adept at handling those with this disease. Assisted Living may not be suitable as well as Skilled Nursing.

Those treating dementia of varying degrees are not as abundant as we could wish. Hopefully, with seniors increasing numerically, more help will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, we can hope and pray that memory loss will emerge as a candidate for intensive study and well-trained experts who can discern if our memory loss is typical, symptomatic or deteriorating.



Search all articles by Dan Seagren

Dan Seagren is an active retiree whose writings reflect his life as a Pastor, author of several books, and service as a Chaplain in a Covenant Retirement Community.

E-mail the author (su.nergaesnad@brabnad*) Author's website (personal or primary**)

* For web-based email, you may need to copy and paste the address yourself.

** opens in a new tab or window. Close it to return here.


Posted: January 28, 2007   Accessed 129 times

Go to the list of most recent Senior Moments Articles
Search Senior Moments (You can expand the search to the entire site)
Go to the list of Most Recent and Most Popular Articles across the site (Home Page)