Experience 12 Minutes In Alzheimer's Dementia

[robinc]

after 14 yrs of watching my Dad become a shell of what he once was, the disease won as it always does. I love you Daddy RIP

[JJNow-ggso]

Been there lived with a man who has dementia. I also am a nurse and worked with people and mental health that had dementia for years. My heart goes out to anybody that has to deal with this. 💔🙏

[KLUNKET]

I work in a locked dementia unit and it is absolutely terrible. This experiment is a good idea in concept, but it isn't accurate. Many times dementia/Alzheimer's patients are NOT plagued with cataracts and arthritis, many have no trouble walking... we get many folks who are otherwise perfectly strong and healthy... they are just out of their minds. You can't simulate what happens in their minds. I have worked with these patients for years and they exhibit so many different types of behavior it would be impossible to simulate without your mind also being inflicted by the disease. We have had patients whom seem perfectly normal one minute, and the next they are attacking you with intent to kill because their mind told them that you were a threat. Many dementia patients are not even in the same surroundings that you are- you will see them jump over obstacles in a hallway that aren't there, grab for things that aren't there, move around things that aren't there. I have many times asked the patient to describe the surroundings that they are seeing and they can describe in vivid detail (if they are functional enough) a completely different room or area than they are actually in. For instance one woman every time I would take her for a walk in the hallway she would move around things and reach out for things, talk to people that weren't there and I would ask her what she see's pretending as if it were HER helping ME navigate the hallway (which seemed to give her purpose and make her happy). Anyhow, she was in a completely different world- she was moving around lamp posts, describing and interacting with people that weren't there- seeing buildings and vehicles- and we were in a plain white hallway. She could even tell you the colors of the cloths the folks who weren't there were wearing.

The physically healthy and strong patients are the most dangerous depending on the condition of their mind. They will attack you, and many times staff members get hurt. We are not allowed to physically restrain them other than holding them until they calm down. I could type all day about it- it to me is the most devastating disease that has ever existed and I hope to see a cure or at least better treatments in my lifetime. I had a grandfather whom was afflicted- he tried to rape his own granddaughter. He would yell obscenities, kick, bight, punch, scream... and this was a peaceful loving man whom never did a wrong thing to anyone in his life. The same man whom when I was in a bad accident years earlier was the first one by my bedside, praying that I would be OK. The same man whom was a deacon at his church, worked hard all of his life, gave to charities, helped everyone whom he thought needed it, took wonderful care of his family and loved everyone even if they wronged him. He would buy my grandmother flowers all the time, dance with her in the middle of their living room in mid-day for no reason other than he loved her- then he got dementia and seemed as if he were spawned by Satan himself. It wasn't him, it was the disease. He would have been mortified if he had known the behavior that he displayed.        

[charlaclark]

My dad lived with me 4 almost 8 yrs...I watched him fight it with everything he had. I am so proud of him...

[billkenney]

My mom was diagnosed at age 48 suffered through 12years, 7 years in a nursing home and died at age 60. My wife was diagnosed at age 67 and passed from a stroke at 72, mercifully I say because she never got to the point where she had to be hospitalized permanently and I was able to take care of her at home, mostly. It’s been 6 years and I still struggle to get myself right, I don’t know if I ever will.

[sitizenkanemusic]

This is one of my biggest fear. To go to a loved one that you knew all your life and them not knowing who you are- you're a stranger to them. It's heartbreaking.

[kaaay]

The worst part is it’s impending and they’re aware until they’re just..not. I work with Alzheimer’s patients, I love them more then the sunshine and my heart will sit with them for the rest of my days.

[darcragg]

My Mom will be 90 next February.  Right now, I'm feeling tremendous guilt for losing my patience so often with my Mom everytime I've had to repeat things to her.  I love you Mom!

[Rick-tbso]

Having dealt with 2 people with Dementia people think keeping them in their home or moving in with you is the right thing to do it can be hell. Your with them 24/7 ...Don't think a nursing home is bad it has it's place....

[rwilson]

This brought tears to my eyes.  I am a caregiver who works with Alzheimer's patients and the noise from the headphones in this video is a good example of what the patient's hear when we talk.  For many mid-late stage patients, it just sounds like gibberish and they can't make sense of what you are saying.  That is the reason Alzheimer's patients will often have one or two phrases they repeat for everything you say, such as:  "you bet",   "can't knock it", etc.  Phrases that they had figured out earlier make them look like they understand what you are saying.   Hopefully this video will help people have compassion for our ailing seniors who need LOVE and understanding.  That is what my seniors do not lose - - the ability to recognize LOVE,  enjoy it and return it.

[lienbijs]

My mum had vascular dementia and died last year but I wouldn't accept anybody to talk about my sweet mum like this wife did.

[softcollar]

As a sufferer from mild cognitive impairment (mild vascular dementia), this was an interesting film of what might be to come. At present I find the decline in short term memory the most frustrating - I can't always remember the layout of my own apartment; I might mean to go into the kitchen, but find myself in the bathroom. Once I am in the kitchen, I cannot remember why I have gone to the kitchen, so I go back to the living room and then remember I meant to get some milk from the kitchen. I might go out to shop and then find I have forgotten to take any money - so I go home to get it and then forget why I have gone home. There are solutions if one can be systematic. I am going to label the doors with notices saying which room is which. I try to put everything I have to do in my smart phone with alarms to remind me to do it. My watch shows me the day of the week as well as the date. I find myself sometimes not knowing which button to press on the TV remote. All this is so frustrating I want to shout. I so much admire those younger people with the patience to deal with a full-blown dementia sufferer. At the moment I get by.

[debbieyzuel]

My husband passed at 57, i was 52. Heart braking.

[annbrown]

Often hard to be patient with these folks, everyone needs to be aware of just how difficult every minute of every day is for them.

[RCSTILE]

My father was diagnosed with Alz at 64 and was dead at 70. This experiment can't begin to show what happened to my father. The loss of recognition and the onset of fear can't be duplicated by a test. It was heartbreaking to watch his intellect simply disappear as though you were erasing writing from a chalk board.

[SandAngels]

Everyone working with patients in a nursing home or Alzheimers unit should be required to do this test so they can better understand their patients, IMO.

[kellyyork]

My aunt once told me that it’s hell getting old. I think those who live to old age are really heroes. The wife needs an experience with this.

[sandyschneider]

Wish this 12 min. Experience was available in every community!!

[TammyKnapp]

As someone who works in an Alzheimer's setting, I will tell you that these folks get overly annoyed & frustrated easily. They yell, they throw things, they hit...It takes a GREAT deal of patience to help these folks. The company that I work for does this 12 minute simulation on a yearly basis as a simple reminder of what these folks go through on a daily basis. It's quite an overwhelming experience. Like any other organ the brain is dying. By the end of the disease progression, they forget how to swallow & basically starve to death. I love the work that I do. The easiest way to "deal" with Alzheimer's is to try to jump into their world with a HUGE amount of patience & love. My heart goes out to the family members that struggle to understand while watching the people that they love die slowly from this terrible disease. 🥺💔

[BrokeTheInterweb]

His new wife Georgia is not supportive at all. Really unfair to her son and his mother, shouldn't let her drive them apart.