Did Dotty Survive Alzheimer's?

When I saw the image of the objectionable Alzheimer ’s ad, newly adorned with Dotty’s familiar picture, I felt hopeful and inspired and energized.How To Do It Alzheimer's CareBy Pamela R. KelleyAlzheimer's Reading RoomDid Dotty survive Alzheimer's? Oh yes, indeed. Dotty certainly did.She lived a life so completely contrary to the common expectations conjured by the word "Alzheimer's". She survived the diagnosis, the dreadful word, and continued to live, to imagine, to love, to sing and enjoy her good fortune.She managed all that, and lived a good, long life despite being saddled with the complications imposed by disease in her later years.Though she had a disease, she wasn't only her disease.She was wonderfully, beautifully, authentically human until she drew her final breath.Click on the Image to Enlarge“We’d show an Alzheimer’s survivor here, if there were one.”The Alzheimer ’s Association used this stark slogan as part of an advertising campaign.The blank space below the slogan evoked the strong and unsettling emotions that help raise money: fear, hopelessness, despair, guilt.Yet in some of us, it also brought forth an angrier reaction.Care of Dementia PatientsFor me, it seemed thatthe organization had forgotten the very people it ought to put first. If any part of its objective was educational, then the Alzheimer ’s Association failed miserably.People live, and some live well, even when they ’ve received that dreaded diagnosis of dementia, probably of th...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: alzheimer care care of dementia patients dementia awareness dementia help for caregivers dotty elderly dementia care health help alzheimer's help with dementia care life story memory care Source Type: blogs