Alzheimer's Disease is the topic of discussion on the current edition of Insight, the Radio Baha'i public affairs talk show, at 10 a.m., 7 p.m. and midnight Wednesday, July 25th, and Monday, July 30th. Host, Bhakti Larry Hough, interviews Claudia Harris, Natalie Bankowski of the Myrtle Beach chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, and Ronald Lewis, a minister and certified professional caregiver who conducts an Alzheimer's Disease support group for caregivers in Hemingway.
For the first 11 years after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, Claudia Harris of Brittain's Neck dealt with the challenge from afar. She was living and teaching public school in Chicago and making periodic visits to South Carolina. Claudia's father was taking care of her mother. Then he died suddenly four years ago, leaving Claudia to be her mother's principal caregiver. Her life changed dramatically, she said.
"It was like a total change because I had to leave my other family and friends in Chicago," Claudia said. "Emotionally it has been a strain because she was a business woman and watching her deteriorate and become so helpless has been difficult. I take it one day at a time, I talk to my friends and I talk to God a lot."
Claudia Harris is just one of 15 million Americans who provide unpaid care for the 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's Disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Alzheimer's Disease is a progressively fatal disease that causes the brain to shrink. It is the 6th leading cause of death in U.S. and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the U.S. that can't be prevented, cured or slowed. While Alzheimer's Disease is most prevalent among the elderly, early onset Alzheimer's Disease is becoming increasingly common among persons in their 40s and 50s.
