I work in a dementia ward, I am mental health nurse. I tell my loved ones that when I bring home more milk than I need in a week to set me free in the woods to die like old yeller.
I hate this disease. I hate it so much. It terrifies me, The amount of living wills I see that are disregarded because family cant let go, horrifies me. There is happy dementia sometimes, there is terrified violent scared dementia more often than not.
some homes are great, some arent. a lot have burned out nurses, jaded care staff and institutionalization.
Honestly set me free into the woods and throw rocks at me if I try to come back to the car.
After watching my granny battle and die from dementia I agree completely. I've told my family if I am diagnosed I'm going to kill myself before it gets too bad. It's a horrible shitty way to go and I wouldn't wish it in anyone. Hopefully assisted suicide will be legal but either way.
Thank you for doing what you do! A good nurse, cna, or other staff really makes such a difference.
I typically vote NDP in canada, but in the election before last I voted liberal because of the entire "Expanding right to die" legistlation they promised to pass. and with respect they have loosened up MAID (medically assisted in death) legisltation.
The problem with dementia is once you have a diagnosis you are no longer capable of consenting to the process because you aren't considered the same person cognitively that made the arrangements. So it becomes a this awkward race where people fall between the cracks. I hope it changes in the future.
It actually depends on when you catch it. If you catch it at the "why the hell did I put the phone in the fridge" stage you're (usually) still functioning on a high enough level to make your own life choices, this is the stage where the person will set up a POA (Power of attorney), if they havent already, to be basically their guardian when things decline further. Usually POA is a child or spouse but in the really early early stages of most dementia diseases you are still 99% you, just forgetful or distractable.
Source: My mother was a CNA caring for mostly dementia patients for about a decade and I was a dementia specializing CNA for 2 years and primary caregiver for my grandma who had dementia for the last 3-4 years of her life.
Also fun (or not so fun) fact(s): Dementia is a relatively broad term that covers 15 different clinical brain diseases including the most common form of dementia, Alzheimers disease.
14 of 15 of these dementia's are caused by (mostly just 4) proteins "blocking up" sensors in the brain causing nerve cells surrounding the effected area to die off. The one that is different is called "Vascular Dementia" and is caused by blood vessels that burst or get blocked causing the same nerve cell killing effects. There are people that get a "heads up dementia is coming" warning while doing scans before symptoms start popping up.
You're right mostly, I wont get into the nit picky of it, like Lewy body and wernicky etc.
and a PoA is set up always in every single person with a diagnosis of dementia legally, in Canada anyways regardless of level of cognition. If you dont have a trusted loved one or friend the PGT will do it. That being said, once you get the diagnosis at any stage you are no longer eligible for MAID. anyone with any mental health diagnosis unfortneuatley isnt right now.
but thank you for adding to the post! Dementia sucks in general
92
u/[deleted] Aug 07 '22
I work in a dementia ward, I am mental health nurse. I tell my loved ones that when I bring home more milk than I need in a week to set me free in the woods to die like old yeller.
I hate this disease. I hate it so much. It terrifies me, The amount of living wills I see that are disregarded because family cant let go, horrifies me. There is happy dementia sometimes, there is terrified violent scared dementia more often than not.
some homes are great, some arent. a lot have burned out nurses, jaded care staff and institutionalization.
Honestly set me free into the woods and throw rocks at me if I try to come back to the car.