Ottawa resident John Kruspe remembers the bi-weekly trips to Montreal. He recalls the monotony of preparation, ultimately filing into the car with the rest of his family. Visits to the care facility left Kruspe troubled and depressed. Over the course of four grueling years, he witnessed the deterioration of his mother-in-law.
“You think that there’s nothing that can take away one’s memories but there is,” says Kruspe. “They just become a shell.”
Kruspe’s mother-in-law received her Alzheimer’s diagnosis three years before she died. He says she was fortunate to have an informed spouse who identified symptoms and encouraged treatment early on.
But Canadians are not making use of early treatment and support services, according to a recent online survey commissioned by the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Three-quarters of respondents said they wished they had encouraged loved ones to seek medical help earlier.
The survey, which evaluated 958 caregivers across the country, launched the organization’s Alzheimer Awareness Month. This year’s campaign titled, Let’s Face It, stresses the importance of recognizing early signs of the disease and how to seek treatment.
According to some Centretown healthcare professionals, families in the area are also not as informed about the disease as they should be.
“I think there are resources out there, but I believe a lot of the general community may not be aware of all resources that are available,” says Dallas Smith, a counsellor for seniors at the Centretown Community Health Centre.
Ginette Drouin, a seniors outreach nurse at the Somerset West Community Health Centre, shares similar concerns. She says most people are not educated about the available options.
“People are not aware of the different regional programs we have that specifically look at geriatric conditions and memory,” she says.
According to the Alzheimer Society, accessing these programs early on becomes vital to those suffering from the disease.
“Having early diagnosis means that it will help them have access to medication, treatment, support and time to plan for the future,” says Debbie Seto, a spokesperson for the Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County.
Survey results also indicated almost half of respondents waited a year after noticing symptoms before seeing a doctor. Many believed they were just signs of old age that would disappear.
“People must understand that dementia is not a normal part of aging,” Seto says. She attributes the gap in treatment to a lack of knowledge regarding the disease.
In the survey, more than a quarter of those with symptoms refused to visit their physician or saw no reason to do so unless symptoms became more serious.
Smith says this hesitation could be fuelled by a social stigma towards aging. He also says society ignores the elderly.
“They (seniors) don’t feel they’re actively contributing to society,” says Smith. “Therefore they have this feeling they don’t want to bother people with their problems, or waste peoples’ time.”
Drouin says unwillingness can stem from more personal issues. She says many people are fearful a diagnosis would mean an end to their independence.
“Very often people are reluctant to have further testing,” says Drouin. “Once you know, you can’t go back.”
Kruspe says he can relate to being scared about medical findings. In 2004, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He attributes his recovery to quickly educating himself and seeking treatment.
“I want this out of me, I want this out of me right away,” he recalls telling himself.
Now 68, the retired principal says he encourages friends and relatives to seek help immediately when they have medical concerns.
While Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible, early treatment can slow its progression. Approximately 11,000 people in Ottawa currently suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and similar dementias. Each year, 2,000 new cases arise.