Lost forever

Have you ever accidentally turned onto a wrong street while driving?  Have you ever become disoriented in a large building or lost site of your friends in a very crowed place?  Was there, for a brief instant, an overwhelming feeling of panic?  Your heart races as that primitive basic instinct, fear, wells up inside you.  You search for a familiar site, a familiar face.  Do you remember that feeling?   Now imagine constantly living in a state of being lost.  Always feeling that sickening, scared feeling of not knowing where you are.   This is what it must feel like for those who suffer from Alzheimers.  Always searching for something familiar and never finding it.  Existing in a state of constant  confusion, a state of being forever lost.  We must imagine their fear and be empathetic.

The burden of the caregivers of these lost individuals is indeed great.  So many challenges present to wear patience thin.  But caregivers do not have the luxury of losing their patience.  It is an continuous struggle to keep those with Alzheimers safe.  Roles are reversed as the child becomes as the parent and the parent, sadly, becomes as the child.  Suddenly, the one who had once cared for us, once provided for us and had kept us safe becomes someone who we must care for, provide for and keep safe.  It is tragic.  It is sad.  Individuals with Alzheimers almost always have the potential for wandering.  Their care givers must be ever vigilant.  This task alone is exhausting.  Not only physically exhausting as they lose sleep for fear of their loved ones leaving in the night but also emotionally exhausting.  We can help to alleviate some of the worry.  Join our Anti-wandering campaign.  Protect your loves ones, worry less and rest easier.  Over the past few days alone the following Alzheimers victims have gone missing as a result of their having wandered:

• July 1, 2010   Sehyuk Kwon,, age 68, Woodbridge ,Va- found

• July 5, 2010 Barbara Slodzinski, age 79,  Southington, Connecticut – found

• July 6, 2010   Charles Fackler age 66, Tuscola County, Michigan – found

• July 11, 2010  Steve Murdock age 64. Kaysville, Utah -found

• July 13,2010   Prentice Miller age 74, Little Rock Arkansas- found

• July 16,2010   Raydell Clay age 68, Portland, Oregon

• July 19, 2010  Felix Molina, age 77, Orlando Flordia found

• July 20,2010   Guy Coleman age 73, Louisville Ky. – found

• July 20, 2010 Mary Bush  73, Trotwood Ohio – found