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Question
can a doctor examine a person and accurately tell how long ago alzheimers started on a person ?
Dear Don, in short the answer is no. We have no idea how the disease develops so it is hard to say when it exactly it starts. We need to find out what causes the disease and whether or not it is hereditary before we can really figure out when the disease really starts with someone.
As you know people always have trouble remembering things, so for who is this the start of the disease and for who isn't it? That is the question!
Hope this helps. Paula
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Questioner's Rating
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 7 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Paula, Thank you for your response. You and your mom are the reason I am so actively working on educating professionals who work w/persons with dementia along with family members on the when, how, why hospice is important in this terminal illness. I am sorry for what you experienced when you reached for help from hospice. I certainly don't know the specifics, but it may help you to know that unless a hospice has a contract with a facility, they cannot legally enter and see patients. Many facilities will not allow ANY hospice in and others will allow only a CHOSEN one or two. Both of these are against the law because hospice is a Medicare Benefit and facilities cannot legally refuse. I have been on the other end of needing to get to a dying patient and his family with our nurse and been thrown out of a facility and threatened to have the police called because a facility nurse supervisor took it on herself to change our patient to another hospice she worked for part time. It is very distressful to know you have a patient and family in pain and cannot offer them the care they need, deserve, and counted on. I am sorry for your loss and that you and your mother were caught up in a situation beyond your control. I appreciate your reply and offer to help. Let me know if you find something - every day I learn something new about Alzheimer's Disease (often from my patients) that allows me to better serve the next person I care for. Regards, Carol | ||
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Alzheimer`s Disease
Answers by Expert:
Paula Damgaard
Expertise
I can offer families and caregivers non-diagnostic answers to questions regarding the disease. I travel around the state giving courses on Alzheimer`s disease for nurses and CNA`s.
Experience
Past/Present clients
I have coordinated Alzheimer's Clinical drug trials since 1987. I have coordinated the Memory Disorders Clinic since it's inception 1994. I also have personnal experience from caring for my mother who died of AD 5/2000 and presently from caring for my mother in law who was diagnosed in March 2000.
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