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P. 48
DOCTOR’S CORNER
ALZHEIMER’S
FROM A FAMILY MEMBER’S PERSPECTIVE:
A PLEA FOR CHANGE
by Cristina Sciavolino-Day, MD
T hey say that although physicians asked a question, she would just smile. I was absolutely crushed at
learn from textbooks, they truly that time. This was my mother, but her memory of me had been
become more knowledgeable
erased. I went to my car and just cried.
after they have experienced an My father has been an absolute saint throughout her disease.
illness as a patient or family member. He cared for her literally 24 hours a day. As a retired physician
To live through the patient’s point of himself, he acted as her husband, nurse, shopper, chef, supporter
view as well as the physician’s view is not and cheerleader. Whatever she needed physically and emotionally,
only enlightening, but as I have learned, he did it. However, it was realized this year as she reached end
it can be terribly frustrating. My family stage of Alzheimer’s that she could no longer stay at home. She
recently went through a very trying time physically required more help than we could provide.
and it has brought to light the many Avow Hospice evaluated her but they determined she was not
inadequacies and failures of our current yet a candidate for Avow based on her condition at the time. Our
medical system when dealing with dementia and one of its worst family was then faced with the issue of Assisted Living Facilities vs
forms, Alzheimer’s. Please allow me to share our story with you. Nursing Facilities. This is where the education began for our family.
My hope is that it can bring to light the changes that need to occur Learning point number one: despite the fact that she was going
as this disease takes more of our loved ones every year. to a facility because of a progressive medical condition, Medicare
My mother was a brilliant and hardworking physician who has will not pay for any of these facilities. As a result it cost between
made me so proud. Then in retirement in her 70s she was diagnosed $5000 to $7000 per month totally out of pocket unless the patient
with Alzheimer’s. She progressively showed signs of worsening qualifies for Medicaid.
memory since 2011. During this past year her condition quickly We quickly discovered another problem that seems all too
deteriorated to the point of not being able to answer any questions common at these facilities; a lack of appropriate staffing. My mother
and had difficulty following any commands. She would yell out was evaluated and deemed a candidate for an assisted living facility
“Momma”, and was having more difficulty with walking. (ALF), but she required more one on one attention. As a result, my
It was a devastating moment when I realized the severity of her father hired an outside agency to have a companion stay with my
dementia. On that day she no longer realized who I was. When mother eight hours a day seven days a week to ensure help during
48 Life in Naples | January 2015
ALZHEIMER’S
FROM A FAMILY MEMBER’S PERSPECTIVE:
A PLEA FOR CHANGE
by Cristina Sciavolino-Day, MD
T hey say that although physicians asked a question, she would just smile. I was absolutely crushed at
learn from textbooks, they truly that time. This was my mother, but her memory of me had been
become more knowledgeable
erased. I went to my car and just cried.
after they have experienced an My father has been an absolute saint throughout her disease.
illness as a patient or family member. He cared for her literally 24 hours a day. As a retired physician
To live through the patient’s point of himself, he acted as her husband, nurse, shopper, chef, supporter
view as well as the physician’s view is not and cheerleader. Whatever she needed physically and emotionally,
only enlightening, but as I have learned, he did it. However, it was realized this year as she reached end
it can be terribly frustrating. My family stage of Alzheimer’s that she could no longer stay at home. She
recently went through a very trying time physically required more help than we could provide.
and it has brought to light the many Avow Hospice evaluated her but they determined she was not
inadequacies and failures of our current yet a candidate for Avow based on her condition at the time. Our
medical system when dealing with dementia and one of its worst family was then faced with the issue of Assisted Living Facilities vs
forms, Alzheimer’s. Please allow me to share our story with you. Nursing Facilities. This is where the education began for our family.
My hope is that it can bring to light the changes that need to occur Learning point number one: despite the fact that she was going
as this disease takes more of our loved ones every year. to a facility because of a progressive medical condition, Medicare
My mother was a brilliant and hardworking physician who has will not pay for any of these facilities. As a result it cost between
made me so proud. Then in retirement in her 70s she was diagnosed $5000 to $7000 per month totally out of pocket unless the patient
with Alzheimer’s. She progressively showed signs of worsening qualifies for Medicaid.
memory since 2011. During this past year her condition quickly We quickly discovered another problem that seems all too
deteriorated to the point of not being able to answer any questions common at these facilities; a lack of appropriate staffing. My mother
and had difficulty following any commands. She would yell out was evaluated and deemed a candidate for an assisted living facility
“Momma”, and was having more difficulty with walking. (ALF), but she required more one on one attention. As a result, my
It was a devastating moment when I realized the severity of her father hired an outside agency to have a companion stay with my
dementia. On that day she no longer realized who I was. When mother eight hours a day seven days a week to ensure help during
48 Life in Naples | January 2015
