Dementia

...ba href=/dementia/a/b or mental problems.

In those intensive situations, the caregiver's risk of death multiplies - up to 58 percent higher than normal for men and 77 percent for women.

And if a sick spouse actually dies, the survivor often quickly succumbs to an accident, suicide, infection or complications from conditions such as diabetes.

Quoting Christakis again from the Associated Press: "What it means to me is that people are interconnected, and so their health is interconnected, and in really real ways, there can be a kind of spread of diseases between people." To me, this is irrefutably true.

During the five years of my wife Renee's illness, which required constant caregiving, I developed both diabetes and high blood pressure.

When I was a full-time newspaper reporter, co-workers used to rib me about being incurably upbeat in the newsroom, an environment not known for its optimists.

Yet during Renee's sickness I fell into clinical depression.

For roughly two years I took a prescription antidepressant.

It saved what's left of my sanity.

A Christian counselor told me I actually fared better than many long-term caregivers, even those who are deeply religious.

Disproportionately, he said, caregivers tend to abuse drugs or alcohol, to have extramarital affairs or to simply climb in their cars and drive away, never to be heard from again.

(Lest you worry, I'm OK now.

My diabetes and hypertension are under control.

I'm no longer depressed and have no need for an antidepressant.) I alway...

...ba href=/dementia/a/b carers Saturday, 25 March 2006 THE Alzheimer's Australia Bega office invites all carers of people with ba href=/dementia/a/b to its revamped carers' group, to be launched on Wednesday, March 29.

The new-look group will meet on the last Wednesday of each month.

The group is open to anyone who cares for someone with ba href=/dementia/a/b.

The Bega office offers a library and information service, a mobile respite team and assistance with accessing services and support and is open between 9am and 4.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday.

The first meeting of the new Bega ba href=/dementia/a/b carers' support group will run 1pm-3pm on Wednesday 29 March at the Alzheimer's Australia NSW office, 5 Hill Street (cnr Peden Street), Bega.

To book please call the Bega office on 02 6492 6158.

RSVP is essential for catering purposes.

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...ba href=/dementia/a/b and help seniors keep social.

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