Posted by Ashe on October 10, 2000 at 17:13:31:

In Reply to: Re: bearing bad news posted by Max Wacher on October 10, 2000 at 14:01:10:

: : How are you supposed to tell someone you love that they might have alzheimer's? Without offending that person or upsetting the family members? Anyone please give me some advice.

: It's never a good feeling to be the one to deliver bad news. Now as far as alzheimer's, there is no real easy way to approach it, espcially because alzheimer's carries certain amount of stigma. Plus who wants to hear that they may be getting dementia? But being straight forward with it is the least painful way, I think. If these are people you love and vice versa, they'll find a way to see that you mean well.

Straight forward is good but only if the person wants to face up to it and talk about it. Just bringing up the subject out of nowhere is a bad idea. You should instead look for opportunities when your comments of concern is appropriate; such as when that person mentions that he/she keeps forgetting things. And try not to use labels like alzheimer's or dementia, save it for the doctors. Rather try conveying that the problems of memory is not their fault but the fault of a disease. Showing that you are there to understand and support them is more important than pointing it out. Best wishes.

• Re: bearing bad news JT 12:00:18 10/12/00 (1)
  • Re: bearing bad news Carol 01:06:45 10/30/00 (0)