A woman holds the hand of a relative in a retirement home, March 2011.The signs can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the regular hallmarks of aging, but a new survey says Canadians wait far too long before checking out the early stages of dementia.
Close to half of the 958 caregivers surveyed said their loved ones afflicted with the condition had gone for more than a year with symptoms of Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia before seeking medical care.
The online survey, commissioned by the Alzheimer Society of Canada and released Wednesday, also found that 16 per cent put off a visit to the doctor for more than two years, a delay that prevents the benefits of early treatment, support services, medication, and management.
In addition, more than 25 per cent of those looking after a loved one with dementia said their charge initially refused to seek treatment or believed their symptoms would eventually go away.
"Symptoms of dementia are different from normal aging," Alzheimer Society CEO Naguib Gouda told the Canadian Press. "We need to help Canadians recognize the symptoms for what they are — signs of a brain disorder that will affect 1.1 million Canadians in the next 25 years."
While there's no medical cure yet for Alzheimer's, Gouda added there are treatments that slow the progression of the disease and pointed out the abundance of information to help orient and support patients and their loved ones.
Of the common early symptoms reported, respondents noted frequent memory loss affecting daily functions, increasing disorientation, like getting lost on a familiar route or forgetting what month it is, and distinct personality changes, such as confusion, suspicion or paranoia.
Acknowledging the benefits of early treatment, 75 per cent of those caregivers surveyed said they wished in hindsight that they'd sought an earlier diagnosis.
(AFP Photo)
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