Reflections on Alzheimer’s conference

Posted by Susan Turnbull November 20, 2009 in Blog

I had the privilege of addressing the WV Alzheimers Assocation today at their annual state conference.  Often people share with me their regret they didn’t capture more from a parent before they were afflicted with memory loss. This group of caregivers and administrators know the losses  better than anyone.

I opened the presentation with reading the lovely children’s book, Wilfred Gordon McDonald Patridge, by Mem Fox. Little Wilfred lives next door to an old folks home and is especially fond of Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, for one because she has four names,too.  He overhears his parents saying Miss Nancy has “lost” her memory and he goes about asking all his old friends, “What is a memory?”  In his innocence, determines he can “find” Miss Nancy’s – which in a way, he does.

I was reminded again that in very large part memory is the foundation of identity. The collection of experiences/memories are what make us each unique. With memories gone, there is a different person inside familiar skin. No wonder it is so difficult to accept.