Thatcher & das Stigma Demenz (engl.)
[...]
Anthony Seldon, Thatcher's biographer, wrote that the revelations were probably the first public admission that she had dementia. "It was pretty obvious when I last saw her in November 2005 that she was pretty off the map, so to speak. But like with Reagan, people give former heads of state some dignity, because of the stigma attached."
This stigma is apparently so great that many people close to dementia sufferers are often in a state of denial, which can make it harder for patients to get the treatment they need.
[...]
The Alzheimer's Society welcomed the admission by Carol Thatcher, and said in a press release: "For too long dementia has been kept in the shadows and families have been left to struggle alone. By speaking openly about the effects of dementia, we will begin to tackle some of the stigma that still surrounds the condition and ensure that everyone with dementia gets the care and support they deserve."
Part of the taboo attached to Alzheimer's is that it is classified as a mental illness. One person who knows all about this is Edwina Jarvis, whose father suffers from the disease. She told me that her family was reluctant to accept that he was suffering from dementia. "People would say, what's wrong with him? And it would always be it's old age, it's this, it's that, but it wasn't … it was mental illness."
[...]
Thatcher's personal wealth means that she will have no problems getting the care she requires. But surely other dementia sufferers should receive all the help that they need, too? People who have developed Alzheimer's and dementia towards the end of their lives have usually paid their taxes and contributed towards the healthcare system. They have done so with the expectation that if they ever needed it, society would take care of them – even if the Iron Lady said there was no such thing
Quelle und Volltext:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/31/health.longtermcare?gusrc=rss&feed=uknews
Anthony Seldon, Thatcher's biographer, wrote that the revelations were probably the first public admission that she had dementia. "It was pretty obvious when I last saw her in November 2005 that she was pretty off the map, so to speak. But like with Reagan, people give former heads of state some dignity, because of the stigma attached."
This stigma is apparently so great that many people close to dementia sufferers are often in a state of denial, which can make it harder for patients to get the treatment they need.
[...]
The Alzheimer's Society welcomed the admission by Carol Thatcher, and said in a press release: "For too long dementia has been kept in the shadows and families have been left to struggle alone. By speaking openly about the effects of dementia, we will begin to tackle some of the stigma that still surrounds the condition and ensure that everyone with dementia gets the care and support they deserve."
Part of the taboo attached to Alzheimer's is that it is classified as a mental illness. One person who knows all about this is Edwina Jarvis, whose father suffers from the disease. She told me that her family was reluctant to accept that he was suffering from dementia. "People would say, what's wrong with him? And it would always be it's old age, it's this, it's that, but it wasn't … it was mental illness."
[...]
Thatcher's personal wealth means that she will have no problems getting the care she requires. But surely other dementia sufferers should receive all the help that they need, too? People who have developed Alzheimer's and dementia towards the end of their lives have usually paid their taxes and contributed towards the healthcare system. They have done so with the expectation that if they ever needed it, society would take care of them – even if the Iron Lady said there was no such thing
Quelle und Volltext:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/31/health.longtermcare?gusrc=rss&feed=uknews
fppg - 9. Sep, 08:05
