On Point With Alex Pierson

Have we forgotten how to treat those with dementia? Or did we ever really know at all? Unless you have had a loved one inflicted with the cruel disease it’s hard to understand its devastating impact. Not just on the inflicted person who dies a little more each day but those around them who have to cope with this new normal. My Step dad just died after 12 agonizing years of this thief disease. He was vibrant, funny and LOVED to work. He loved a good party and if you didn’t invite him he’d invite himself and make your event even better. He was a rarity. A caricature. Then one day he came home with a strange tale that lobsters were crawling on his wall and he had been involved in a bank robbery. That was the day we had to admit Ted was being taken by Dementia. From there, the Ted I knew. Who I got into mischief with. Who made everyone laugh was no longer the Ted I knew. It changed everything. And everyone around him. He continued to work- but eventually couldn’t make sense of his business. He continued to driv