In 2018, at age 62, Huzir (not his real name) was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease, also known as early onset Alzheimer’s. He retired not long after, having served 23 years as the CEO of a public-listed company.
There had been signs over the years that not all was well with his health. Part of him chalked it up to work overload. He was losing his ability to juggle multiple projects, and it took more effort for him to decide what to prioritise. His self-confidence rapidly eroded.
His colleagues saw it more clearly and sought ways to retain him and keep him functioning.
All this came to a head when Huzir found himself overlooking highway exits and getting lost while driving on familiar roads. His wife Nadia (not her real name) brought him to a brain specialist in 2016 and 2017.
He was given a battery of tests and eventually diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s with evidence of “executive dysfunction”. They consulted other doctors, all of whom agreed with the diagnosis.
Huzir told himself to accept his condition, something over which he would have no control. He began to put a plan in place to live his remaining years to the best of his ability.
He started learning more about the disease, and made regular appointments for check-ups with his primary care physician. He also signed up with a memory disorder clinic to help him manage his memory lapses.
Being a prudent family man, Huzir carried out legal, financial and long-term-care planning. He updated his will, healthcare insurance and power of attorney, empowering Nadia to act on his behalf when it came to financial matters.
He uses simple memory aids like a notepad and sticky notes to jot down reminders; a pillbox to keep his daily medication organised; and a calendar to record appointments, birthdays and family occasions.
Huzir is lucky as he has loving family members and supportive co-workers and friends to help with routine tasks such as cooking, paying bills, transportation and shopping.
His children use technological solutions for his medication management and safety, especially emergency response and a door alarm in case he wanders out unattended. To ensure his safety at home, they got his doctor to organise a home-safety evaluation conducted by a health caregiver.
He was also persuaded to wear a medical ID bracelet with his son’s contact number in case he got lost or needed help.
Huzir reminds the older generation not to neglect their health and be active. Doing mild exercise for 30 minutes daily helps him feel better and keeps his muscles, joints and heart in good shape. A well-balanced diet is important, too.
He urges other seniors to visit with family and friends when they can, and continue to enjoy hobbies and outings.
Huzir has written several articles in newspapers and online health magazines on this topic. He is aware there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, and prefers to be matter-of-fact about his diagnosis and spend more time in the community, especially working with the Alzheimer’s Association to support them in their work.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life after that. Feel free to email [email protected] to share your story.
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