Friday 20 February 2009
Alzheimer's Disease
 Tabby Modley, of Beckley, W.Va., kisses her husband, Steve. Steve was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 50. | Story by Gabrielle Corey Photographs by Chuck Gavin One afternoon local businessman and Beckley, W.Va., native Steve Modley, 51, stepped out of the courthouse and realized he had no idea how to get to the heating and plumbing business he owned for 30 years, located only a few blocks away. “That happened and it was like — no — this is not depression, there is something else wrong,” said Steve’s wife of 11 years and caregiver Tabby Modley. Five years earlier Steve began experiencing erratic and unpredictable mood swings, including suspicion and paranoia. He became quick to anger; he accused employees of stealing and questioned Tabby even when she was running household errands. In fact, the behavior began affecting their marriage. Not realizing a disease was to blame, Tabby’s parents became very resentful of Steve. Three years later at the age of 49, he began having significant difficulty performing familiar tasks, using the television remote as a telephone, stopping at green lights and running red lights and inserting $100 bills into soda machines. The Modleys bounced from doctor to doctor, and finally Steve was diagnosed with depression and a thyroid condition. His symptoms were attributed to stress and the recent sudden death of his father. The traditional medications for thyroid problems and depression did not help. After Steve got lost in downtown Beckley, his doctor sent him to Morgantown, W.Va., for more tests. “The Wednesday after Christmas of 2007, I called the [doctor’s] office to get the report, not really expecting anything because — 50 years old — who’s going to think Alzheimer’s? I got the report and it said early-onset advanced Alzheimer’s. I just broke down,” Tabby said. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Steve is one of the estimated 500,000 individuals in America under the age of 65 with a form of Alzheimer’s disease known as early-onset Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease characterized by symptoms of memory loss, trouble speaking or writing, personality changes and misplacing things. Early-onset creates unique and significant challenges to families like the Modleys. Just receiving a diagnosis is challenging enough since symptoms may not be attributed to Alzheimer’s at such a young age. In addition, these families may still have teenage children at home, will have difficulty accessing disability or retirement benefits and face the loss of health care coverage well before the age of Medicare eligibility. |
Ten ways to be a healthier caregiver:
- Understand what’s going on as early as possible
- Know what community resources are available
- Become an educated caregiver
- Get help
- Take care of yourself
- Manage your level of stress
- Accept changes as they occur
- Make legal and financial plans
- Give yourself credit, not guilt
- Visit your doctor regularly
For complete article, please see the current issue of Prerogative Magazine - on newsstands now!
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