Luigi was 65 years old when he got Alzheimer's disease. The illness lasted 6 years exhausting him day by day. At first the disease caused a light confusion, then memories became weaker and weaker, finally he lost appetite and couldn’t get up anymore. His wife was his caregiver during the whole period of the illness. On one side, the lack of public assistance and specific health and social care services caused many complications in home care. On the other side, it was very hard, almost impossible, to accept to gradually lose her own husband. Thanks her extraordinary strength and love, Mirella was able to assist Luigi during his illness, day by day up to the end.
Luigi was 65 years old when he got Alzheimer's disease.
The illness lasted 6 years exhausting him day by day. At first the disease caused a light confusion, then memories became weaker and weaker, finally he lost appetite and couldn’t get up anymore.
His wife was his caregiver during the whole period of the illness. On one side, the lack of public assistance and specific health and social care services caused many complications in home care. On the other side, it was very hard, almost impossible, to accept to gradually lose her own husband.
Thanks her extraordinary strength and love, Mirella was able to assist Luigi during his illness, day by day up to the end.
This is also a love story of a woman for her husband, a woman suddenly forced to face on her own the biggest difficulty experienced, made by hopes and unbelief, pain and resignation, sorrow and powerlessness.
There are 35,6 million people living with dementia worldwide these days.
With the numbers nearly doubling every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.
The countries more afflicted are: China, India and Latin America. 58% of all people with dementia worldwide live in low and middle income countries, rising to 71% by 2050.
Dementia mainly affects older people, although there is a growing awareness of cases that start before the age of 65. After age 65, the likelihood of developing dementia roughly doubles every five years.
People affected with dementia, their families and friends are affected on personal, emotional, financial and social levels. Lack of awareness is a global problem. A proper understanding of the societal costs of dementia, and how these impact upon families, health and social care services and governments may help to address this problem.