Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis reveals an uncomfortable truth

[Trueblue Texan]

1. Dementia is the most frightening condition I can imagine

And it's the caregivers and families that suffer the most. Without exception, caregivers of dementia patients are completely exhausted, holding nightly watch for their loved one wandering, preventing falls, even escapes from the home into the dark night. Then caregivers have to face day after day without restful sleep. Even when they get a break they are unable to relax due to anxiety about leaving their loved ones in inexperienced hands.

The scariest part for our nation is that the numbers are already staggering and escalating. Most people aren't even given a diagnosis until stage 4, the time when you've pretty much lost the ability to make good decisions and cannot live alone anymore.

It's never been more important to have an advanced directive and to set money aside to help your family carry out your wishes. If I ever get dementia, I do not want to hang around this world to be a burden to anyone. Dementia requires at least a ten-fold level of care and attention from caregivers. Caregivers basically lose their life to care for their loved ones and I do not want to put anyone through that.