Charles DeGaulle, former prime minister of France famously said "Old age is a shipwreck" which he used to describe the inevitable physical and cognitive decline, vulnerability, and loss of independence that accompanied the advanced age of a colleague.
Family caregivers provide most long-term services and support in the United States, assisting adults with disabilities and complex health needs such as dementia.
Upon learning a friend has a diagnosis of dementia we find ourselves in an awkward moment—what do I do or say? My suggestion is to be a friend and find a way—the loss of friends for persons with dementia is often reported as one of the biggest losses they face.
