Carey Mulligan is a British film and television actress who has starred in films such as "The Great Gatsby" and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress. She also has an important identity as a global ambassador for Alzheimer's Society's Global Dementia Friends, a UK charity that studies Alzheimer's disease and provides care and assistance to people with Alzheimer's.
| Carey Mulligan
Compiled | Wang Yunting
Source| BBC
Alzheimer's is a common condition associated with a persistent decline in the brain and its abilities, and the risk of developing the disease increases with age, usually in people over the age of 65. Symptoms and problems associated with the disease include memory loss, slower thinking speed, decreased mental agility, decreased ability to express, understand, and judge.
Kerry Mulligan has seen firsthand the effects of Alzheimer's disease on her beloved grandmother, Nancy. Although incurable, she still tries to make clear that the stigma and stigma surrounding the disease still exist, and that a better understanding would help.
Carey Mulligan is with her beloved grandmother, Nancy
Undoubtedly, most people look forward to spending quality time with family and friends during Christmas, and it's the same for me. My dear grandmother Nancy turned 91 a few days before Christmas, and my family and grandmother's friends travelled to Wales with plenty of gifts to visit and celebrate.
Nancy and I have always been very close, and in my life, she was the person outside of my parents who had the biggest influence on me. But our relationship has changed a lot in the last 12 years. Nancy was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2004 and since then, our lives have changed dramatically.
But on a day like Friday, when we get together with those who love her the most and celebrate her birthday, there are still some of the purest, as if magical moments.
Alzheimer's is an urgent health crisis that we can no longer ignore. Around 850,000 people in the UK have the disease, and globally, that number is more than 47 million.
With the continuous prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, the perception of Alzheimer's disease in society as a whole has also continued to improve. But at the same time, we still have a long way to go, and the stigma of Alzheimer's is still prevalent.
Too many rumors and misconceptions about Alzheimer's disease still exist. I've heard people mention it time and time again, just as a natural part of aging. And unfortunately, that's often the laughing stock of disgust.
Alzheimer's disease is a disease of the brain, and what it needs is understanding, care and support.
The first step in changing people's perceptions of Alzheimer's disease and improving the lives of those who suffer from it is not just to teach people about the disease on our own doorstep, but also to do so around the world.
Setting out to change perceptions is already an incredible job. Friends of alzheimer's Society, a non-profit organization, is a good example. 1.7 million people signed up and took action to try to change the way people think, treat and talk about Dementia. After passing on the relevant information through the lectures, participants were asked to think about what life with Alzheimer's disease might look like on both the material and spiritual levels. At the same time, participants were encouraged to try to make changes within their communities to make life easier for Alzheimers.
Carey Mulligan cuts the ribbon for Alzheimer's Society's Memory Walk in Swinsea, Wales
As a global ambassador for the project, my goal is to raise awareness and help change attitudes towards Alzheimer's disease worldwide. I recently spoke to 50 young people in Los Angeles about Alzheimer's.
In addition to some misconceptions about Alzheimer's, they are very interested in how to understand the disease in a practical way. At first I asked them what the first words that came to their minds when they mentioned Alzheimer's were, and many of them used the words "crazy," "crazy," and so on. But at the end of the exchange, young people throughout the room were encouraged to do more for the People living in their community with Dementia. Young people growing up in an understanding of the disease is one of the most critical factors in changing people's perceptions of Alzheimer's disease and building a dementia-friendly generation.
Like all people with Alzheimer's disease and the people they love, I have seen firsthand the challenges posed by the disease. I can understand how important individuals and entire social groups play in supporting People with Alzheimer's disease in order to make them feel connected to the world. We, tiny, easy to move, can make a huge difference in our community. When police, supermarket employees, clinic doctors, and train stations have a good understanding of how Alzheimer's disease affects an individual, help is better provided when patients need help.
However, getting a diagnosis is not simple in itself. A recent survey of family doctors shows that almost half of people do not believe that receiving a diagnosis is always the best option for Alzheimer's patients because the services available to them are very poor.
I can't fully explain how important a timely alzheimer's diagnosis really is. But it enables patients to understand their condition, explore ways in which they can be supported, and receive the best possible care.
My family was very fortunate that, together with Nancy, we found an outstanding care centre. My grandmother has lived there since 2006 and it's like her real home. Employees treat them as individuals and take them seriously. This care center requires everyone to have a biography so that even if they can't communicate verbally, they can really understand who everyone is.
In addition to the exceptional staff at the care center, Nancy has an excellent network of relationships that support her, made up of her beloved family members and friends, who visit her regularly. Every visit will have a truly happy moment. She may not remember them, but I think there's no doubt that she can feel that we're all doing our part to give her overwhelming love and respect. Her oldest friend still spends time visiting her, even if just sitting quietly with her, means a lot to her and to us.
Kerry Mulligan with Michael Parkinson (left, UK actor) and Mike Parrin (right, UK actor) on December 27, 2016
When I spoke to Mike Palin for today's show, we had some emotional resonance. He talked about a close friendship with his friend, Terry, who suffers from Alzheimer's. Michael Parkinson talked about his experience with frida, a mother with Alzheimer's disease. Our discussion made me wonder how Unique Alzheimer's disease is for everyone and how it affects everyone with the disease differently.
Mike Palin talks about his friend Terry having lost his ability to express himself, but he's overjoyed when he sees an old musical on TV. He also shared the story of how they often went to the bar together, where Terry would eat most of his meals in a contented quiet, but when it came to choosing wine, he would order a bottle of wine in fluent Portuguese.
Mr. Michael Parkinson recalls that 30 years after his father's death, his mother would imagine her husband in a bar and ask the landlord to take him home. He said that even though the mother had no idea who her son was, she knew every line of Frank Sinatra's song.
The two gentlemen also spoke about how important it is for people with Alzheimer's to have ongoing visits from family members and friends, and how important it is to spend time with loved ones. They feel it is essential to help patients feel connected to the world and cared for and loved, even though sometimes it can be challenging for individual visitors.
It is very important that every patient with Alzheimer's disease is treated with respect and dignity in the way they deserve. At present, people's understanding of dementia is not clear enough, and as a member of society, we all have a responsibility to change.