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Expert Profile: Mary Gordon

Expertise:  Several years direct experience as caregiver for family member who died of end stage AD. Did lots of research and dealt with a lot of health care professionals and caregivers over the 7 years from diagnosis to the end. Used various care options from community based resources to increasing levels of institutional. Mother of three, two born during our loved one's decline, so I know what it is to be the ham in the sandwich, taking care of the older generation and the younger at the same time and trying to balance everyone`s needs. Ask me, I`ve probably been there, done that. We made lost of mistakes and learned everything the hard way - but you don`t have to! If I can`t answer your question, I`ll steer you to a place or person who can.

Experience in the area
Currently a program manager for a large utility company. My Alzheimers experience comes from having the illness in our family. Out of necessity, we did a lot of research in order to understand the disease, plan for what might come next, and make the right decisions to help and support our loved one. Please note, I am a Canadian living in Toronto, and therefore am not the best person to ask about US regulations and insurance rules!

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What do you like about this subject?  Absolutely nothing. This is a horrible disease and has a terrible impact on families. The positive that comes out of it is being able to help other people who need support and information.
What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?  To be helpful - to give accurate, timely, useful information and advice, in a compassionate and supportive manner.
Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:  Many families do not realize that "senility" is not a normal part of aging. It always has a cause, and it should never be accepted without a thorough medical exploration. There are treatable causes of confusion, and new drugs to help slow down the progress for incurable causes.
Something controversial or provocative about this subject  Personal peeve: Doctors who do not take confusion and forgetfulness reported by family members seriously or who do not adequately explain or suggest supports or resources. Caregivers need information, so they can understand what is likely to happen as dementia progresses,and make informed plans for future care with all the financial, legal, emotional and practical issues that go with it.
Average Ratings
Prestige Points: 8572
Knowledge   10.0   Best of the best
Clarity of Response   10.0   Best of the best
Timeliness   10.0   Best of the best
Politeness   10.0   Best of the best
Number Of Questions Today
(GMT time)
0
Max Questions to be Asked
(Per Day, in GMT time)
15
Total Questions
(since joining AllExperts)
771
Recent Reviews from Users
KnowlClarityTimePolitenessDate
1010101006/16/09
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User Comments
Thank you so much for this very informative and quick response. It has prompted me to start taking action immediately to make sure my dads financial a
(Cynthia on 06/16/09)
Mary, Thank you so much. You are very knowledgeable and thorough. You went way beyond any explanation I expected. You are a gem. Thanks again, Gary
(Gary on 05/28/09)
thank you for such a fast answer . i really hope mom goes fast but if not at least she dont know whats going on for that she has been blessed. thank y
(sandy on 05/17/09)
Thank you; now I have a better ideea of what to do.
(Rodica on 05/05/09)
I really appreciate your honesty and personal experience. Thank you very much.
(Susanne on 05/01/09)
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Recent Answers from Mary Gordon
2009-06-23  Notifying friends Hi Michelle Maybe you could include the new address and perhaps a few encouraging words for potential visitors. My mother in law had so many friends - but once she started to advance in her dementia...
2009-06-16  mother Hi Linda, it sounds very much like your mother has some sort of cognitive impairment. This is not just depression. Has she been assessed for some sort of dementia? If not, you should ask about having that...
2009-06-14  Anger and Alzheimer's Disease Cynthia, here is a really great article for you to read that will give you some insight into what he is going through and some tips for coping http://www.alzheimer.guelph.org/downloads/12%20pt%20Understanding%20the%20Dement...
2009-06-10  stage 7 Jean, You do not have to allow them to put in a feeding tube. At this point, there is no meaningful chance of recovery in terms of quality of life. Here is a good article for you to have a look at...
2009-06-06  mom Hi Sandy, I know this is really hard on you. It's very hard to know how long she will hang on. It is very likely that she will spiral down now that she is off the Alzheimer's meds - the meds slow down...
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