News-Record.com

A 60-year-old man killed his 78-year-old mother and then himself. It has been speculated that the reason he committed such a horrific act was because he could not handle her Alzheimer's disease. Obviously he lacked the ability to cope and handle stress and probably suffered from a mental illness. But he also fell victim to the struggle many caregivers face when caring for a person with a terminal illness.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, every 72 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. As the disease progresses from experiencing memory lapses to personality changes to unresponsiveness, the caretaker and loved ones suffer from witnessing these dramatic changes.

Murder is murder, but I immediately felt empathy for this man. Assuming the role of caretaker is not an easy task. However, caring for a parent or loved one as they face a terminal illness does have rewarding benefits.

I hope this tragic incident will provide awareness of the importance of education about the disease process. Knowing the effect Alzheimer's has on the mind and body during different stages could prevent another unfortunate loss. Also, it is essential to not only provide emotional support to the person with the illness but the caregiver as well.

Jamie Bryant
Greensboro