For families of those with dementia, a great grief descends. Let’s keep their challenges in mind.

Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia pose challenges for family members and health care professionals. (Getty Images)

My father was a brilliant communications professor who had a doctorate and earned tenure at the university where he taught. He wrote books that had been published and took many speaking engagements. He also served as a part-time pastor.

I would have never guessed that my dad would struggle with dementia because of his Parkinson’s disease. I watched my dad and his mind fade away. It was very distressing to me and my family. It’s very distressing to many families.

Dementia, along with memory loss and cognitive decline, affects millions in the United States. Many of them live in Kansas. Too many families are not prepared for this next stage and don’t know what to do. The other issue at play here is the high cost of assisted living and senior care. It’s almost like trying to purchase a high-cost apartment these days. Families are suffering.

My mom works part-time for Home Instead Senior Care. She does non-medical work and helps take care of seniors in their homes. My sister and I tease her by saying she is a senior taking care of seniors.

My mom’s clients love her. However, not everyone can afford services like in-home care. Home Instead does a fantastic job of looking after folks. To try to find care for a loved one is so difficult. It’s hard enough that the family member is struggling, but then to find affordable care is really a challenge.

To have a family member lose their former ability to think and process information is a harrowing experience. People struggle so much these days, and now there is so much dementia going on among the population. Families don’t know where to turn.

I felt as though part of me was gone when my dad’s mind started declining. It was difficult to communicate with him. He had been a brilliant thinker and teacher and now this? I turned to my faith for solace and comfort during those challenging times.

Families need to know they are not alone when a loved one is suffering with dementia, memory loss or cognitive decline. I know of men whose wives have died because of their dementia, and it has been quite a blow to their peace of mind. They had been power couples, and now they lost their true love. It’s simply tragic.

How can we help family members experiencing this grief with their loved one? How can we make sure that people who need help are taken care of by dedicated professionals? We need to reach out and check in on the family and take them a meal or ask how we can help. We need to help them know they are not alone.

There is comfort, there is solace. Let’s reach out and help those in need.