Family Stressed about by Alzheimer's

There was a Dear Abby column today where a woman told Abby she was stressed out by her mother's quick ascent into Alzheimer's, and she wondered what to do.

I liked Abby's answer. "Today, an estimated 10 million Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia. More than 40 percent of them rate their emotional stress level as high or very high, and it is a danger to their health." She pointed families stressed out by parents' Alzheimer's or dementia issues to the national Alzheimer's association. The toll-free number is (800) 272-3900 or visit www.alz.org. The website has a stress test for those affected by the disease.