Ex-President Robinson wakes wife from doze

Former President of Trinidad and Tobago and patron of the Alzheimer’s Association Arthur NR Robinson had to tap the arm of his wife, Patricia Robinson, who was drifting off into sleep during an Alzheimer’s seminar/workshop hosted by the association yesterday, at City Hall Auditorium, Port-of-Spain. The seminar, entitled “Working in perfect partnership” and carrying the theme “Sharing the Caring”, was held in observance of World Alzheimer’s Day, which is celebrated worldwide today. Today, the Alzheimer’s Association of TT will embark on a “Memory Walk” at 7 am around the Queen’s Park Savannah, beginning at Queen’s Royal College.

Robinson, who gave a brief opening address, said he was delighted to be present at the event along with his wife, who is a victim of Alzheimer’s. “She’s a delightful person. She wants to sleep when everybody wants to be awake. I woke her up this morning. I won’t be long (in speech) so she can get back to her sleep,” Robinson told his audience which comprised victims of the condition and their family, caregivers (nurses) and students. Robinson said that his wife, who had to be helped to her seat, is also afflicted by diabetes and he had the opportunity to address members of an international conference on the issue in Jamaica.

He said that his wife’s condition had become severely critical when the couple stayed at a hotel abroad some years ago. “She was drifting into a coma in the hotel room and we had to call for the doctors,” Robinson said. “So I appreciate what you are doing to promote life and save lives.” Consultant Psychiatrist at the St Ann’s Hospital Dr Indar Ramtahal, who addressed those present on “Alzheimer’s Disease and Behaviour”, said that the former First Lady showed symptoms of sleep/wake cycle disorder, which is a non-cognitive or behavioural-type symptom. Other symptoms of this behavioural pattern, he said, included “hallucinations, delusions, aggression, wandering away from home, mis-identification, depression and syndrome anxiety.” Dr Ramtahal said that although the disease is incurable and the average lifespan of an Alzheimer’s sufferer is eight to ten years, treatment by the use of drugs “is far from ideal, but the best we have”.

President of the Alzheimer’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Norma Inniss, urged persons with dementia  to form long-term positive relationships with their doctors and caregivers to receive a higher quality of care. The association joins 64 Alzheimer’s associations around the world in celebrating the occasion. Currently, the Association is working towards educating the public on the condition and has instituted outreach programmes that has “moved into new areas. We have the Employee Assistance Programme where we’re going into offices. We are going into schools and we plan to go to the old people homes and educate the staff,” said Inniss. The Alzheimer’s Association plans to set up an information centre which will provide counselling and house a library and audio visual room.