Some 22 Cambridge At Home members who gathered at Mount Auburn Hospital on Nov. 2 were urged not to treat memory loss as something to expect as a necessary by-product of growing old, but to seek medical attention if forgetfulness affects their ability to get on in daily life. At a session on memory, Dr. Joseph P. D'Afflitti, Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry, emphasized that memory disorders can be treated, although often not cured. He mentioned various physical and neurological tests that should be performed to rule out any underlying physical illness.
Mount Auburn Hospital's Chief of Geriatric Medicine, Dr. John R. Anderson, spelled out categories of memory disorders and their suggested treatments. First is Benign Senescent Forgetfulness, in which previously experienced difficulties like trouble remembering names, or misplacing keys, become more frequent. Next is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in which forgetfulness is more pervasive. In neither of these stages is there serious disruption of a person's ability to function normally. Next is dementia, sometimes caused by Alzheimer's disease. Both he and Dr. D'Afflitti described Alzheimer's as a "terminal diagnosis" of a condition requiring treatment. Cambridge at Home members then engaged the speakers in an animated question and answer session.
The Monday morning meeting was the latest enjoyable and informative program staged for CAH by our strategic ally, Mount Auburn Hospital. Before seating themselves around the long table in the Lynch Board Room at the hospital, attendees selected refreshments from a breakfast buffet of fruit juices, muffins and pastries, and coffee and tea.
Introducing Drs. Anderson and D'Afflitti was Jeanette Clough, the Chief Executive Officer of Mount Auburn Hospital. She stated that the non-profit hospital finished its fiscal year in good financial condition and could thus plough back earnings into improved services for patients.
Also attending from the hospital were Kathy Howard, Director of Social Services and Neurology, and Betsy Gonnerman, Clinical Social Worker. Both work closely with Cambridge At Home, for whose members Betsy is the hospital's designated liaison.