From conversations with medical personnel and from my own experiences with my mother, it is a fact that Alzheimer's patients can be very combattive and aggressive. This makes dealing with them very tricky and takes a lot of patience. They can also suffer delusions and it can be impossible to convince them otherwise.

I was fortunate that the family had enough money to allow for my mother to be properly cared for in an institution dedicated to serving Alzheimer's patients. Hone care is very demanding of the caregiver and is fraught with problems. Medications are helpful but very expensive.

While I am saddened by the loss of my mother, I am also gladdened by knowing that her ordeal has ended.