Few can really understand the pain and isolation of Alzheimer's disease except those who are living with it and their close loved ones. But to make the memory-robbing disease more understandable, one woman decided to put her husband on the spot to talk candidly about his battle.
Mary Beth Beamer, of Big Rapids, Michigan, posted a video of her husband, Alan Beamer, who has Alzheimer's, to give him a chance to tell his family and friends what he needs from them to fight the disease.
"What do you want people to know about Alzheimer's?" Mary asks Alan in the video.
"It's one of the meanest things I've ever seen in my life," Alan solemnly responds.
"What do you want from your family and friends? What would you ask of them?" Mary says.
"They need to know that I'm the same old person and I wish some people, my friends, would come up to talk to me just like you did before. You know, play and joke around," Alan says, breaking into tears.
"I know they're afraid of me," he tearfully says, adding that people seem to talk around him, not at him, keeping conversations short.
It's an important reminder of the staggering emotional effects of the disease, which an estimated 5.3 million Americans suffer from. That's besides the millions that feel the pain of the disease, as caregivers and loved ones.
The video has clearly struck a chord, already receiving over 100,000 views since it was posted on Sunday. It has been shared over 1,700 times with many viewers applauding the couple for their bravery while realizing it's time to visit Alan or another loved one with dementia.
"We are proud people but there are a lot of us out there that are living with Alzheimer's and we all need understanding," Mary Beth wrote.
As for Alan, he has one very powerful message for any friends watching.
"I love them. I wish they'd come over ... and they'd only have to stay for 5 minutes, or 10 minutes ... we could talk about what's really happening behind the scenes."
Just a heartbreaking reminder for all of us not to forget about our friends, family, and neighbors with dementia.
10 Symptoms Of Alzheimer's
Finding it difficult to complete home tasks (01 of08)
Open Image ModalFinding it hard to read and understand visual images(02 of08)
Open Image ModalMisplacing things(03 of08)
Open Image ModalPeople with Alzheimer's may put items in unusual places. They may lose things and accuse others of stealing. This can become more and more frequent. (credit:ladi59 via Getty Images)
Confusing times and places(04 of08)
Open Image ModalPeople with Alzheimer's can lose track of time, dates and seasons. They may also lose track of where they are and how they got there. (credit:mediaphotos via Getty Images)
Having difficulty solving problems(05 of08)
Open Image ModalSufferers may experience changes in their ability to follow a plan or work with numbers. They'll probably have trouble following a basic recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They might find it difficult to concentrate and take much longer to do things than they did before. (credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)
Withdrawing from social activities(06 of08)
Open Image ModalPeople with Alzheimer's may remove themselves from social activities and abandon hobbies and other interests. (credit:Ryan McVay via Getty Images)
Experiencing mood changes(07 of08)
Open Image ModalThe mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's disease can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. (credit:The Welfare & Medical Care via Getty Images)
Struggling with decreased or poor judgment(08 of08)
Open Image ModalOur 2024 Coverage Needs You
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.