Oamaru man looking after his mother with Alzheimer's is reaching out to those who have looked to unconventional therapies when caring for a loved one with the disease some call ''the long goodbye''.
Emilia Grigore (77) left New Zealand for her native Romania in 2008, but was soon diagnosed with Alzheimer's and came back to New Zealand to be with her son, Romanian-born artist Ioan Grigore, of Oamaru, in 2010.
He and his wife, Riane de Koster, a homeopath, have been caring for her since.
''You say goodbye every day,'' Mr Grigore said.
''And many people believe there is nothing to be done. I refuse to believe that there is nothing to be done.''
Mr Grigore began to read extensively trying to understand the disease and in the process decided to forgo Western medicine in his mother's treatment.
He now wants to form a group where like-minded caregivers can share information about the natural treatments they use.
When Mrs Grigore returned to New Zealand in 2010, she had to be picked up from the airport in a wheelchair, as she could not walk.
Over time, and in consultation with their doctor in Oamaru, the couple took Mr Grigore's mother off her medication, Ms de Koster said.
''In bits and pieces'' they switched to alternative therapy, including homeopathy and exercise, and her quality of life improved dramatically, if only temporarily, she said.
''In 2011, 2012, she went everywhere with me,'' Ms de Koster said.
''I would go shopping, I would take her with me; I would go to the post office, I would take her with me. She enjoyed it.
''She was much more alert, and could speak, and could knit - it was quite amazing.''
However, Mrs Grigore slowly deteriorated, her movement and speech became limited again and she often did not seem aware of her environment.
Mr Grigore said he did not want to subject his mother to the ''invasive'' nature of the medication she was once prescribed.
They produced unwanted side effects and provided ''no results'', he said.
For the past four years, he had looked into alternatives and various exercises, reflexology, diet, homeopathy and anti-oxidant supplements had been a part of his mother's therapy.
He monitored her mood and awareness throughout the day on a daily basis, including her willingness to drink and eat, and how difficult speech was for her.
''I truly, truly believe that people have to be aware there are other options out there,'' he said.
But despite his record-keeping and attempts to find combinations of therapies that worked for his mother, he felt he also needed to be part of a group of people interested in unconventional treatments.
He wanted to create a ''database'' of alternative therapies based on ''hands-on experience''.
He sought like-minded people who believed conventional treatments did not produce results and who wanted to try something else.
When contacted, Alzheimer's Society of Otago manager Julie Butler said she did not agree with Mr Grigore's claim there was no evidence of results for the Western medicine used in conventional treatments and she would not encourage others to forgo Western medicine.
But she applauded Mr Grigore for the care he provided for his mother.
''Who's to say what he's doing isn't right?'' she said.
''If they [natural treatments] are giving results for his mother and she is living a good quality of life, as is the rest of his family because of it - and it is causing no harm - then go for it. It's difficult to argue with it.
''Everyone has to do what's right for them.''
Mr Grigore invited people who wanted to share information on alternative therapies used to treat Alzheimer's, saying they could contact him at goodmorning.l@clear.net.nz.
''People who are caring for someone with Alzheimer's, they should come together,'' he said.hamish.maclean@odt.co.nz
