The Tragic Story of Vern Gagne and Helmut Gutmann Puts Spotlight on Behaviorial Alzheimer’s
By now you’ve probably heard or read reports of a tragedy that occurred in a memory care center in the Twin Cities.Famed wrestler Vern Gagne apparently had an altercation with Helmut Gutmann, a longtime research scientist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Minneapolis and violinist in the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. Both talented men were living with the extreme challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Vern Gagne is still living with it. According to media reports, Helmut Gutmann died from injuries sustained from being thrown to the ground by Gagne.In the light of this tragic story, is a very stressful situation that more and more families are dealing with: major behavioral issues that can come with Alzheimer’s and dementia.Changing Aging readers might remember the Minneapolis Star Tribune story on the new behavioral memory care community, Summit House at Prairie Lodge, Ecumen opened in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The story provides insights into living with behavioral challenges that are only going to grow with more people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.Our condolences to the Gutmann and Gagne families and to the caregivers who have worked closely with them.