One Daughter's Alzheimer's Story
It began many years ago, when my Dad first started to forget things. Like where he put his belt or how to find his way around the town he had lived in for 30 years. Later it included forgetting the names and faces of me, his daughter, and even his former wife (my mom). His battle with Alzheimer's ended after a massive stroke. He was 78. Several years later, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease herself. Losing things, overdrawing her checking acct, having four checkbooks started at once, mixing up her medications, forgetting how to turn off the television or use the clothes dryer, even how to eat a meal without help. Soon she moved in with us and for the next 5 years we cared for her as she went through the stages of Alzheimer's Disease. It was difficult and required many sacrifices from my husband and children. Family vacations were now just Dad and kids most of the time as I stayed behind with Mother. Sleep was interrupted when she would wander the house with her walker, looking for the bathroom that was only a few feet from her bed. Bowel and bladder accidents had to be cleaned up; she had to be reassurred that it was o.k. to stay overnight with us, that her "mother wouldn't be mad" if she didn't come home that evening. Eventually she forgot everyone's name but mine. After a series of major health events, we finally made the decision to place her in a nursing home here in our town, where we visited her daily and helped with her meals. She lost her battle to Alzheimer's in Feb. 2008. It was a long road for our family to lose two grandparents to the dreadful disease. So much research is still needed to find better treatments and eventually a cure. That is why I started Memory Lane Alzheimer's Shoppe, as a way for family members, caregivers and others interested in fighting Alzheimer's, to find awareness products they can wear or share with others. I hope you will enjoy my designs. For more links to other Alzheimer's information sites, please visit our: Memory Shoppe Squidoo Lens
