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This is how I remember the progression of
the Alzheimer’s disease that took over the
life of my wife, Helena. It began to be
noticeable to me during 2001 that things
were not as they should be. Previously,
Helena’s mother and two brothers had
suffered the same disease so I had a “heads
up.” Helena was 72 in July 2001. She was
aware of problems but she avoided
discussions of the subject and was clever at
covering up.
The following weeks and months became
progressively more stressful for Helena and
in turn for all family members. Her anger
episodes, threats, confusion and depressive
behavior became more frequent and deeper.
Helena lost the ability to perform the daily
requirements of living during the year of
2003. I could rely on Debbie, Melanie or
Steven to spend as much as an hour or two on
the phone with their mother to relieve the
situation. I had become fully responsible
for meal preparation, grocery shopping,
laundry, helping with bathing, dressing and
other household duties. Finally, in October
2003 I admitted Helena to the hospital for
an eight-day evaluation. The diagnosis was
probable Alzheimer’s. She often expressed a
wish to die. Reluctantly, she agreed to
memory medication and did not object to a
daily “day care” setting. Helena entered the
day care world at AlzCare. This period was
very stressful for all. Our three grown
children, married with children of the own,
and I realized that for Helena’s welfare
(and mine as well) that I needed help in
caring for Helena.
After much searching and evaluation of
facilities in the area, Helena was admitted
to full time living at AlzCare in New
Braunfels, Texas in June 2004. This was a
heart-breaking decision. She rapidly
progressed in this long journey and died at
AlzCare in December 2007. We were into our
60th year of marriage.
I will be forever grateful for the tender
loving care, almost four years that the
AlzCare management and staff gave to Helena.
They not only cared for Helena but supported
me as well. I visited frequently and
observed the love and care and tending to
Helena’s needs. AlzCare has a homelike
environment, not at all like other
facilities with long halls and many out of
sight doors. I have never detected the
“odor” that many facilities have. Living
away from home is never the perfect place,
but AlzCare comes close in their philosophy
to be like “home.” The family can have
confidence that a resident will be cared for
until the end of life. When the time came
for Hospice help, it was given at AlzCare.
If I ever have the need to be cared for, I
hope it will be at a place like AlzCare. |
