My wife Bette was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2009. Over the years, I saw firsthand Bette’s struggles, my daughter Jordana’s struggles, in addition to my own struggles as we grappled with Bette’s worsening condition, with her loss of memory, with her loss of independence and ability to function without significant help, with her loss of sense of self, and ultimately with her death in 2020. Losing Bette was heart-wrenching and devastating.
It also was eye opening. I saw that a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, this relentless, dreadful disease, starts a difficult and emotional journey that affects not only those who are diagnosed with the disease but also their family and friends. For every person living with Alzheimer’s disease, there are family and friends who give tirelessly to provide care and support, often sacrificing their own well-being.
Sadly, too many families have experienced the challenge of managing someone else’s life: overseeing daily routines, assuring that the environment is safe and that activities of daily living are supported, navigating medical and legal systems, and on and on. And all of this must be done while trying to maintain dignity for your loved one and handling the emotions as you watch your loved one decline.
Clearly, it can be overwhelming. One simply cannot take care of someone with Alzheimer’s alone. There is too much to do and it is too emotional.
For me, that is where Alzheimer’s New Jersey® came into the picture.
When I needed support to better help Bette, I reached out to Alzheimer’s New Jersey®. The organization was there for me and helped me enormously. My first contact was a telephone conversation I had with an Alzheimer’s New Jersey® representative. We spoke for over an hour about Bette’s condition, about being a caregiver, and about how Alzheimer’s New Jersey® could provide assistance. The person with whom I spoke could not have been more helpful or more understanding. Over the years, I have attended many webinars and in-person seminars, all of which were insightful and provided me with ideas about how I could provide better care for Bette and deal with the emotional, financial, and legal impacts of the disease.
I am indebted to Alzheimer’s New Jersey® and I will always help the Organization in any way that I can. I want to do my part to ensure that no one must face this devastating disease alone.
I encourage everyone to support Alzheimer’s New Jersey® so more can be done for families who really need help. I have witnessed the profound impact that Alzheimer’s has on families. And, as a caregiver, I know how important it is to have a place to go when you need assistance.
Alzheimer’s New Jersey® is that place.
