Tag longest day

The Longest Day: A tribute to the tireless community caregivers

2 comments By Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 20th, 2012 @ 4:07 pm

We’ve heard from daughters, sons and spouses today – now for our last blog, we’ll hear from the professional caregiver side. Thanks to Mark from CiminoCare for offering his perspective on the value and dedication of the professional caregiver.

I hope you all have enjoyed our blog series for the The Longest Day – and remember to honor our caregivers any chance you get!

An eerie realization has come over me regarding the timing of this event on the 20, on behalf of those facing Alzheimer’s: June, 2012 represents the 20-year anniversary of the opening of CiminoCare’s first Alzheimer’s and Dementia specialized community. I still remember the day we opened Burlingame Villa, in June of 1992. On that day I thought “new life has been breathed into these walls, and this home for those suffering from memory loss will never sleep, it will operate 24/7, 365 days a year. It will always be operational from this day forward.” Continue reading “The Longest Day: A tribute to the tireless community caregivers” »

The Longest Day: What Alzheimer’s means to me

2 comments By Profiles, Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 20th, 2012 @ 3:29 pm

We’re almost done with our Longest Day blog marathon! Special thanks to Nicole for guest blogging with us today. Nicole is a regular contributor to Cupertino Patch. You can read more about Nicole’s experience with her father who has Alzheimer’s disease here: cupertino.patch.com/columns/oh-my-papa

When I was growing up and heard the word “Alzheimer’s,” I thought that was only something that happened to elderly people after they have already lived their lives and enjoyed what should be enjoyed. And even with that mindset, it still didn’t make sense. How could someone forget people they have known for years?

Then the day came when the neurologist told us that my father had stroke-caused early onset Alzheimer’s. At first, I just thought it would sort of go away. You know, like if he asked so many dozens of times what day it was or where someone lived or where I worked, etc. and I told him that many dozens of times, then maybe it would click the next day. It never did.

He was 61 years old when this all began. Though it has been moving slowly and we do still have some good days, it still doesn’t make sense. My father has not lived his life and enjoyed everything he should enjoy. This shouldn’t be happening now. Continue reading “The Longest Day: What Alzheimer’s means to me” »

The Longest Day: Use these hours to fight, fight, fight

1 comment By Sherrie, advocacy volunteer, Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 20th, 2012 @ 2:10 pm

Next comes a great reminder to use The Longest Day to get re-charged with inspiration to fight for this cause! Sherrie is a regular contributor to our blog and is a long time advocacy volunteer who lost her mother to Alzheimer’s.

I sleep pretty well now. This was not the case when my mother lived with me. We moved her cross country, from Florida to San Francisco, after my father died because we suspected she had Alzheimer’s disease. Although the signs were unmistakable – the memory loss, confusion, repeating herself and even getting lost on familiar streets – we resisted this reality for some time.  After all, my parents were still in their 60s when Dad died. It couldn’t be Alzheimer’s, could it? It could, and it was. Continue reading “The Longest Day: Use these hours to fight, fight, fight” »

The Longest Day: For caregivers, every day is long; but it doesn’t have to be sad

10 comments By Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 20th, 2012 @ 12:17 pm

Our next blog comes from Roger, whose wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at just 55 years old.

“The longest day.” Every day can potentially be long for a caregiver.

Caregivers can experience isolation. Caregivers can work countless hours trying to make someone else’s life better. Caregivers may forget to try to take a day off. Caregivers may rarely be thanked for their work.

But it doesn’t always have to be a sad story.

Some caregivers report that working through the adversity has made them into better people; perhaps more giving, more patient.

Almost daily we hear about new Alzheimer’s disease research. Encouragement is tempered. The “cure” will take a while – it’s still being developed.   

Too late for my wife…I hope not too late for my kids. 

My wife Jane was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s three years ago at the age of 55.   

She has some long-term memory – almost no short-term memory. For her there is no yesterday and no tomorrow. Continue reading “The Longest Day: For caregivers, every day is long; but it doesn’t have to be sad” »

The Longest Day: My mom is awake

5 comments By Profiles, Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 20th, 2012 @ 10:43 am

Our second blog for The Longest Day comes from Lori, a long-time volunteer and fundraiser with the Alzheimer’s Association. Lori’s mother has Alzheimer’s disease.

My mother Shirley Preuitt is at the end stages of Alzheimer’s disease after being diagnosed about eight years ago. She moved into a nursing home at the beginning of the year. She now spends her days sleeping, rarely says anything other than a one word response to a question, and only some times recognizes her own daughters.

I am with her this summer because I am taking family leave from work. Most days I sit next to her in silence, not at all sure she knows I am there. That all changed one day earlier this month. That’s when I experienced my first “alert” day with my mother. About twice a year, for no apparent reason, a normally silent, unaware woman wakes up and talks and talks and talks. Continue reading “The Longest Day: My mom is awake” »

The Longest Day: So Mama, how was your day?

3 comments By Stefanie, family care specialist Tagged with , , , , , , , , , June 20th, 2012 @ 9:01 am

Our first guest blog today is from Vincent, who blogs about his experience caring for his mother with Alzheimer’s disease. I encourage you all to check him out at www.dementia-mama-drama.com

What do you remember? If I asked you how your day was today, what would your answer be? “Another day, another dollar.” “Nothing special.” “TGIF!” Our lives are made up of our memories. When you’re losing your memory, the struggle to keep your memories can be the longest day. So I asked Mama what her day was like and you can see her answer in this short video:

Continue reading “The Longest Day: So Mama, how was your day?” »

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