Carmel, CA Alzheimer's Association There For You In Your Time Of Need : View From A Private Duty Caregiver

I've written before on my blog about how being a caregiver is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. If you are caring for a loved one, it makes the job that much more difficult. I cared for my grandmother for five years before she passed away last year at the age of 97. She had Alzheimer's disease, and watching her go through the various stages, from violent to a giddy school girl, was heart wrenching. USA Today recently profiled Carol Blackwell, who made the difficult decision to move her husband into a memory unit at an assisted living facility. Her husband Bob was diagnosed six years ago at the age of 64, and she tried the best she could to keep him at home, even enrolling him in a number of clinical trials. She made the tough decision after she returned from the garden and found him missing. She eventually found him wandering around the neighborhood lost. She realized it was just too dangerous to keep him at home. If you are caring with someone who has dementia or Alzheimer's disease, I would encourage you to contact the Alzheimer's Association. They have a 24-hour hotline that you can call for support at 800-272-3900. They are a great group of people and can be with you during your time of need, even if it is in the middle of the night.