My mom had Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's dementia.
When she lived with me I didn't see how fast the disease was progressing.
When COVID happened the isolation seemed to make her disease progress much faster.
It hurt watching the speed, at which this terrible disease (Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's dementia), took my mom.
My mom was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia in 1991 just after her 49th birthday. At the age of 24, I began being her caregiver shortly before her official diagnosis. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 at the age of 72. I remained her primary caregiver until she passed on November 3, 2022, at 80 ½ years old. Her dementia started before the official diagnosis with little things like her asking me to go to the doctor with her as she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to tell him, and she no longer could get her check book to balance as she couldn’t do the math right.
At first the dementia progressed so slowly I didn’t really see much change. My sister would say how different mom acted, but I didn’t see it until much later. Mom lived with me until the doctor stated mom could no longer be alone when I was at work in 2016. She then went into assisted living, but I was still her caregiver, taking her to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, etc.
Shortly before the COVID pandemic I started noticing the changes and how they started to progress a little faster. During COVID mom had to change facilities due to the progression of her dementia and Alzheimer’s, and the lock down of the facility she went into had me seeing a drastic decline.
At the beginning of 2021 she no longer remembered she had siblings, but she did remember she had three children and their names. By the end of that year she was struggling to remember my siblings names, but since I was the constant caregiver she seemed to remember me. By the time she passed on November 3, 2022 she knew my face but struggled remembering my name.
To watch my mom go from a vibrant woman that matched her clothes, shoes, and purse, hair just so, and wore makeup change to a woman that didn’t even know what she was wearing, or even if her hair was brushed, was devastating. I lost my mom twice. Once to the nasty disease that dementia and Alzheimer’s are, and the second time was when she physically passed.
I got involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s because of mom and I want to help, so others won’t have to go through this.
I wish there was a cure for all forms of dementia so this doesn't happen to others. It is so heart breaking to watch and go through as a caretaker and family member.
I pray that one day there will be a cure and survivors of this disease.
I'm leading the way to Alzheimer's first survivor by participating in the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.
Together, we can end Alzheimer's disease. Please make a donation to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.
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