CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Residents share experiences with Alzheimer's disease

The Jonesboro Sun - 10/8/2017

JONESBORO - Taking care of her grandfather while he suffered from Alzheimer's disease was the hardest thing Brittney Ward's ever had to do.

"I've never experienced that kind of emotional journey, for sure," Ward said.

Ward said she and her family cared for her grandfather for 10 years before he died three years ago. As hard as it was to deal with Alzheimer's, she and other family members had the advantage of being nurses and being able to adapt to help meet his needs.

"We took care of my papa at home, so of course that changed my life, my mom's life and my sister's life," Ward said. "... I actually bought my house about a block from my papa's house so we could provide care that he needed."

Ward was one of many who walked Saturday morning in the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Arkansas State University.

"It's really moving to me to see all the people here with all their different walk T-shirts on and the flower garden, the memory garden, is always powerful," Ward said. "It just reminds you that you're not alone in the fight, and especially not in the journey, because there's so many people going through it."

Christi Bales and Kimberly Inboden walked to honor their mother who passed away four years ago after battling Alzheimer's for about 12 years.

"It's hard to see somebody you love not even know they're here," Bales said. "Even though they're here, they're not here; they're not with you anymore. It's hard to see somebody like that."

Bales, Inboden and their cousin Karen Cole's grandfather also had Alzheimer's. Cole's mother also has dementia.

"It consumes your life, especially if you're the caregiver," Cole said.

"At some point, they can't stay by themselves," Inboden said.

Judith Wheelis' father, Alvin Taylor, owner of Alvin Taylor's Flowers in Paragould, has dementia, and while he's still able to come to the store, he can't do as much as he once did.

"He used to be the owner and now it's making sure he's OK," Wheelis said. "He can still come up there; he just can't do anything he used to. It's hard. It's almost like he goes back to his childhood."

Every day is a new day, and those who help those with Alzheimer's have to do what they can with their situation, Wheelis said.

Wheelis said she was glad the walk helped unite those affected by Alzheimer's.

"I think it is amazing that all these people come together to support this," Wheelis said. "Unless you've walked in their shoes, you have no idea."

Ward said it was moving to see everyone with their T-shirts on and that it reminds her she's not alone.

There is no known cure for Alzheimer's. Ward said she wants people to not be complacent about its impact.

"I want people to be aware that it is a growing problem, especially in our area," Ward said. "... We're seeing it way more every day, younger, earlier onsets. ... Just being aware that it is a problem, that it can happen. I'm actually going to get a plan in place when I start getting 50, 60 years old ... letting your kids know what you want in case you can't tell them at some point."

Bales, Cole and Inboden said caregivers should take it one day at a time.

"Remember it's the disease and not the person, because they are a totally different person than the person that you know and love," Bales said.

Nationwide News