National Caregivers Month: Jamie survived caregiving by educating herself
Today marks our last blog entry celebrating caregivers during National Caregivers Month. Jamie, whose dad died this June from Alzheimer’s calls on other caregivers to take action against Alzheimer’s. Remember to add a tribute to the caregiver in your life at www.alz.org/nadam.
Jim lost his battle with Alzheimer’s in June
My family lives in the Clovis/Sanger area. My father Jim died from Alzheimer’s on June 29, 2012. He had been diagnosed three and a half years before his death. Alzheimer’s disease is extremely difficult to face. It changes people. It makes daily life hard. My mother Ann was his full-time caregiver. That is an impossible job. There were good times and bad times. Caregiving is one of the hardest jobs in the world.
I was able to survive this ordeal by educating myself. I turned to the Alzheimer’s Association. Knowledge was my strength. Through the information I received from the Alzheimer’s Association, I was able to share and educate my family. Stages of progression, personality changes, care and treatment, programs available. For three and a half years, I used the information from the Alzheimer’s Association on a daily basis. How to cope. How to help. How to deal with denial in friends and family members. Most importantly, during the final weeks of my dad’s life, I was able to comfort him. Why? Because of what I learned from the Alzheimer’s Association. From having my dog sit with my dad, to massaging my dad’s hands, to sharing photos, to listening to music… All of these calming mechanisms made the last few days more comfortable for me and for my dad.
I will forever be grateful to the Alzheimer’s Association. Because of this, my family and I will be participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s on October 20th, 2012, in Fresno. I would like to honor my dad, Jim Pipes. I would like to help other families who are struggling with Alzheimer’s. There is help. You are not alone.
The stats are pretty scary. One in eight older Americans has this disease. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the country and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed. As a community, we need to stand together and fight this disease. Statically, you or a family member will one day face Alzheimer’s.
So I would ask that the residents of Clovis and Fresno join forces with the Alzheimer’s Association. Your one small step can help us raise funds, awareness, education, and support to fight this disease.
– Jamie, daughter, caregiver
