Many of us are caregivers to a person with Alzheimer’s. But we can never really know what it’s like to BE the person with Alzheimer’s.
To get a glimpse into the mind of a person suffering this condition is a rare insight.
This article was written by a friend for Michael Ellenbogen. A victim of early onset Alzheimer’s, Ellenbogen speaks out about his illness and how it has changed his life.
So much of my life has changed with this disease; household chores that were once second-nature, like cutting the grass, have become frustrating and difficult for me to perform.
I leave things lying around the house – not to be difficult, but because I have forgotten where they go, and I am also afraid that if they do get put away I will not remember where they were put.
I was once a very sociable person, but now I go to a happy affair only to be tortured by the noise and surrounding conversations because I am overwhelmed by the stimulus of sight and sound.
I don’t understand what people are saying; the words run together and they may as well be speaking a foreign language.
I can no longer write or speak like I used to. What you are reading now has been written by a friend of mine who helps me put my words onto paper.
My friends have become distant, and even when in their presence they will address my wife. Even when enquiring after me they rarely direct their questions to me.
This is heart-breaking for me, the fact that they feel they can no longer talk to me really saddens me.
To read the complete article, go to:
This Caregiver’s Journal began in August of 2014. Although the first blog article was actually written on New Year’s Day, 2015, the rest are in chronological order from August 5th, 2014. What is written here has gone before.
Caregiver Me 