Real life story: the realities of long-term care

[irish4899]

This really struck a chord for me, because my family took on the task of caring for my father for nearly 13 years during the course of his Alzheimer's disease. It's so important to have a strong support system of family and friends.

[inlovechouse]

Wow! You are an amazing woman!! Your husband is so lucky to have someone like you. God bless him for dealing with Alzheimers and may God bless you for all you do.

[Snowfazam12]

The video was fabulous all but many of the feelings and comments about it. Yes it's rough but if you truely love someone there ARE no boundaries.

[roserockmimi]

@Snowfazam12 This is heartbreaking, but I would do no less.

[justalison2260]

how very sad...

[Cindieox]

My dad died from dementia, started as small strokes and robbed him of short term memory, then his long term. I feel the same way, I pray my kids don't have to take care of me the same way we had to take care of him. Now my mom had a large stroke and I'm working on her long term care.

[jadarain2]

you are simply amazing, you have totally inspired me, I run my own business, and I am going to come up with something, like for everyone thats signs up for the wholesale pak or the distributor package to have their own business, I will donate so much of my commission to help people that are going through what you did, kudos to you lady. Vanessa Jordan

[gbolles1]

I think the video is very well done. I have know family and friends that have suffered from this horrible disease. It is very sad that medical people have not been able to find a cure.

[MeMaw54]

We have long term care insurance. I just hope we never have to use it. I wish my parents did, because I know if anything were to happen to them, I would have to move home to care for them.

[Sunnythyme1]

My dad just passed away last week. Cancer was listed on the death certificate, but Alzheimer's took him away from us long before that...I hate the disease, the name, all of it

[popinmycola]

I'm a 57 yr old male and was diagnoesed w/ ALZ. last year. I'm not too bad off yet, but on SSDI and not working is tough. I can see almost monthly the changes. I have spoke at a couple events and at the 30 reunion along w/ a walk in Hanover NH. My wife is great but I don't want to be a burden latter on, and will donate my body to Harvard for research.

[randarmax]

Meryl sharing her story is a very appreciated. As the only child of elderly parents I now see my mom having to care for my father on a daily basis with the early stages of this disease. I know she is getting worn out. I think about her own needs and how I will ultimately care for her the same way if Alzheimer's hits her. There's never been a stronger wake up call to plan for long-term care now- so my kids don't have to be so heavily burdened.

[cs4grandma]

I have seen several family members and friends have this disease. I had my mother live with me for several months and could no longer do it as I took care of grandchildren and the two did not mix. My sister now takes care of her and I help and support her as much as I can. It is a hard thing to go through.

[cocoabellarsd]

my dad has Alzheimer's . It robs a person of so many things. And it robs the person's family too.

[MeMaw54]

I'm not at all familiar with anyone who has Alzheimer's on a personal level. My husband and I do have long term care insurance. Just in case. We don't ever want to be burden on each other, or our children.

[trisha1372]

I can't help crying while watching this... I am a CNA student and I just had my clinicals done and it was very sad to see old people with this disease. I cannot forget those old residents that I had to take care of...

[dgilmanjm]

I know how challenging long-term care of an Alzheimer patient can be My mother was diagnosed at age 61 in 1993. She lived until 2009.

Merely telling what it is like does not fully communicate the emotional consequences. She would forget that she'd eaten then tell the neighbors that we had not fed her all day. We'd come home to see the house stacked with food. After a few years, my brother and his wife took over. She deteriorated so much that they had to hire a caregiver.