September is World Alzheimer's Month, and today, September 21st, is Alzheimer's Action Day. Purple is the Alzheimer's Association color, so today I am sporting purple to support all those affected by this disease. As some of you know, I worked in an assisted living home for individuals with Alzheimer's several years ago.
Prior to then, I had never worked with Alzheimer's or dementia patients. However, after training and diving in, I quickly learned (and kept learning) about this awful disease and how to care for those who have it. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Despite all of the challenges, I found myself falling in love with the folks there, and I believe that's when I realized my passion for serving the elderly.
The job was definitely not a walk in the park - one minute I was talking to the sweetest woman ever, and the next minute, harsh words and screaming would come from the same mouth. There were several times I had to step into our facility's laundry room and take several deep breaths, say a prayer, and remind myself that it is not them lashing out, but rather, it is the disease taking hold of them in that moment. It was absolutely heartbreaking. The first few weeks were a huge wake-up call for me. Families came in to see their loved ones and you could see the pain and hurt written all over their faces, but they kept moving forward. Others didn't have any family in town and never once had visitors while I was there. Several of my coworkers would complain and watch the clock, just waiting for their shift to end. My heart broke for these seniors, and I was determined to make a difference. All they needed was someone to be patient with them; to stay calm when they had a breakdown; to comfort them during moments of confusion; to step into their reality.
Since my time there several years ago, I have had the privilege of serving several other individuals with Alzheimer's. Yes, challenging situations still arose. Every day was different. But I knew that I was impacting them, and my heart was overjoyed. They became family to me. It was my goal to treat them like I would treat my grandparents - to give them the care that I would want if I were in their position.
Alzheimer's and dementia affect 35 million people worldwide, but the number of people affected by this disease is WAY more than that. The families, friends, and caregivers of each of those 35 million people are greatly effected as well. One in eight people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's - a startling statistic. While I am thankful that none of my family members have suffered from Alzheimer's, the countless people that I have cared for with this disease have changed my life. I think about them often, and today, I want to honor them and spread awareness about this widespread disease.
One day I was talking with a sweet lady with Alzheimer's (I will call her Ms. B for confidentiality purposes). Ms. B said to me, "Honey, I feel so blessed that I have Alzheimer's disease. I would not have met the wonderful people in my Alzheimer's support group if I didn't have it!" Now that is the kind of attitude that I want to live by! Ms. B passed away last year, but she impacted so many people during her life, including me. Though I only knew her for a brief time, her joyful attitude is one that I will always remember. We are all presented with challenges and trials in our lives, and Alzheimer's is a challenge for so many. It is how we respond that matters. My goal is to be joyful, even in times of suffering, trusting that the Lord is with me through it all - that He will give me strength. To all of those who have or know someone who has Alzheimer's, I am thinking about you today!
