Joanne, Caregiver for Husband, 5 Years, California:
The best suggestion that I could give to any caregiver is first of all get educated, know about Alzheimer’s and what it involves because it’s not easy and it doesn’t get better. I mean in Alzheimer’s the brain actually deteriorates and it’s a progression that’s just gonna get worse so you have to be educated and know what to expect.

Educate yourself

Dalel, Caregiver for Husband, 5 Years, California:
So it was little by little, but the symptoms were right there, and sure enough when we had the final diagnosis that’s when we started looking at it from a different perspective. How to find a cure, how to treat him with that dignity and respect that he always had before and for me to be more compassionate towards the relationship because he was not a bad husband or a bad person, he was just not, he was ill.

Try to remain positive

Currently there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Vivian, Caregiver for Father, 4 Years, Pennsylvania:
So that’s what we did—get online, read books, ask the doctors who they put us in contact.  Get in contact definitely with a support group…

Reach out for support

Alice, Caregiver for Sister, 1 Year, Pennsylvania:
I didn’t know where to start, where not to start, what to do, what not to do… I went online, I got the power of attorney, the DNR and I got those papers made up.  Then we took the trip to social security.

If you have feelings of frustration at times, you are not a bad person.  Millions of other caregivers are having them, too. – Suzanne Mintz

Dalel, Caregiver for Husband, 5 Years, California:
… As a caregiver you always have to continue to uh, do research on your own, ask all the questions that you can to your doctor…be proactive, look at the solution, and focus on that, not on the problem.

Rudy, Caregiver for Mother, 4 Years, Pennsylvania:  
But I’m thinking that people need to be conscious of that possibility.  We didn’t even think about it or look at it.  We just thought it was related to other things or being forgetful, when we should have maybe had them zeroing in on the possibility of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Vivian, Caregiver for Father, 4 Years, Pennsylvania:
So we come up with little ideas.  You have to talk to others.  You have to voice your feelings about what’s going through at the moment or your experiences with someone else.  Because you have to realize you are not alone.

Accept your feelings