It all started with my Grandmother.
She is my namesake, and I love her dearly.
In April of 2008, she was given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. I don’t think my family was ready for all of
the changes that came with that diagnosis.
But we adjusted, as you must, when caring for someone with a Dementia
diagnosis.
I was a major part of her care for two years, until I went off to college,
and then became a minor part of her care, during the summer after my sophomore year,
and for whatever time I spent visiting.
However, for her, I never really left.
She would often say “I just came here with Genevieve,” or “Genevieve
just brought me over here.” (My brothers would nod and say okay, knowing that I’d
been at school for the past 3 months.)
Somehow I was always there in spirit.
After caring for someone I love so deeply, seeing her disappear piece by
piece before my eyes, and dealing with the stubbornness of a polish woman in
addition to the confusion caused by the disease, I kept asking myself, “isn’t
there a better way to do this?”
There has got to be an easier way.
So, I decided to try and find out if any other countries care for their
population with Dementia and AD diagnoses differently.
Hopefully, I'll find some answers. For her.
HGP & GMH
