Fighting Alzheimer’s with love

At the age of 18, a Windsor man received news no child wants to hear. His mother had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

While watching a loved one suffering the debility that comes with Alzheimer’s is difficult for adults, it is equally heartbreaking and difficult for young people, especially teenagers. Although it can be challenging, many young people also rise to the occasion and provide love and support to their affected parent.

Kyle Menard, 22, has been the primary caregiver for his mother Diana who is now 47 for the past four years following her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. This disease is the most common form of dementia, a condition that is characterized by the decline in a person’s memory and other brain functions.  After receiving the news of his mother’s diagnosis, Menard decided to study to become a personal support worker because he planned to be the one to care for his mother.

Despite his mother’s condition, Menard said that life has been easy and that his mother’s health does not often conflict with day-to-day tasks.

“She’s still the same mother I had before. We just gotta work a bit harder,” said Menard.

Menard says his mother’s memory and mental health are doing well. However, he said his mother often does forget divorcing her husband and needs to be reminded. He said one of the hardest things about his mother’s diagnosis is the decline in her overall memory.

“My mom and I used to be big on trivia, so her memory was always one of my favourite things about her,” said Menard.

Menard and his mother have been receiving support from the Alzheimer’s Society since the initial diagnosis. The Alzheimer’s Society is an organization dedicated to educating and supporting those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. Menard used to take his mother to attend the Day Away Program that is offered through the Alzheimer’s Society. The program offers a break for caregivers while offering those affected a chance to remain socialized and stimulated. The society also offers various other educational and support programs, as well as an in-home respite program so those affected can receive care in the comfort of their own homes.

Peggy Winch, the manager of fund development and community engagement at the Alzheimer’s Society of Windsor Essex County, said everyone’s experiences with the disease are unique and should be treated as such.

“One key point is, if you’ve met one person with dementia, you’ve met one person with dementia,” said Winch.

In Canada, more than 25,000 people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease each year. It is estimated there are over half a million Canadian men and women living with this mind debilitating disease. For more information on Alzheimer’s and dementia, visit ilivewithdementia.ca