Continued from Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

WHAT'S MY NEW ROLE?

Mom is acclimating to her new environment well enough.  What am I to do?  Well, some of my roles include mom’s advocate, her caregiver, her daughter and her laundress and personal shopper.

In my role as advocate, I keep abreast of what is going on with Alzheimer’s research, testing and locally through the Alzheimer’s Association and any local training available. I read profusely and I belong to two Alzheimer’s groups on Linked In and one support group at Menorah Manor. Gwen Kaldenberg, director of the Bresler Alzheimer’s program, hosts Menorah Manor’s support group that is held the first Thursday of each month. We are a small group – but we are mighty.  Sometimes one of us is “in need” and the group listens with care and compassion. Sometimes a relative has had “an event” and again we embrace the caregiver in a hug. Usually, we share articles that we have read or presentations we have attended or just go around the table to “catch up” on what is happening right now for each caregiver and their loved one.