Change people's perceptions about Alzheimer's disease
It's time to break down the stigma and stereotypes about Alzheimer's disease. Please share your experiences and feelings. Write an e-mail and send it to personalstories@alz.org. You can also include a photo. Below are some thoughts to get you started.
Individuals with Alzheimer's: When were you diagnosed? How has your life changed? What do you do to manage the disease (attend a support group, take daily walks, participate in a clinical study). When you tell people you have Alzheimer's, how do they react?
Family caregivers: How has your life changed? How are you managing care responsibilities? What do you wish for? Where do you find support?
Alzheimer advocates and champions: Why do you support the cause? What are you doing to take action against Alzheimer's? What more needs to be done to end this disease?
Share more of your thoughts on the message boards >>
By submitting your story, you agree that the Alzheimer's Association may use your name, photo and/or statements on www.alz.org. To protect your privacy, we will use your first name only. Your story may be edited. We will post stories a few times a week.
I have Alzheimer's: My story
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Eileen's Story
Eileen's close-knit family saw her sink into the depths of alcoholism and drug addiction. After much healing and 19 years of sobriety, the family is now faced with her diagnosis of Alzheimer's.
Ted's Story
Ted sought a diagnosis after being terminated from his job. Little did anyone know his memory and performance issues were due to Alzheimer's.
Richard's Story
Richard is an active Alzheimer advocate, and he wants to give voice to what it is like to walk in his shoes.
Pete's Story
Pete's story is about his first experience with memory loss.
Kris's Story
For Kris, a diagnosis for her forgetfulness came as a relief. She now knew what she was dealing with: Alzheimer's disease.
Sandy's Story
Sandy gains strength from her faith and family as she lives in the "Alzheimer world."
I am a caregiver: My story
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Sandra's Story
Sandra's definition of the word "change" shifted once she became a caregiver.
Lori's Story
Lori and her husband use technology to help care for their mom. She shares a link to her story featured on the Web site she manages.
Mary's Story
Known as the unofficial family historian, the keeper and teller of stories, Mary writes, "How strange that it took a disease known for robbing memories to bring so many to mind."
Sue's story
Sue and her sister had to take over caregiving duties for their mom when their dad had a stroke. Many of you will relate to her poem, "It Took Her Away."
Christine's Story
Christine shares her "Maui" story about the responsibility of her family to “give back" to her Auntie, who is living with Alzheimer's disease.
Haskell's Story
Haskell's wife of 54 years is now in a nursing home. He wrote a short poem that sums up his thoughts about her condition.
Bev's Story
Bev expresses what it was like to care for her husband of 55 years through poetry. She hopes her writings help others going through the heartache of Alzheimer's find some comfort.
Nancy's Story
Nancy put herself in her father's shoes (his head and heart too) to write a poem about what it must be like for him to live with Alzheimer's disease.
Cynthia's Story
Cynthia's spirituality got her through the most difficult times caring for her mother.
Ted's Story
How Ted's iPod gave him a dose of much-needed music therapy.
Greg's Story
Greg says, "Anyone living with a family member or close friend stricken with the insidious disease of Alzheimer’s can relate to this story. Those who are blessed with healthy parents heed these words because you never know what tomorrow holds."
Lynne's Story
For Lynn, her poem "says it all" about Alzheimer's. Her family cared for her dad.
Glory's Story
Glory wrote a book that chronicles the 11 years that she and her husband shared his disease.
Nancy's Story
Nancy faced about every challenge you could imagine while caring for husband. She wants so much to help others going through what she did, but she feels she doesn't have any strength left.
Vicki's Story
Vicki and her husband are celebrating 32 years of marriage. However, he doesn't know it. She looks to her spirituality for strength.
I am an Alzheimer advocate and champion: My story
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Kate's Story
After caring for her husband with young-onset Alzheimer's and her mom with geriatric Alzheimer's, Kate switched jobs to work in the Alzheimer care field. She's hoping her "been-there" wisdom will help other families living with the disease.
Moya's Story
Moya's uncle wrote a poem for his wife, Jane, who had Alzheimer's disease. Its a lyrical look at Alzheimer's, from both the caregiver's and the person's perspective.
Amy's Story
Amy created an online photo book for her grandfather, who lived with Alzheimer's for some years.
Chris's Story
Thanks to Chris for sharing this story written by a friend's mother, who cares for her husband with Alzheimer's. It gives voice to the reality of caring for a loved one with the disease.
Lisa's Story
What's the worst thing that has ever happened to you? For Lisa, it was losing her grandfather to Alzheimer's disease.
Barbara's Story
Barbara says she will fight to the end to find a cure for this disease.
David's Story
While attending a creative writing class, David found himself writing a story about his grandfather who died from Alzheimer’s. He shares "Pools" with us.
Rose's Story
Rose is a retired nurse. Her poem is about two memorable individuals with Alzheimer's.
Colleen's Story
Colleen is a volunteering at one of our Association chapters. Like many of our Alzheimer Champions, she has a loved one with the disease: her grandma. She best sums up her story about life with grandma Rose Marie: "Diseases may attack even the strongest of characters, but relationships built around unconditional love will, in the best way possible, endure."
Deanna's Story
Deanna's uncle passed away from Alzheimer's. She wrote a poem to her aunt and cousins in hopes that it would help heal their hearts.
John's Story
John says Alzheimer's disease in his family has made them love more, laugh harder and never forget.
