Three of my wife's family members have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It is awful to see loved ones lose their sense of self and knowledge of the everyday. Maintaining a sense of humor, knowing when to ask for help, and making sure you take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally are essential to being a caregiver. Thank you for sharing yours and Bella's experiences.
My stepfather is at a similar stage to Bella. (Although you have been comforting and supporting her much longer). The paranoia is really hard and it breaks your heart when they think that someone is being mean or controlling when they aren't. They have a totally different perspective on the world now and all I can think is how frightening that must be for them. Home is a feeling and they keep searching for that place. Sometimes I think "home" is just that place of safety in their mind that they want to access again because the world keeps changing on them. Your love is a blessing to Bella.
Alzheimer's is so terribly cruel and the care giving involved is daunting. Craig says it best. Aging is a challenge in and of itself. Add this disease to the mix and it's devastating. Craig says it best, make sure you take care of yourself. It's an enormous task to care for and live with the disease. Sharing the details of your life with Bella takes courage. On another note, it would be a crime to tear that building down. Journalism at its best!
I've been fortunate in not having anyone I love become ill from this awful disease. I can only imagine how hard it is. I hope it helps to share it with friends, including the ones here.
I agree with you and so many others in regard to the tearing down of such a lovely old building. And frankly, seems to me there should be some solution rather than evicting someone who has lived there for a decade! Thats an issue that should be investigated BEFORE this woman has to leave her home.
Thank you, Will, for the information you garnered with the help of a professional friend, that exposed the conflict of interest within the Planning Board, the Common Council (?) and the Mayor's office. It begs the question: How long has this been going on? It is disheartening and enfuriating to learn about public servants who abuse their power to benefit themselves, especially in a small city that touts itself as "Hometown U.S.A".
Without your journalistic investigations many of us would not have learned about the corrupting undercurrent existing in our midst. I hope that the eviction process and the demolition plans can be stopped permanently in favor of architectural preservation.
I'm glad you gave us a background glimpse into Bella's warrior spirit, which is extremely difficult to deal with when Alzheimer's disease is present. I'm sorry too, that your spontaneous attempt at humor caused an angry and dangerous episode.
And yet, you're beautifully brilliant yellow flower inspires joy and hope that this change of season will provide much beauty for us to marvel at. Thank you.
How does Patten square that with his claim that the building is empty?
We know Chris Patten is not interested in the truth. Is the city? Is the city interested in responsible growth? Is the city interested in the existing neighborhoods that give us the small town feel?
I don't expect Chris Patten to care about the city. I do expect city officials to care about the long term well being of our residents, about existing neighborhoods, about sustaining communities, about our historic architecture.
All who share these concerns, show up Tuesday at 4:45 to speak up against a variance which I understand would change a quaint and quiet neighborhood from *residential*, reflecting the mostly one-family houses in that area, to *commercial*, specifically to accommodate another Chris Patten project.
Unfortunately the Mayor has endorsed Patten's project. I've encouraged people to come to the Planning Board meeting at 4:45 on Tuesday. It seems like it's the same people who are always the ones fighting for justice while others sit back and just complain. There are all older beautfiul homes on Glen Street, the thoughfare to our city. This monstrosity that Patten wants to build will look HORRIBLE. SHAME on those attorneys for giving an eviction notice to the tenant that lives in the bldg. at 391 Glen Street. They are acting like this is a done deal!!!! We shall see about that!
I've lost 2 family members and one dear friend to Alzheimers...it is an ugly disease..horrible to watch, and I'm sure devastating to watch your beloved wife slowly disintegrate through this disease.
As for the Patten project...there is a planning meeting this tTesday at 445pm at city hall...if enough people show up, can we get the Patten project put on hold for the time being? Not sure how to get this project scrapped and replaced with something that preserves the buildings, but somebody might know.
Thanks again Will for all that you do for Glens Falls..
Having lived in a very old house for decades now, I know that no matter how attractive an older house may be on the outside, it can hide a multitude of issues that are expensive and difficult to fix properly. It’s possible those three houses need more work than is feasible for a money making business to do. They may need individual owners to fall in love with them to bring them back to their former glory. If Patten already owns them it may be too late, although if his building plans are stymied he may try to unload them. But there is no reason the planning board can’t require him to build apartments that are attractive and fitting with the character of the neighborhood. Look around Glens Falls, there are plenty of charming old brick and clapboard buildings to copy design elements from. Now that the fox has resigned from the henhouse, maybe that can happen!
I learn from you, Will--about Bella, about you, about kindness, about what is so difficult, about continual loss and need for patience and need for help, about empathy and caring, and frustration and anger...about what is still present in our lives and lives within us. Thank you...I am continually moved by your honest words capturing the journey.
Thanks again, Will, for your sensitivity, and your caring and sharing. You are a source of help and strength to all who walk in the same shoes as you and Bella. Thanks also for contributing to our community awareness of the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
My husband had a stroke at 64 and we didn’t know it. We thought it was probably early Alzheimers. We went and had him checked out. MRI contrast showed he suffered a stroke, and that he also has Alzheimers dementia. He is now 65 years old and will be 66 in January.
He can walk and talk. Has right inattention. So his stroke was on the left side. It has effected his ability to calculate and his balance is off. Most of the time he can’t see on his right side. For example he will finish the left side of his plate, then, I’ll turn it around and he will finish the the plate.
So far. The doctors have been no help. We’ve seen all the specialists and they have no clue what caused all this. They put him on Wellbutrin, statin, high blood pressure, and plavax pills.
I asked the heart doctor why statin drug when the brain needs cholesterol and he said the brain needs sugar too. He laughed in my face. I keep him on the statin drugs until I could find time to do more research. I have since taken him off and he is thinking more clearly.
I put him on a ketogenic diet and he has lost thirty pounds.
We no longer go to the doctor as we really didn’t receive any help.
It’s a shock to me. This is my second husband. My first husband had a stroke at around the same age as my second husband. They pulled out all the stops for him. We were in rehab therapy for years. They knew exactly what caused his stroke and how to treat it. Flash forward twenty years and the medical community has no clue. They pass the buck to specialist after specialist and nothing gets done unless you are hospitalized. And, you really do not want to be in a position to get hospitalized.
So my main job right now is keeping myself healthy, so I can care manage my husband and make his life a little easier until I can no longer do that or he passes away before I do.
I fear he might become mean and agitated, and I will not be able to handle that. It happens .
It’s only gonna get worse. Take care of yourself as you can’t take care of anyone else if you become overwhelmed , stressed, and sick. This includes your diet. Ditch the sugar. Ditch the seed oils. Absolutely stay away from fast ultra processed foods.
Having known Bella, and you, pre-Alzheimer’s, all of this is so heartbreaking 💔 A most brilliant, creative, strong minded person struggling with moment to moment events is so unfair, for you both❤️
Will. I admire your loving support and your tenacious determination to care for Bella. I am in awe of what you were doing. Sharing your story helps everyone who reads it.
Three of my wife's family members have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It is awful to see loved ones lose their sense of self and knowledge of the everyday. Maintaining a sense of humor, knowing when to ask for help, and making sure you take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally are essential to being a caregiver. Thank you for sharing yours and Bella's experiences.
My stepfather is at a similar stage to Bella. (Although you have been comforting and supporting her much longer). The paranoia is really hard and it breaks your heart when they think that someone is being mean or controlling when they aren't. They have a totally different perspective on the world now and all I can think is how frightening that must be for them. Home is a feeling and they keep searching for that place. Sometimes I think "home" is just that place of safety in their mind that they want to access again because the world keeps changing on them. Your love is a blessing to Bella.
Alzheimer's is so terribly cruel and the care giving involved is daunting. Craig says it best. Aging is a challenge in and of itself. Add this disease to the mix and it's devastating. Craig says it best, make sure you take care of yourself. It's an enormous task to care for and live with the disease. Sharing the details of your life with Bella takes courage. On another note, it would be a crime to tear that building down. Journalism at its best!
I've been fortunate in not having anyone I love become ill from this awful disease. I can only imagine how hard it is. I hope it helps to share it with friends, including the ones here.
I agree with you and so many others in regard to the tearing down of such a lovely old building. And frankly, seems to me there should be some solution rather than evicting someone who has lived there for a decade! Thats an issue that should be investigated BEFORE this woman has to leave her home.
Thank you, Will, for the information you garnered with the help of a professional friend, that exposed the conflict of interest within the Planning Board, the Common Council (?) and the Mayor's office. It begs the question: How long has this been going on? It is disheartening and enfuriating to learn about public servants who abuse their power to benefit themselves, especially in a small city that touts itself as "Hometown U.S.A".
Without your journalistic investigations many of us would not have learned about the corrupting undercurrent existing in our midst. I hope that the eviction process and the demolition plans can be stopped permanently in favor of architectural preservation.
I'm glad you gave us a background glimpse into Bella's warrior spirit, which is extremely difficult to deal with when Alzheimer's disease is present. I'm sorry too, that your spontaneous attempt at humor caused an angry and dangerous episode.
And yet, you're beautifully brilliant yellow flower inspires joy and hope that this change of season will provide much beauty for us to marvel at. Thank you.
An eviction notice.
How does Patten square that with his claim that the building is empty?
We know Chris Patten is not interested in the truth. Is the city? Is the city interested in responsible growth? Is the city interested in the existing neighborhoods that give us the small town feel?
I don't expect Chris Patten to care about the city. I do expect city officials to care about the long term well being of our residents, about existing neighborhoods, about sustaining communities, about our historic architecture.
All who share these concerns, show up Tuesday at 4:45 to speak up against a variance which I understand would change a quaint and quiet neighborhood from *residential*, reflecting the mostly one-family houses in that area, to *commercial*, specifically to accommodate another Chris Patten project.
Will you be there?
I just marked it on my calendar.
Unfortunately the Mayor has endorsed Patten's project. I've encouraged people to come to the Planning Board meeting at 4:45 on Tuesday. It seems like it's the same people who are always the ones fighting for justice while others sit back and just complain. There are all older beautfiul homes on Glen Street, the thoughfare to our city. This monstrosity that Patten wants to build will look HORRIBLE. SHAME on those attorneys for giving an eviction notice to the tenant that lives in the bldg. at 391 Glen Street. They are acting like this is a done deal!!!! We shall see about that!
I've lost 2 family members and one dear friend to Alzheimers...it is an ugly disease..horrible to watch, and I'm sure devastating to watch your beloved wife slowly disintegrate through this disease.
As for the Patten project...there is a planning meeting this tTesday at 445pm at city hall...if enough people show up, can we get the Patten project put on hold for the time being? Not sure how to get this project scrapped and replaced with something that preserves the buildings, but somebody might know.
Thanks again Will for all that you do for Glens Falls..
Having lived in a very old house for decades now, I know that no matter how attractive an older house may be on the outside, it can hide a multitude of issues that are expensive and difficult to fix properly. It’s possible those three houses need more work than is feasible for a money making business to do. They may need individual owners to fall in love with them to bring them back to their former glory. If Patten already owns them it may be too late, although if his building plans are stymied he may try to unload them. But there is no reason the planning board can’t require him to build apartments that are attractive and fitting with the character of the neighborhood. Look around Glens Falls, there are plenty of charming old brick and clapboard buildings to copy design elements from. Now that the fox has resigned from the henhouse, maybe that can happen!
Thank you Ken for sharing your family’s story.
Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease.
Sending you and Bella my prayers.
Just to clarify, this is Will Doolittle's story. He is the guy who deserves all the credit.
I learn from you, Will--about Bella, about you, about kindness, about what is so difficult, about continual loss and need for patience and need for help, about empathy and caring, and frustration and anger...about what is still present in our lives and lives within us. Thank you...I am continually moved by your honest words capturing the journey.
Thanks again, Will, for your sensitivity, and your caring and sharing. You are a source of help and strength to all who walk in the same shoes as you and Bella. Thanks also for contributing to our community awareness of the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
My husband had a stroke at 64 and we didn’t know it. We thought it was probably early Alzheimers. We went and had him checked out. MRI contrast showed he suffered a stroke, and that he also has Alzheimers dementia. He is now 65 years old and will be 66 in January.
He can walk and talk. Has right inattention. So his stroke was on the left side. It has effected his ability to calculate and his balance is off. Most of the time he can’t see on his right side. For example he will finish the left side of his plate, then, I’ll turn it around and he will finish the the plate.
So far. The doctors have been no help. We’ve seen all the specialists and they have no clue what caused all this. They put him on Wellbutrin, statin, high blood pressure, and plavax pills.
I asked the heart doctor why statin drug when the brain needs cholesterol and he said the brain needs sugar too. He laughed in my face. I keep him on the statin drugs until I could find time to do more research. I have since taken him off and he is thinking more clearly.
I put him on a ketogenic diet and he has lost thirty pounds.
We no longer go to the doctor as we really didn’t receive any help.
It’s a shock to me. This is my second husband. My first husband had a stroke at around the same age as my second husband. They pulled out all the stops for him. We were in rehab therapy for years. They knew exactly what caused his stroke and how to treat it. Flash forward twenty years and the medical community has no clue. They pass the buck to specialist after specialist and nothing gets done unless you are hospitalized. And, you really do not want to be in a position to get hospitalized.
So my main job right now is keeping myself healthy, so I can care manage my husband and make his life a little easier until I can no longer do that or he passes away before I do.
I fear he might become mean and agitated, and I will not be able to handle that. It happens .
It’s only gonna get worse. Take care of yourself as you can’t take care of anyone else if you become overwhelmed , stressed, and sick. This includes your diet. Ditch the sugar. Ditch the seed oils. Absolutely stay away from fast ultra processed foods.
I think it’s a shame that that woman is losing her apartment and that that interesting old house is being demolished.
The very healthy looking yellow flower was identified as a Jerusalem Artichoke according to my Picture This app.
Having known Bella, and you, pre-Alzheimer’s, all of this is so heartbreaking 💔 A most brilliant, creative, strong minded person struggling with moment to moment events is so unfair, for you both❤️
Will. I admire your loving support and your tenacious determination to care for Bella. I am in awe of what you were doing. Sharing your story helps everyone who reads it.