“Joy in Alzheimer’s!” you exclaim.  “How can you say that?”

Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease, both for the patient and the family.  However, I discovered, when caring for my mom and aunt, that there could be joy in this situation.  I couldn’t prevent their having the disease.  So I decided to enjoy and experience each “moment in time.”

Yes, there were frustrations, which we learned to handle with humor as much as possible.  But, looking back at those years of caregiving that I couldn’t change, I have fond and joyful memories.

Robert Leleux, in his NYTimes article, Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s, touches upon this aspect of his grandmother’s journey.  Reading the story made me realize again that I was priviledged to care for Mother and Auntie during this period of their lives.