Sudbury couple reflects on living with early-onset Alzheimer's 1 year after diagnosis

Peter Pinkerton of Sudbury was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's on July 6, 2017.

He was 53 at the time.

It's been one year since he got that news, and there have been major adjustments for his family during that time.

His wife Pauline is hisprimary caregiver. She is off on disability benefits, and is able to care for Peter on a day-to-day basis.

Alzheimer's disease is a common form of dementia, a progressive brain disorder that involvesmemory loss, difficulty performing activities, and includes a changein behaviour, reasoningand emotions.

Peter calls this past year a roller coaster ride.

"The dementia has progressed some, in different ways in terms of dizziness, fog;communication has been affected, in terms of when I'm speaking say with family or with Pauline;getting my ideas across;also coordination, my physical coordination has been affected," he said.

Pauline uses the word 'challenging' to describe the pastyear.

"I've noticed Peter from the good the man I married to this man I hardly know. His personality has changed."

Working to keep his dignity

She adds that her husband's communication skills and demeanorhave been affected by the disease.

"I help him out with whatever he needs, sometimes it's just a matter of putting a little sign up on how to use the can opener," she said.

"I help him out in little bits, but Istill keep his dignity."

Peter adds that its been difficult comprehending that thechanges in him will continue and he is concerned for his wife.

"The affect that [the disease] ishaving on my wife Pauline. And that I sometimes inadvertently hurt her feelings, not meaning to, that bothers me," Peter said.

Social, cognitiveprograms, counselling helpful

The couple says the programs offered bythe Alzheimer's Society Sudbury-Manitoulin North Bay have been helpful over the past year.

Peter and Pauline both attend Minds in Motion, which is a community-based program that provides cognitive stimulation and physical activity. They attend the support groups the agency offers, andPeter also takes part inUrban Poling, group hikes using fitness poles.

The Alzheimer Society hasprovidedeach of them with a First Link navigator. This is a counsellor who helps tonavigate the health care system, and offerone-on-one support, liketalking over concernsand problems that may arise.

Pauline says she likes being able to talk things over with the counsellor, particularly when she gets frustrated with Peter's behaviour.

"I just air my views and air my frustrations out and they bring me back to a state where I'm calm again and able to look at things a little different," shesaid.

Growing statistics = demand for programs

The goal of the Alzheimer Society is to help individuals with dementia to continue living well in the community.

"Cause we know that if we do that, if we keep people out of long term care and out of hospital, we're doing our part in the savings around the health care system and less stress on the health care system," executive director StepahnieLeclairsaid.

According to recent statistics from the Alzheimer Society Canada, 25,000 newcases of dementia are diagnosed every year.

The Sudbury-Manitoulin North Baybranchhasseen attendance at its support groups more than double over the past two years.

JessicaBertuzzi-Gallo, public relations and public education supervisor, says its important that the agencyprovide help for caregivers as well.

"A care-partner for a person living with dementia provides, they say it's 26 hours of unpaid care a week, whereas other care partners it's 17, so the burden on them is significantly higher than other caregivers."

Both Leclairand Bertuzzi-Gallosay they want toenhance what the agencyoffers to caregivers because they see the added stress these individuals are under, but that takes government funding.

"If we don't take care of our caregivers, those offering all those hours, we will see two people using the health care system, instead of just one," Leclair said.

"We need to make sure that our programs and services are there to support caregivers so that they're not affected by all those care-giving hours."

'We're not alone'

Peter Pinkerton says the programs and counselling from the Alzheimer Society havebeen valuable to him and his wife since he was diagnosed last summer.

"To know that we're not alone, and that people that want to help you are there," he said.

For other caregivers, Pauline encourages them to have patience with their loved one who has dementia.

"When you do caregiver activities with your special someone give them little tasks to do, not the whole thing all at once. Just do little bits at a time. Baby steps."

Listen to the interview here.