Wife won't let others know

dmkatz

My wife tells me not to tell anyone that she has Alzheimer's. Her mother had it for decades and told everyone. They were very sympathetic. How do I deal with this?

trottingalong

My husband doesn’t know I have told his family and our close friends. They all knew that something wasn’t quite right and that it is never mentioned around him. It was very difficult for me to begin telling people, but a relief after. Pretty much everyone said they had suspected something.

Bailey's Mom

I have told my family and a few close friends (he isn't aware that I have) but DH has told no one…not even his brother. It makes it much harder to bear this with having to cover for him with neighbors and family. He can pull it off for a while with showboating…but they don't see the side of him that wakes up and asks if the peanut butter and jelly toast hanging on the wire is for him or 'her'? That was just this morning. He doesn't realize that he has much of a problem, so I am respecting his wish to keep it under wraps with his family and neighbors. The future terrifies me, though…

trottingalong

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/232061#Comment_232061

I finally told my neighbors. My DH takes our dog for a daily walk on our small street. They were wonderful when I mentioned it and all look after him should he get confused. I told them he doesn’t know he has it. Alzheimer’s runs in my DH family, so they were all ok when I told them, although most of them said they hadn’t noticed because they live far away and only talk a few times of year.