My first post - coping as a young person in a family with a history of alzheimers

parkerm14 · April 8

Hello, I am a 24 year old woman who helps to care for my grandmother who has alzheimers. I live about 3 hours from her, my mom and grandpa are her primary care givers. I make trips to visit about once a month. I have joined this forum in hopes of finding folks to talk to about my experience as a young person who has witnessed alzheimers from a very early age. My grandmother's mom (my great grandma) passed of the disease when I was 11. I helped care for her until the end. Now, I am taking care of my grandmother who I just helped move into a care facility where her mother passed about a decade prior. I can't help but feel like I am watching history repeat itself. I am an only child and my life has been consumed by the anxiety that one day my mom and I will meet the same fate. I am wondering if anyone has experienced a similar situation in their family? Being so aware of this disease from such an early age has immensely impacted my life and caused many years of intense depression and anxiety. I know the fear will never go away but I am hoping chatting with folks who have gone through similar experiences may bring me some peace of mind. Thank you for taking the time to read :)

heather2help · April 9

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/72748/my-first-post-coping-as-a-young-person-in-a-family-with-a-history-of-alzheimers

Hello, bless you and thank you for taking this on. One day at a time and deep breaths helps. Caring for others is a very selfless act and may you know that you are loved. Seeking out a local support group to share stories and ideas is also helpful. I find that having a bag of helpful, comforting things (heatable/freezable eye mask, hand lotions, nail polish, Calm magnesium gummies, healthful snacks, calming herbal teas, calming essential oils) are great for when you need something extra for the ones you're helping. Starting a gratitude journal is a good way to draw attention to good things big and small. Make time to care for yourself as well. If I were there I would help you. Blessings ❤️🤗 A book that has helped me beyond words is "Stronger than stress" by Barb Roose

SusanB-dil · April 9

Hi @parkerm14 Parkerm - welcome to 'here', but sorry for the reason.

I can relate to being so young and having to help with my grandmother. She was diagnosed when I was about 9 or 10 maybe, and died of complications of it when I was 17. Now we are dealing with my mother. It sometimes can weigh heavy and I do think about it, but we cannot dwell on that. I try to do the right things to take care (eat right, exercise, watch blood pressure, etc), and that's really all we can do. Grandmother had early-onset, in her late fifties or so. Mother is now 88 and was definitely not early-onset. So yeah, again, I think about it, but try not to dwell on it.

Edit to add: I prefer to think of mom's two sisters. Neither of them with 'this' horrid 'thing', regardless of the fact that it was their mother with the early-onset. Her older sister passed of complications of pneumonia at 88, and her younger sister, now in her mid-80's, is fine. (She is also the one mother mistakes me for.)

@heather2help - also welcome.

My first post - coping as a young person in a family with a history of alzheimers

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