My DW is 55 and was diagnosed with EOAD at the age of 53. I am 68. This is our 2nd marriage for both of us. We’ve been married for 13 years. Her Neurologist told us that the disease probably started 5-7 years before she was diagnosed. Looking back I now can see the clues but never realized it was Alzheimer’s. I used to joke to family and friends that I married my DW so I would have someone to push my wheelchair when I got older. I never even thought about me having to care for her, but here I am and killing it. 👍

I can relate to much of what you are saying… my DH was diagnosed with EO in January. I am 51 with a 15 year old and 18 year old. My husband and I also own businesses together which I had stepped out of the day to day 6 years ago, but am now back in trying to figure out its next steps as we weren't ready to retire financially. He is early stage but unable to track communications, calendar events, losing words and unable to take care of or manage things he used to. There is so much grief in losing the sharp, witty, empathetic partner I have cherished the past 32 years. I've been losing him the last 5 years, but didn't know why. I don't relate to the "role" of caregiver as described by other people I hear with spouses in later stages, which makes all of this so much more difficult. We were so blessed to have so much love, closeness and relationship in our life together, but it feels like I'm now having to navigate figuring out the life of a single person for the first time since adulthood to get my emotional and every day needs met - and of course to take care of our family, including him. It's as though I am constantly mourning the loss of my best friend and partner, but don't get to because I have to carry us all forward. It's a truly wicked disease. I am trying to stay as focused on the now as much as I can and find the paths of connection and loving with him where I can. It's often stressful going out or traveling now, which has been a passion of ours and that we enjoyed doing just the two of us or with the kids. Now I am asking friends to plan trips for us that we can plug into, so maybe there is less stress on me and others around to share with the caregiving. I am asking friends to just come over regularly and have dinner with us so that they can be in it with us (especially the kids) and it can feel like we have more support. I feel like we are moving from being a very independent and somewhat insulated family unit to inviting people to build community with us. I am also adjusting to relying on others and asking for things. It's very different, but I think necessary to survive this intact. I agree with the last post - laughing, crying, sometimes screaming in my car…whatever it takes!