Meet Sheryl





Meet Sheryl: She is an artist. She has a loving husband, family and friends. She is loving and generous in heart. She has Alzheimer’s and her story is worth your time.
My sister, Sheryl, was diagnosed with Young Onset Alzheimer’s January 30, 2013. She was exhibiting symptoms of memory loss and we began consulting with a neurologist, trying to figure out what was going on. By process of elimination and the fact that all of her symptoms lined up, she finally received this life changing diagnosis. Let me clarify Early Onset and Young Onset. Young Onset has to do with the age symptoms appear, and that it is diagnosed before 65. Early Onset, means you are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s is not an easy journey, it is fraught with the pain of watching someone you love lose themselves and everything that makes them unique. It is painful for family and friends to witness the decline and as her sister, I can admit to feeling ripped off of my big sister, my best friend and confident. Sheryl has no short term memory whatsoever. Anything that comes into her brain, bounces back. There is no retention, no absorption. Everything about her life is about what is happening in the moment. She’s also lost most all of her long term memory including anything from our childhood or about our parents. Thankfully, they aren’t here to witness this, it would break their heart as it does mine.

Thankfully, there’s a wonderful program called the Brain Train, part of OPICA Adult Day Care Services in Los Angeles California that my sister was attending. When I found out she was moving here, I looked around the valley and there was absolutely nothing here to support her. So I reached out to OPICA. They were wonderful and mentored me for the first year while I got my feet wet here with Senior Matters in Carbondale and started the Roaring Fork Brain Train. In the program’s second year, I learned about The Aspen Clinic, also known as TAC and their non-profit arm; My Community Health Foundation. They are all about advocating for people with special needs while promoting growth and expansion. Due to that and with Senior Matter’s blessing, I moved the program to MCHF. In January 2019, the program will rebrand under the name of Roaring Fork Enrichment. I highly recommend this program for anyone struggling with early memory loss. It’s  mission is to provide
a safe place for people with early memory loss to thrive and to provide respite time for caregivers!

Roaring Fork Enrichment lights Sheryl up. Her ability to communicate is greatly affected because she has Aphasia, which is the loss of a previously held ability to speak or understand spoken or written language due to disease or injury of the brain. Part of what breaks my heart about this disease is that she was the vice president of a major corporation. So, whereas her world used to be wide, her world is now narrow, and narrowing daily. When she’s at the the program, her main focus is the art. She amazingly has become an artist through Alzheimer’s! She paints and has had exhibits all around the valley. She’s happy when she’s at the program because she is with people who understand her needs and will be happy no matter where she is as long as she is being treated with love and respect.

Sometimes you may come across a person with dementia (Alzheimer’s is one form of dementia) and not realize it. If you witness someone displaying the following characteristics:
·      Difficulty communicating
·      Getting lost
·      Becoming frustrated or exhibiting confusion
·      Repeating words or phrases
·      Poor judgement
·      Unusual or inappropriate behavior

It would be helpful for you to:
·      Treat the person with dignity and respect
·      Avoid “talking past” the person as if they are not there
·      Be patient and supportive
·      Let the person know you are listening and trying to understand and encourage them to continue
·      Avoid criticizing or correcting
·      Offer comfort and reassurance


If you follow those tips, our valley will become that much more inclusive!

Join the conversation.
We want to hear YOUR voice.
How can you support caregivers who are taking care
of their loved ones with special needs?

Valley Life for All, A Non-Profit.
Reach us at: 970-319-1279
#valleylife4all #voiceability4all

Resources:
Dementia Friendly America
The Roaring Fork Brain Train
Alzheimer’s Caregiving

Post Independent Article
Aspen Times Article
 KDNK Joins Valley Life for All

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