Alzheimer's

[robwalker]

My wife has developed Alzheimer's. She has walked over 1000 km on the Frances, Portuguese, and Inglese carrying her pack, but now she is having a hard time walking. I don't want to leave her behind when I walk. I want to go back with her. I would like to walk the Finisterre/Muxia route or the Sanabres route from Ourense. I would like to have someone walk with us to help me with my wife. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you very much.

 

[Former member 49149]

@robwalker, I wish I had some suggestions, but all I have to offer is my hope and prayer that you will find the help and support that you need.

 

[SabsP]

@robwalker Are there people in your family or in your group of close friends who would be able to help you out? This would mean that your wife might feel more safe with people she " remembers " than meeting new people.

But yes it is doable. I know of a couple where the husband developed young dementia and he and his wife walked the Frances but stayed in private places all the way.

All the best!

 

[peregrina2000]

Just to say that pursuant to a PM with @robwalker, I have added him to the private group “Caregivers and the Camino.” We are a small group of forum members with caregiving challenges in our daily lives and ongoing yearnings to be back on the camino. If anyone else is in the same situation, and would like to join our little group, PM me.

Non-members of the sub-group can see that in fact there is a “members only” private group for caregivers, but the threads and our posts are not visible outside the sub-group in order to preserve the privacy of the members.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[simply B]

@robwalker -

Several years ago, a friend of 40 years wanted to walk the Camino Frances. He had, however, been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia a handful of years earlier. He had actually been featured in an article in Forbes about the disease a couple years before.

His wife, knowing that I had walked, asked me how his wishes could be fulfilled...basically the question that you ask in the OP. Hmmmmm...

After some back-and-forth with his doctors, she gave me a list of potential problem situations and what parts of daily life/routine did not pose a problem at all. That empowered me to suggest myself as a guide. For both my friend and I, it turned out to be one of the most important events in our lives. So, my advice is simply, "Fear not!"

For relevant (maybe) background, my Camigo had three major needs of me: 1) His diminished executive function put me in charge of timely "getting out of town" in the morning and the "keeper of routine" upon arrival in the afternoon/evening. 2) For the same reason as above, I was totally in charge of his mix of medications on a daily basis. 3) His fine motor skills were slightly impacted and impacted both his gait and ability to listen to his body...so I provided a lot of first aid on his feet between SJPP and Moratinos.

PLEASE feel free to PM me (via the envelope icon just right of your sign-in avatar and look there to start a new conversation) if you wish to share concerns, pre-trip logistics, etc. The topic might tend to a more intimate conversation than you wish to have in a public forum.

I may not come back to you immediately but your post now has my full attention and I will look for any response as time permits.

B

 

[robwalker]

Dear B
Thank you for your message. I am new to the forum. I don't know how to PM you. I don't see the envelope icon. I would like to talk to you more.
Rob

 

[robwalker]

@robwalker -

Several years ago, a friend of 40 years wanted to walk the Camino Frances. He had, however, been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia a handful of years earlier. He had actually been featured in an article in Forbes about the disease a couple years before.

His wife, knowing that I had walked, asked me how his wishes could be fulfilled...basically the question that you ask in the OP. Hmmmmm...

After some back-and-forth with his doctors, she gave me a list of potential problem situations and what parts of daily life/routine did not pose a problem at all. That empowered me to suggest myself as a guide. For both my friend and I, it turned out to be one of the most important events in our lives. So, my advice is simply, "Fear not!"

For relevant (maybe) background, my Camigo had three major needs of me: 1) His diminished executive function put me in charge of timely "getting out of town" in the morning and the "keeper of routine" upon arrival in the afternoon/evening. 2) For the same reason as above, I was totally in charge of his mix of medications on a daily basis. 3) His fine motor skills were slightly impacted and impacted both his gait and ability to listen to his body...so I provided a lot of first aid on his feet between SJPP and Moratinos.

PLEASE feel free to PM me (via the envelope icon just right of your sign-in avatar and look there to start a new conversation) if you wish to share concerns, pre-trip logistics, etc. The topic might tend to a more intimate conversation than you wish to have in a public forum.

I may not come back to you immediately but your post now has my full attention and I will look for any response as time permits.

B

I don't know how to PM you. I don't see the envelope icon where you say it is. sorry for my ignorance.

 

[simply B]

Okay, I will send you one then just to establish connection.

Come back to this thread and let me know if you have trouble following through....

I have to now prepare dinner for the bride and myself but will try and check later this evening...tomorrow morning at latest. (I am in the USA, Pacific time zone.)

B

 

[Former member 49149]

Hi, @robwalker. This might help you. I put my mouse on your picture and up comes the bigger picture with your details. There is a button at the bottom of that picture that says start conversation. That lets you have a pm, private message, with whoever you choose. The person will get an email message and go to their messages on the top bar of the forum sections, and will be able to read your message, and reply. Hope this is useful.

 

[Former member 62607]

Hello robwalker,
Are there alzheimers organisations local to you that might have volunteer contacts? I can imagine a young person, or any age actually, who might welcome such an adventure where they can walk in company and be of help, doing something they might never do otherwise. If you can afford to sub some of their expenses in return it might be a solution. I think similar things happen on a larger scale with organised groups going to Lourdes etc where volunteers give assistance to those with disabilities, but the catch might be that they get their trip funded in return. This might well be an issue for you, but you never know, there could be someone who would fund themselves but lean on you for the past experience, organisation of the trip and having someone to walk with if they wouldnt do it alone.
You sound positive and a can-do person so i think you will find a way, meanwhile, best wishes to you both.

 

[Sara_Dhooma]

Hi robwalker!

I sent you a message yesterday, posting here in case you didn't see it.

Cheers, Sara

 

[simply B]

@kirkie -

Thanks for your "tech support" on helping the OP to access "Conversations", much appreciated!

B

 

[robwalker]

Hi robwalker!

I sent you a message yesterday, posting here in case you didn't see it.

Cheers, Sara

Sara: I don't see your message.

 

[Akbunny59]

My wife has developed Alzheimer's. She has walked over 1000 km on the Frances, Portuguese, and Inglese carrying her pack, but now she is having a hard time walking. I don't want to leave her behind when I walk. I want to go back with her. I would like to walk the Finisterre/Muxia route or the Sanabres route from Ourense. I would like to have someone walk with us to help me with my wife. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you very much.

Hi Rob.
When are you planning to go?
I know what you are going through, my mother (96) has vascular dementia, a wicked condition.
I am a recently retired nurse and completed my 3rd Camino last October.
If the time was right for both of us, I would certainly come along and help.
I stress the time would have to be right for the both of us, as we are both fully aware what we have to contend with.
I will try and send you a private message, but I'm not that hot on technology....
Stay safe.....

My wife has developed Alzheimer's. She has walked over 1000 km on the Frances, Portuguese, and Inglese carrying her pack, but now she is having a hard time walking. I don't want to leave her behind when I walk. I want to go back with her. I would like to walk the Finisterre/Muxia route or the Sanabres route from Ourense. I would like to have someone walk with us to help me with my wife. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you very much.

My wife has developed Alzheimer's. She has walked over 1000 km on the Frances, Portuguese, and Inglese carrying her pack, but now she is having a hard time walking. I don't want to leave her behind when I walk. I want to go back with her. I would like to walk the Finisterre/Muxia route or the Sanabres route from Ourense. I would like to have someone walk with us to help me with my wife. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you very much.

My wife has developed Alzheimer's. She has walked over 1000 km on the Frances, Portuguese, and Inglese carrying her pack, but now she is having a hard time walking. I don't want to leave her behind when I walk. I want to go back with her. I would like to walk the Finisterre/Muxia route or the Sanabres route from Ourense. I would like to have someone walk with us to help me with my wife. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you very much.

 

[Adrian Harding 65]

Hi robwalker!

I sent you a message yesterday, posting here in case you didn't see it.

Cheers, Sara

How are you, Sara? Fully recovered, now?