By Nancy Koontz; photo courtesy of Freda Moore

Good times for Bill and Freda Moore.

It takes a special person to be a caregiver to a loved one who is caught in the state of Alzheimer’s limbo. Freda Moore, resident of The Village at Castle Pines and caregiver for her late husband Bill Moore knows firsthand the challenges that Alzheimer’s disease creates for a family.

“My husband had been a prominent Denver businessman who was known for remembering everyone. The day I had to put him in a memory care facility was the hardest decision I ever made. I knew he needed professional help I could no longer give him,” said Freda.

Bill – the founder of Moore Realty Co. and co-owner of The Kentwood Co. – and Freda were living happily, until Freda started seeing noticeable signs of memory loss in Bill’s everyday life. Bill passed through the stages of the disease quickly and went from his home in the Village to the Belleview Heights Assisted Living & Memory Care center where at the age of 86 the disease took his life.

“It is so important to have support while dealing with a loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. You need help from family, friends, and Alzheimer’s support groups. As a caregiver, self-care is so important. Getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and carving out time for yourself is essential,” advised Freda.

During the more than two years Bill was at Belleview Heights, the family celebrated birthdays and holidays in a different way. Freda said she often wondered what Bill really understood. “I tried to hold his hand, hug him and tell him how much he was loved. Knowing life must go on, you try to stay as positive as possible for them and yourself,” Freda remembered. “You need to be patient, as your loved one is not the same. When they repeat stories or do not remember what just happened or what was said, it can be devastating,” Freda continued.

Now Freda spends most of her year in the Village with her family and part of her time in Arizona, where she and Bill went often during the winter. Freda is happy to help others who need suggestions for the best caregiving of a loved one with memory disease.

“Always stay positive and move forward with hope,” encouraged Freda.

There are numerous examples of hope and inspiration told by those who have lived with a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer’s – from the famous like Maria Shriver of the Kennedy family to a neighbor down the street. Even though caregiving can be emotionally, physically and economically problematic, there are community resources that can take some of the burden off a family – especially during the late stages of the disease.
Here are a few local resources that can offer help: Alzheimer’s Association – www.alz.org; Castle Rock Senior Activity Center www.castlerockseniorcenter.org/support-the-center/; Colorado Gerontological Society – www.senioranswers.org; and Colorado Health & Wellness – https://healthwellnesscolorado.com/colorado-caregivers-guide-to-dementia-resources/.