Caregivers reach out to one another

By Dave Clark

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008 | midnight

When Henderson resident Helene Moore’s husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1993, the family kept his condition secret, fearing repercussions to his job.

Moore felt alone, and she spirited away her emotions in the pages of a diary, known to no one but herself. Seven years later, the doctors altered their diagnosis to simple memory impairment in the wake of his static condition. Moore then disclosed the diary to her husband.

“He said, ‘This is beautiful; you need to publish it,’” Moore said.

“Behind the Mask” was printed by Mystic Publishers in February, and with it came the inspiration to refocus her life on an idea: adopt-a-caregiver. It matches caregivers with another person with whom they can exchange e-mails or talk.

When her husband was diagnosed at age 63, he experienced days when he was fine. Other days he couldn’t recall his own name, or hers, which she said was devastating. All the while, he worked as a consultant for toy companies.

“He’d get on a plane, and I’d wonder if this was the day he got lost,” Moore said.

After four years, doctors changed his diagnosis to probable Alzheimer’s, and following three more years it switched to age-associated memory impairment.

Today, with mental and physical exercise, he still drives and consults. They have been married for 56 years.

Now Moore, 77, is dedicated to spreading her vision for adopt-a-caregiver by word of mouth.

So far she has adopted five people and recruited a few listeners, among them Kazuko Monobe.

During the past year, the woman Monobe has adopted has watched her husband’s personality change. In Monobe, a retired college counselor, she finds a patient ear for her feelings, Monobe said.

“I listen, and I like to give her encouragement as much as I can,” she said.

Monobe encouraged others to get involved as well.

“We can help each other,” Monobe said. “That way the world can become a better, kinder place.”

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].