|
Living day in and day out with Alzheimer's
Back in 1998, it's fair to say that Kimberly Wallace Del'Valle's plate was pretty full. She had a full time job in payroll administration. She and her husband had three sons, and she was pregnant with a fourth. She was working on a bachelor's degree.
That was also the year that Del'Valle decided her father-in-law, 66-year old Raymond Del'Valle, should move into her home. Raymond was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and Del'Valle worried about him getting into danger.
"He had a lot of wandering episodes," said Del'Valle. "I told my husband that if anything happened to him, we would never forgive ourselves."
Until her father-in-law passed away six years later, Del'Valle cared for him while she continued raising her four sons and pursuing her education with the hope of one day opening her own accounting business.
Through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by her employer, she found an adult day care center that Raymond enjoyed. At first, she dropped him off on her way to work and picked him up on her way home. She later arranged transportation for him, and her sons would come home from school to wait for their grandfather's bus to drop him off. That meant going without after-school activities such as sports for Elijah, Joel and Raymond.
"In the beginning he had his lucid moments, and he would laugh about it. In the end, he was paranoid and the only person he would talk to was me," said Del'Valle. "I've known him since I was 10 years old, and it was sad seeing it happen."
After getting to know the staff at the Southeast Florida Chapter, Del'Valle joined them on a trip to Florida's state capitol, Tallahassee, to speak to legislators about increasing funds for Alzheimer research and services.
"The staff thought it would be helpful for the legislators to hear about a caregiver's personal experience, to hear about what the disease is like day in and day out," said Del'Valle. "At first it was intimidating to me. You think of politicians as 'holier than thou.' But they're just normal people, and they want to know what's going on."
After going to Tallahassee for four years with other Alzheimer's Association advocates, Del'Valle attended the Public Policy Forum in Washington for the first time in 2005. Teams of experienced advocates attend sessions with newcomers, and Del'Valle learned a great deal about government.
"In the beginning, I didn't know how the legislative process works. Going to the Forum has been very informative for me," she said.
Del'Valle found that advocating in Washington is not only easy to do, but a satisfying way to honor her father-in-law. Increasing government support for research and care will help all people affected by Alzheimer's.
"I'm a firm believer in standing up for what's right. Elderly people have worked and they've built this country. And this country should give back," she said. "I hope people don't ever think their voice doesn't matter, because it really does."
|
