I was around 11 years old when my dad was diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s in 2020. I was aware he was changing in some ways a year before his diagnosis; however, I did not know why. I could also tell something was different, but this wasn’t confirmed until my mother told me about his diagnosis later in the year. In that moment, I was confused. I didn’t know what to think or even how I should have felt. I wasn’t knowledgeable on exactly what Alzheimer’s was; however, I knew the gist of what was going to happen – he was going to lose his memories.
Throughout the next few years, I was just an observer. I was still young, so there wasn’t much I could do physically. However, my mom always told me that even though he was losing his memories, we should still continue to make memories together. Since the diagnosis, things seemed almost normal then, almost overnight, my dad started progressing more rapidly. His brain is changing and with that comes new habits, as well as having a more difficult time expressing what he is thinking. It does upset me to know there’s nothing I can really do to help, but sometimes the best thing you can do is to just be there with the person as they go through it. Recognizing that in the face of his changing world, being there for him will remain the most meaningful way to navigate this challenging path together. As his journey unfolds, my role has shifted from an observer to a care companion alongside my mom.
At times I feel isolated and alone as a teenager on this Alzheimer’s journey with my family. However, I have come to the realization that there has to be other teenagers out there going through the same thing as me. I shared these feelings with mom and others, now I am working with the Youth leaders of YES in an effort to reach out to high schoolers with a parent living with Alzheimer’s and form a support group, just for us. The goal is to engage with teenagers who are bold and comfortable enough to share their stories with other teens and build a community full of love and support for each other. I am confident this will become a reality!
