HealthBridge's In-Home Care Blog

Bill Bridgwater doesn't look like he has Alzheimer's Disease. 

He's young - just 54 years old.  He's sharp too, shining with the the polish of his Fortune 500 pedigree.  He's not confused and he doesn't appear disoriented or forgetful.  

But, he does have Alzheimer's Disease.  He's had it since he was 48 years old. 

This MIT educated executive learned about his diagnosis at the height of his professional career.  Then, he did something totally different than most people who have early onset Alzheimer's Disease.  

He leaned in.

We all fear Alzheimer's.  We fear losing ourselves to a disease long before we die.  We fear how our friends and colleagues will judge us if they believe we've become "senile."  We fear the burden we will cause for our loved ones.

Maybe that's why we run away from Alzheimer's Disease.  

Bill didn't run. 

He was the first individual diagnosed with the disease to serve on the national board of directors of the Alzheimer's Association.  He's also become a nationally recognized advocate and speaker on Alzheimer's Disease.  

He spoke to a gathering of the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association last week.  As he shared his emotional journey with Alzheimer's Disease, he shared one point that has resonated with me ever since.  He said:

Alzheimer's Disease is something that I have, not who I am.

I will forever draw inspiration from those words.  As I watched my grandparents' minds slip away, it became hard to separate them from the disease.  But, it was something they had, not who they were.  

I've written a lot about what makes good caregivers great.  When it comes to Alzheimer's care, I think Bill's advice can sum it up.  

Great caregivers know that their clients have Alzheimer's Disease, but it's not who they are.  Great caregivers treat the disease, but care for the client by remembering who they are.