Together, we can tackle Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers
Register today for RivALZ: Blondes vs. Brunettes, where two teams of women divided to reflect rivalries come together to compete in a flag football game to inspire fundraising, awareness and action in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. We need dedicated players, coaches and spectators. It’s time to pick a side and help tackle Alzheimer’s!
Track and field athlete Jeff Henderson took first place in the long jump at the 2016 Summer Olympics, bringing the gold medal home to his mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. He writes about his mindset during the games: “No one was going to beat me. In my head, it was all for my mom.”
Winning a gold medal last August in the 2016 Olympics is a moment I will never forget. I wanted to go home that night. All I could think was: “I need to get back to Arkansas. I need to fly home to see my mom.” Of course there were two more weeks to spend in Rio after my event – and the closing ceremonies to attend – but all I could think about was being at home with Mom. Everything I’ve done has been for her.
My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 11 years ago, when I was 17 years old. I’m the youngest of six kids, and she always did everything for the entire family, as so many mothers do. She cooked and cleaned and was always ironing and folding my shirts for me. She showed her love through all of those everyday things she did for all of us. My father – who is now her caregiver – was working long hours, so she was the one raising me every day.
I remember the signs.
I remember her cooking meals and then forgetting to finish preparing them. Sometimes she would leave dinner behind to burn or be recooked later. I remember her staying out late and getting lost. There were so many little things that started to become bigger issues.
It was hard watching this happen, because Mom was always there for me. She took me to my football practices and supported me at all my track and field meets. She would scream so loud at my meets that I could hear her over everyone; there was never a time I didn’t hear her. She would do anything for anyone – that was just the type of person she was.
I remember one day in high school when I came home and I saw how badly Mom’s hands were shaking. It was just weeks after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I could already see how sick she was getting. For the first couple of years after her diagnosis, it was rough for me, not really having anyone to talk to about the situation. It was hard just to focus at school.
Luckily, my brother was there. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. He told me that Mom had told him everything she wanted us to do. He said: “Jeff, she told me to tell you that you have to finish school.” I remember crying for almost an hour. My eyes were bloodshot, all red. Didn’t they know how hard it was for me to comprehend all of this? I didn’t know where to turn, or who to talk to.
I rarely tell anyone what’s going on in my life; I am naturally quiet and tend to keep things to myself. But I do know that awareness needs to be brought to Alzheimer’s disease, so I will continue to raise awareness of this disease by sharing my family’s story. I want people to tell me their own stories. I want to keep the lines of communication open. When we talk about how we are facing this disease, it helps us feel less alone.
My mindset during the Olympics in Rio was that no one was going to beat me. In my head, it was all for my mom. “I will not lose. I will win gold for her. I can control this moment, and make it mine.” I focused and worked hard, worrying about no one but myself in the moment of competition. It took a whole lot to get to that point, but I did. And I won.
I feel like I am winning every day. I take after my mother, I hope. I am a nice person who cares about everyone. I will talk to someone living on the streets, offer money or help, and give my blessings – that’s how I cope with my situation. I continue to help others as my mom would.
I’m the first man from the U.S. to win gold in the long jump since 2004 and I’m looking forward to pushing myself even further, focusing on sprinting before the next summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. I know I can do it. To the naysayers, I say: “Just watch me. I will do it.”
My mom continues to inspire me. Every day, she still fights through the disease, with my dad by her side. I am so happy she is alive, and that I could bring the gold back to her and place it in her hands. That is all that matters. Mom taught me to keep on fighting, and that is what I encourage other people dealing with this disease to do, whether you’re the child, spouse or friend of a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Talk to each other, support each other and stay grounded. You aren’t alone.
About the Author: Raised in McAlmont, Arkansas, Jeff Henderson is an American track and field athlete. Jeff took first place with an 8.38 meter leap in the long jump at the 2016 Summer Olympics, bringing home a gold medal to his mother. Jeff encourages anyone in the midst of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis to find someone to talk to. Follow him on social media via Facebook and Twitter.
Show your love on The Longest Day – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers
The Longest Day is a team event to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Held annually on the summer solstice, the duration of this sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with the disease and their caregivers. In this article, we feature one of our Longest Day participants, Ernessa Moore.
Show your love on The Longest Day
Ernessa Moore is no stranger to strong women. Whether it was her mother or three older sisters, Ernessa was constantly surrounded by fiercely independent women who mentored her through life’s toughest challenges.
But then one day, Ernessa’s mother was diagnosed with dementia.
“I became her caregiver,” Ernessa said. “And I was her caregiver throughout the entire journey.”
In many of these cases, the child and parent roles are often reversed. The child claims all the parental responsibilities, ultimately shifting the family dynamics.
“Caring for someone with a terminal illness is very hard especially if you have no knowledge of the disease or experience as a caregiver,” Ernessa said. “There were many times when I didn’t even know where to turn.”
So Ernessa began doing her research.
“While caring for my mom, I became very interested in the what, when and why of Alzheimer’s disease. I started researching online and found the Alzheimer’s Association,” Ernessa said. “The Association absolutely changed my life for the better by providing resources to assist in understanding and caring for my mom, in addition to personally assisting me as a caregiver. I have also became a Alzheimer’s Association Community Representative.”
In addition to her involvement with the association, Ernessa also serves as a manager in the Disability branch of the federal government. She is also a licensed hairstylist, make-up artist and motivational speaker.
“I genuinely love caring for others and giving back to the community,” Ernessa said. “My sole purpose professionally is to serve and empower others.”
Keeping true to her volunteering stance, Ernessa started her participation in The Longest Day as a caregiver.
“I began participating while my mom was sick,” Ernessa said. “Every Longest Day, we would participate in a sunrise prayer-which is essentially a celebration of life. I thought it would be something worthwhile for my mom and me to do together.”
While The Longest Day has always been close to her heart, one year changed her motivation for participating forever.
“On June 21, 2015 on the Longest Day, two hours after the sunrise prayer, my mom lost her battle to dementia. It is a day I will never forget.”
Invoking her mother’s spirit, Ernessa’s began working on a proposal for The Longest Day, motivated by her treasured memories of her mother and desire to create an event she would have loved.
“I am currently planning sunrise prayer, yoga in the park, and bicycle riding. At the conclusion of the day (sunset) there will be a celebration of life,” Ernessa said. “At the celebration there will be food and live entertainment provided by a local blues band, my mom’s absolute favorite!”
Although Ernessa has already recruited a group for her Longest Day festivities, she always encourages others to join in, participate and spread awareness.
“We must promote the cause and distribute this information to the masses,” Ernessa said. “This disease affects the entire world. We must be educated and prepared to identify with the signs in an effort to understand, sustain and find a cure. We must continue to fight until there is a cure and this disease is eliminated.”
Join The Longest Day
Team up with the Alzheimer’s Association, select an activity you love, and plan your event on or around The Longest Day. Sign up today!
When it comes to the daily care of Americans with dementia, most of the responsibility is still falling on family members, women in particular, according to an editorial in JAMA Neurology. About two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease caregivers are women; wives are more likely to be caring for husbands than the reverse, and daughters are more likely than sons to be caring for a parent.
In honor of mothers everywhere – Alzheimer’s – Optimum Senior Care – Chicago In Home Caregivers
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, we want to take a moment to celebrate all of the special women who have made an impact on our lives. In honor of the more than 3 million strong and passionate women in the United States living with Alzheimer’s disease, we vow to continue fighting this devastating disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the nation’s largest under-recognized public health crisis and it is only continuing to escalate. It is critical that we continue our efforts to eliminate Alzheimer’s through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. If you’d like to make a generous donation in honor of Mother’s Day, your gift can be matched right now during our spring matching gift challenge.
Thank you for standing with us today and every day. Together, we can achieve our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s disease.
P.S. There is still time to have your gift matched in our $500,000 spring matching gift challenge. If you have already donated to this limited-time campaign, then please accept our deepest thanks. If not, please give today while you can make twice the impact. Remember, you can pay tribute to a special woman in your life who has been affected by Alzheimer’s disease when you make your gift today.