It was in 1973 when Mike Michael--a 48-year-old former Air Force officer and lifelong high achiever--sat in a kitchen chair in his home in Lubbock, Tex. and made a confession to his wife: "Claudine, I don't know what I'm supposed to do today." It was the first fingers of Alzheimer's disease reaching into his mind. Claudine didn't realize it at the time, but she would soon become much more than a wife. She would have to help him through a thousand little things in the coming days as he became less and less able to take care of himself. Near the end, she took his hand and told him, "You are the bravest man I know." She said nothing about herself.
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Is Now the Right Time?
When to Step In: A Solution Guide
Communicating Your Concern
Techniques for Talking with Your Parent
How to Be a Great Caregiver
10 Important Tips
Other Life Transitions
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