Outdated Medicare Rules Block Alzheimer’s Care, Strain Nevada Families Like Mine

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is a daily exercise in heartbreak. You watch a person you love slowly lose their memories, their independence, and eventually, their life. My sister is currently living this reality with her life partner, Jim.

When Jim started showing signs of memory loss, my sister gradually moved into caregiving mode without even realizing it. As Jim’s disease progressed, my sister unknowingly began doing more and more for Jim. I have been working for the Center for Healthy Aging for 17 years, and I was seeing what my sister could not.  Jim’s battle with Alzheimer’s started slowly, but after a few years, the dementia was rapidly taking over. After sharing information about Alzheimer’s and dementia with my sister, she began noticing the symptoms in Jim, and a neurologist diagnosed him with the disease.

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