Any way you look at it, taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a tough job but just imagine if that person is your husband.
Janet Toenes doesn’t have to imagine it, her husband John was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s four years ago when he was only 61 years old.

“At the time he was working full time so the doctor said he was really disabled and not able to do his job any more,” says Janet.

John’s job was a huge one. He worked for the Pentagon and was in charge of building Alaska’s missile defense system at Fort Greely. He completed the task but took early retirement leaving Janet to wonder if she should quit her job too.

“I started going to some support group meetings with the Alzheimer Association and they said sometimes it’s a good idea to keep working and give yourself a break from taking care of somebody who has Alzheimer’s,” says Janet.

Janet decided to continue work and to keep John at home for as long as she could.

She says that worked out fine for the first year or two until John became more and more forgetful. She started looking for a place where he could spend his daytime hours and found “Serendipity”.

Serendipity is an adult day care center run by the Salvation Army for people with dementias. It’s designed to give caregivers a break but just as importantly, give the adults they call their guests the opportunity to socialize and do something meaningful with their time.
“We try to give people the opportunities and the choices to do things that are meaningful to them,” says Serendipity’s Nila Morgan. ” A lot of folks have worked all their lives, they feel that being productive is important to them so we give them that opportunity.”

For some it could be as simple as helping out at mealtime or stuffing envelopes for a nonprofit association. Serendipity supplements those activities with crafts and music, even discussion groups for those who can participate. If you ask John what his job is he’ll tell you it’s to keep the other guests happy.
As for Janet, she says that she is happy knowing that John is well cared for during the day. She says it benefits both of them by allowing more quality time when they are together.

“He goes shopping with me he likes to go out for walks we go to movies. He can do all kinds of things it’s just that he used to be a big hunter and fishermen and he likes to do those kinds of things but he can’t do them anymore.”

Despite the changes and the challenges Janet believes she is still the best caregiver for her husband. She is still hoping to keep him at home for as long as possible. If you’d like to learn more about Serendipity as well as other Salvation Army programs you can find a link on this website under the sections marked “On Air Links”. (source)