My sons just got back from Europe a couple days ago. They travelled to Brussels, The Netherlands, and Germany together. They are doing what many other newly minted university grads are doing—exploring the world. Other 20-somethings don’t have the good fortune to just get-up-and-go. They have serious obligations that don’t afford them these opportunities, such as caring for a parent with early onset Alzheimer’s.
My friends and I used to joke about having this horrible disease when we couldn’t remember a name or details of what we’ve just read. But it is no joking matter. There are thousands and thousands of adults in my middle-aged demographic who have early onset Alzheimer’s. And the numbers are growing exponentially. With not enough resources in the community, it is often their children (who are the ages of my kids) who are putting their lives on hold to care for them.
My story in the first print edition of YouAreUNLTD is about the unique challenges faced by these young caregivers.
THE UNTOLD STORY OF YOUNG CAREGIVERS AND ALZHEIMER’S
“I didn’t think I’d be changing my mom’s diapers, brushing her teeth and helping her sponge bath in my 20s,” Kathryn Fudurich says. The 29-year-old is talking about her 63-year-old mother’s declinefollowing a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s almost a decade ago. “My values and priorities were just immediately changed. I feel like I have all the wisdom that people get later in life.”
Fudurich is one of the young adults in the new documentary Much Too Young: The Untold Story of Young Caregivers & Alzheimer’s. Co-directed by Christopher Wynn and Russell Gienapp, Much Too Young shows the day-to-day heartaches and surprising joys of caring for a once-vibrant parent. There is also a Much Too Young virtual reality app that uses immersive storytelling to take viewers deeper into the hidden world of people with Alzheimer’s.
Photo by Bewakoof.com Official on Unsplash
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eden baylee
Jun 27, 2018 -
Hi Sue, It’s a sad reality that memory fades as we get older, and to think the process starts for some in their fifties is tragic.
I heard today that more and more young people are giving up their lives/dreams to care for parents. It can create stress and resentment. In your article, I was relieved to see there are many caregiver resources. Still… it cannot be easy to have this ‘role reversal’ parenting.
You did a terrific job writing this article, Sue. xox
eden
Sue Nador
Jun 27, 2018 -
Thank you Eden. Researching this article really taught me a lot. I was struck by the compassion, maturity and sacrifice of these young adults. I was also really impressed by how much they are doing to raise awareness and funds–using the tragedy of their own circumstances to improve the lives of others. xo