THE “PERSPECTIVE OF THE AD SUFFERER” PROJECT-

 I am working on a project of putting together your spouses’ perspectives of what it is like to live with AD (those who are able to express it). How has it affected their sense of self? What is most frustrating for them?

We are always discussing how the change in the marital relationship has affected US. How has it affected THEM?  I am requesting that you get whatever information possible from your spouse and e-mail it to me at joan@thealzheimerspouse.com  (I have already received some responses – thank you.)

As many of you know, I have been trying to get Sid's perspective on having AD, but he is not particularly articulate about it. So far, all he says is, "It sucks, and it's frustrating." He does, however, feel as hurt as I do as to what the disease has done to our relationship.

When the project is completed, I believe it will give us all a better understanding of how to interact with our spouses, based upon their feelings and needs.

One of the women in my support group says that we'll never be able to "accept" or "adjust" or truly “understand” until we are able to put ourselves in the AD patient's shoes. As more people are being diagnosed with AD at earlier stages, doctors are looking to them for a realistic perspective on what it is like to have AD.