Paul Ryan learned about being a caregiver when he was a teenager, says this recent AgingCare.com article, Paul Ryan: Republican, Vice Presidential Nominee, Caregiver?
He watched his mother care for his “Alzheimer’s stricken grandmother,” who moved in to Ryan’s home during his high school years. On occasion, he would help too. While speaking to a group of seniors at a large retirement community in Florida, Ryan said the experience was eye-opening.
With the number of caregivers (and the increasing incidence of Alzheimer’s) in the United States exploding in correlation with the aging of our nation’s seniors, it may not be a surprise that candidates are talking about caregiving.
Though your vote in November should be based on more than just the politics of the moment, it is nonetheless important to know where the candidates stand on issues that affect a huge majority of the country’s population. Caregiving is certainly one of those issues, and it is vital for presidential and vice presidential nominees to not only tell us what experiences they’ve had, but also speak of their plans for policies that would make a difference.
Read How Do Seniors in Assisted Living Vote? to find out how to ensure your senior loved one gets to participate in this year’s important election.
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Michael Conkey says,
My mother also had to watch as my grandmother’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed to the point where my grandmother did not recognize my mother or me. She was confined to a nursing home through the later stages of Alzheimer’s until she passed. Even as young as I was I could tell that my mother was having a very hard time dealing with the heart-breaking situation.
on 28 August 2012 / 9:19 AM
Michelle Seitzer says,
Michael, that is such a heartbreaking position to be in, I know. My grandfather died of Alzheimer’s three years ago and it was painful for all of us to watch, painful when he couldn’t recognize us for who we were. And you’re right, even at a young age, family members can see the way this decline takes a toll on everyone, especially those closest to the person who is living with the disease.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Michael.
on 28 August 2012 / 9:42 AM