09/10/2026
My father died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease twelve years ago. He wandered a lot. And he shopped a lot—for things he’d forgotten he already owned, or to replace things he could no longer remember how to use. There were so many instances where the angels among us helped him, by giving him water on a hot day, or taking time to converse with him in a way that honored his dignity. He lived in a small town and people knew him and cared for him. There are many ways to be “lost” and AD stakes claim on all of them. I’m so grateful for every one of those people who helped our family navigate the last years of his life.
Steps family caregivers can take to keep loved ones safe