Allan and Bettina Collier have shared a lifetime together since they met in high school.

In a marriage that has lasted 63 years, the Colliers raised two daughters and have welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren into their lives.

Bettina had previously beaten cancer twice through aggressive chemotherapy.

But their life together took an unexpected turn nine years ago when Bettina害羞草研究所檚 short-term memory loss symptoms were diagnosed as Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 disease.

At the time, the Colliers were referred by their doctor to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. office in Kelowna, which has become a source of both information and support to help Allan and Bettina make adjustments in their lives brought on by the disease.

Today, the love they share together has grown stronger, and their focus is living an active lifestyle while adjusting to the realities of Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚.

害羞草研究所淚 used to golf two or three times a week but I stopped because that is about a six-hour turnaround in time, and that害羞草研究所檚 a bit too long for Bettina to be alone during a day,害羞草研究所� Allan said.

害羞草研究所淪o now I do other things like shoot pool and play bridge. Those activities don害羞草研究所檛 take as long.害羞草研究所�

For Bettina, her husband has become her caregiver, helping her overcome her limitations.

She loves to bake but needs Allan present now to make sure she doesn害羞草研究所檛 forget any steps in the process. She can害羞草研究所檛 drive a vehicle anymore. She can go for short walks on her own near her house but avoids striking out beyond that, like venturing downtown on her own.

She spends time everyday working on word search and word hunt books to exercise her mind, and they both attend the Minds In Motion fitness and social program organized by the Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 Society every Monday.

害羞草研究所淚t helps to have the support and Allan is a wonderful, wonderful husband. I wouldn害羞草研究所檛 change him for the world,害羞草研究所� Bettina said.

害羞草研究所淔rom day to day I don害羞草研究所檛 really feel a difference because of Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚. I try not to think about it because if I do, it makes me upset and not to happy.害羞草研究所�

Allan summarizes their life today this way: 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e continuing a journey together and we keep looking at the bright side of life. That害羞草研究所檚 all we can do. We害羞草研究所檝e never really had a bad moment.害羞草研究所�

He was invited to speak about his role as an Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 caregiver at the kick-off launch event on Monday for the annual Kelowna Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 fundraiser on Sunday, May 6, at City Park. The Colliers are walk honourees for this year害羞草研究所檚 event.

The walk and other fundraisers remain critical to financially support Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 Society programs, which Allan says are an important resource for caregivers.

害羞草研究所淭he society has been very helpful with our situation. They help both the caregiver and the person who has Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚,害羞草研究所� Allan said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really hard to deal with this all on your own.害羞草研究所�

Mary Mandarino, a West Kelowna resident and chair of the upcoming Alzheimer害羞草研究所檚 Walk, says husbands becoming caregivers for their wives stricken with dementia is becoming more common.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a reversal of the traditional role model where the wife and mother is typically in the caregiver role,害羞草研究所� Mandarino said.

害羞草研究所淣ow all of a sudden men find themselves increasingly in that caregiver position. That害羞草研究所檚 been a bit of an education for me to learn that. I never thought about it until I started to meet men caregivers serving that role.害羞草研究所�

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

barry.gerding@blackpress.ca
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