Platteville residents Kent and Carolyn Scheuerell are well-known and much-loved in the ADAW family.
The couple has been married forty-nine years and have four children. Carolyn started showing memory problems and major behavioral changes in 2008.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Kent admits that he tried to manage Carolyn’s condition as long as he could but eventually, he knew he had to seek help. After researching local resources, Kent discovered the ADAW—a place where he can ask difficult questions and get honest answers, he said.
“They became like family,” Kent said.
Recently, Kent shared his 2019 family Christmas letter with ADAW staff. We were moved by his words; in fact, we asked for Kent’s permission to share his letter.
Kent—who served as chairperson for the 2019 ADAW Grant County Alzheimer’s Walk—acts as a devoted husband and, after participating in ADAW programs and workshops, an experienced caregiver.
“My ability as an experienced caregiver has given me a new mission in life,” Kent replied, consenting to post his Christmas letter. “As other caregivers helped me, now I am able to assume that role.”
To that end, here is an unedited and straight-from-the-heart gift of experience: an open letter from a caregiver.
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