Family struggles to cope with reality of early onset Alzheimer’s

By Stella Acquisto

Belmont House, a seniors home, is the last place Jane Poirier thought she would be residing in her early 60’s.

Nine years ago Poirier was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and her family had to make the heartbreaking decision to eventually put her into a home.

In an interview with CityNews, her daughter’s, Carolyn and Claire, reminisced about her achievements.

“She was a brilliant woman,“ says Carolyn. “She wanted to get into PR and was successful. She opened up her own PR firm … called Lewis Carol Communications,” she added.

She owned the firm for 25 years, but stopped working after her diagnosis.

“We definitely didn’t know it can effect someone her age. I didn’t think it was in the cards,” says Claire.

Jane’s daughters agree having a mother with Alzheimer’s is tough, as they had to take on the role of caregivers.

In the last few years, they built a support system through the gala they started called Memory Ball.  Through the creation of the ball, they have met other women and men, in their 20s, dealing with a parent who has the disease.

To find out more about the memory gala or if you would like to purchase tickets, visit http://memoryball.org/

 

 

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