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鈥檚 short-term memory loss symptoms were diagnosed as Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.

At the time, the Colliers were referred by their doctor to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. office in 91大黄鸭, 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鈥檚.

鈥淚 used to golf two or three times a week but I stopped because that is about a six-hour turnaround in time, and that鈥檚 a bit too long for Bettina to be alone during a day,鈥� Allan said.

鈥淪o now I do other things like shoot pool and play bridge. Those activities don鈥檛 take as long.鈥�

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鈥檛 forget any steps in the process. She can鈥檛 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鈥檚 Society every Monday.

鈥淚t helps to have the support and Allan is a wonderful, wonderful husband. I wouldn鈥檛 change him for the world,鈥� Bettina said.

鈥淔rom day to day I don鈥檛 really feel a difference because of Alzheimer鈥檚. I try not to think about it because if I do, it makes me upset and not to happy.鈥�

Allan summarizes their life today this way: 鈥淲e鈥檙e continuing a journey together and we keep looking at the bright side of life. That鈥檚 all we can do. We鈥檝e never really had a bad moment.鈥�

He was invited to speak about his role as an Alzheimer鈥檚 caregiver at the kick-off launch event on Monday for the annual 91大黄鸭 Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer鈥檚 fundraiser on Sunday, May 6, at City Park. The Colliers are walk honourees for this year鈥檚 event.

The walk and other fundraisers remain critical to financially support Alzheimer鈥檚 Society programs, which Allan says are an important resource for caregivers.

鈥淭he society has been very helpful with our situation. They help both the caregiver and the person who has Alzheimer鈥檚,鈥� Allan said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard to deal with this all on your own.鈥�

Mary Mandarino, a West 91大黄鸭 resident and chair of the upcoming Alzheimer鈥檚 Walk, says husbands becoming caregivers for their wives stricken with dementia is becoming more common.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a reversal of the traditional role model where the wife and mother is typically in the caregiver role,鈥� Mandarino said.

鈥淣ow all of a sudden men find themselves increasingly in that caregiver position. That鈥檚 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.鈥�

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

barry.gerding@blackpress.ca
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