Dee felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. With her mother-in-law recovering from another fall and her own mother undergoing chemotherapy treatment, she barely had time to take care of herself. She felt responsible for both women’s safety and well being, putting their needs ahead of her own on most days.

Dee got tangible help from the caregiver’s class. The class leaders and others in the class who were in a similar situation understood Dee’s challenges. Just knowing she wasn’t alone was a great comfort.

The tools Dee learned from the class have allowed her to find new balance in her life. She learned how to deal with stress; how to communicate in difficult situations; how to ask other family members to help; how to handle her own emotions; and about community resources that can help ease the burden of care. All of the techniques helped her to take better care of herself, so she could give the two women she loved the best care possible.

Isabel’s husband was diagnosed with Dementia. This diagnosis helped to explain the many changes she noticed in him, the new and odd behaviors that began to appear.  Like when her husband began having trouble handling money, something that affected their family deeply.

She joined our Caregiver Support Group, where she is learning to accept the new normal that is her life. She gets peer feedback that she's doing the best she can. She is learning how to handle unpredictable situations. From the support group she’s learning that we often have no control over things that happen to the people we love – but that we can control how we react.  Carving out that time for herself is important to Isabel’s own health – and she makes the support group a priority in her life.

When Clarence broke his back on the job, his wife Nora took care of him while he healed. When Nora had her stroke and lost her memory, Clarence took care of her. Unfortunately, Nora won’t recover her memory and most days Clarence is a stranger to her.

Despite that, Clarence helps Nora bathe, dress, and function in their home of fifty-two years together. He sorts her medications, shops, cooks, and cleans. He drives her to doctor’s appointments where he is her advocate, lovingly styles her hair and supplies her with new jigsaw puzzles to complete.

The Dale Association’s Caregiver Counselor helps Clarence anticipate the next care hurdle. Clarence knows he won’t be able to care for Nora in their home forever, and our Senior Counselor is helping him research suitable long term care options. “I no longer feel alone in this journey, I know I have help from the Dale. They have done all the homework for me, so that I can just focus on my wife.”

"I woke in the hospital and didn't know why. I don't remember anything after crossing the bridge. My children tell me I crashed my car.

For the 50 years that my wife and I ran a local market, we delivered groceries to our home-bound customers. Back then, we provided the help. Now that my wife is gone, and my memory is fading, I'm the one who needs the help. A man can only sit home alone by the window for so long. I could only clean so much. My children are now comforted that I'm thriving two days a week at Memory Minders, where I'm with great people, and I'm doing fun activities that are also good for me." -- Clyde

Viola’s adult son and daughter-in-law were so excited to be traveling to Florida for the winter. The only worry they had, was for Viola, who at her advance age and physical limitations had opted to stay home in Newfane.

Viola’s son arranged for a Dale Association C.A.R.E. volunteer to call his mom each day while they were traveling to check in on her and make sure she was okay. Viola looks so forward to her daily call from Katie, the C.A.R.E. volunteer, who ensures Viola is eating, taking her medications, and enjoying her day to day. Katie looks forward to it too, and together they laugh, share recipes and talk about their mutual interest in gardening. Viola’s son and daughter-in-law feel so reassured that someone locally who cares, is checking in with Mom each day.