We often get calls from people who either have a spouse, a parent or a friend who is suffering from some form of dementia. Often they have reached the point where they can no longer manage in their home and need to consider moving, and they may have also reached the point where they need to consider placing their loved one in a care facility.

Many of you may already know what we went through as a family but for those of you who don’t, I think it’s an important story to tell.

Our Dad, (Libby's late husband) Max Broady, died at the age of 74 as a result of Alzheimer's disease. He had lived with this disease for 16 years, having been first diagnosed at the young age of 58. This was 20 years ago, and much of what we know about the disease now was relatively unknown back then. There were no treatment options available, only drug trials which were given to try and slow down the progression of this disease. We endured the heartbreaking experience of watching our father’s decline together as a family. Most of the burden fell on Libby's shoulders as she was Max's primary caregiver.

Libby kept him at home with her for as long as she could, until finally the day came when she simply couldn't manage anymore. It was me and my siblings who eventually convinced her that we needed to place him in a care facility. This was one of the hardest things we'd ever been through as a family. Anyone who's experienced this can relate to how gut-wrenching the emotions can be. For Libby, the thought of placing Max in a residence brought with it an overwhelming feeling of guilt that made it very difficult to come to terms with. 

I still remember the day we had to move his belongings into The Sunrise residence in Beaconsfield. We brought all of Dad's old rugby team photos to hang on his walls. We hung pictures of his children and grandchildren and his old dog Dusty. We did everything we could to try and make it like home for him.

They say that next to our deepest pain, may lie our greatest strength. If that's true, (and I believe it is) then our family's deepest pain is rooted in the heartbreak and struggle of Alzheimer's disease. I believe we can use our experience to help others. We can turn our pain into our strength, and transform it into a force for positive change. 

We know that we're not the only family out there that has, or will have to deal with the same circumstances. This is why we believe it's so important for us to be a voice, and to share our story to remind people that they're not alone. In fact, because my family and I have become well known for our connection with Alzheimer's and dementia, many people in the community reach out to us for advice. It always comforts us to know that people trust us enough to call us and ask for help. They often feel helpless and confused, much like our family did 20 years ago. But now, there are so many more resources that exist to help families like ours. We are able to point people in the right direction and introduce them to some of the different services that are now available.

As a result of our experience with our Dad, we have been closely involved with the Alzheimer’s Society of Montreal and have been organizing an annual charity event for the past eight years called, A Night to Remember. Every year we continue to expand our reach and our message, and this year we have partnered with another incredible organization called Hope For Dementia, who's mission and objectives are very closely aligned with our own. Just like other diseases such as cancer, early detection is of the utmost importance. Together with their partners and through their fundraising efforts, Hope For Dementia is pioneering research and development into screening methods and cognitive tests that will allow health care professionals and the general public to detect the warning signs and symptoms early on. Early diagnosis greatly increases the chances of preventing the disorders from progressing into later stages of cognitive decline.

The Alzheimer Society plays a vital role in supporting families and caregivers for those affected by dementia and other related cognitive disorders. Hope for Dementia is focused more on awareness and prevention of the disease, and the devastating effects it's bound to have on our society - not only here in Canada - but on a global scale.

I'm including a link below where you can learn more about our event, taking place on March 28, 2020, as well as a link to purchase tickets in case you wish to attend.

We are proud to share our story and experience in dealing with Alzheimer’s disease as a family, and through events like Night to Remember and Hope For Dementia, we hope to help as many other families as possible. 

We hope you’ll join us in our fight. 

Signing off...

Capt’n Mark

Link to the event: https://nighttoremember.ca/