What Remains
Whenever I do a family or professional training , I ask the audience members to consider what remains when someone is living with Alzheimer’s disease, as compared to the many losses the individual is experiencing.
This past week I spent some time with residents in the Compass Memory Support at the BayView Assisted Living, a community owned by Senior Living Residences. One of the residents had some difficulty walking into the dining room at lunchtime. The associates quickly offered her assistance and she rested in a chair for a few minutes before continuing in to have her meal.
Another resident, who had watched the scene closely, approached the staff and offered his services. Once he was assured that everything was fine, he went in to have his own lunch.
I spoke to Jennifer Hoadley, the Program Director, about the resident who had approached to offer help, commenting on his composure, true concern, and fast action. She said, “he is a former Boston firefighter and is always right there when anyone needs assistance.” Although he is now living with Alzheimer’s disease, his lifelong call to the service and safety of others remains, unchanged by his disease.

A recent study from the 



