Episode 3

Episode 3

Louise Milligan’s husband Gord was diagnosed with dementia while still teaching and raising two daughters. Louise speaks eloquently about the challenges their family faced and how she was able to use community resources to help.

She tenderly recounts the arc of Gord’s illness over the few short years from pre-diagnosis to death and the tough decisions and transitions throughout their journey with dementia; from leaving work, to sharing the diagnosis with their adolescent daughters to utilizing day programs and eventually long term care.

Louise tells us about the appointment with the family doctor where she first heard the heart-sinking words “Alzheimer’s Disease” delivered in a very brief and clinical way and about how she sought support from the Alzheimer’s Society to ease the isolation and the fear that can go along with that diagnosis.

To prepare for her changing role as a wife and mother, Louise decided to learn more about the disease, it’s progression and what she could do to help Gord and her children by utilizing the great online and human resources that the Alzheimer’s Society has to offer.

Listen until the end of the episode to hear Louise recount her touching last moments with Gord and her sage advice to those in similar situations.