Connie Rock arrives at the PACE CNY day center with a bag of games and books, eager to leave them for participants to enjoy.
“These brought such comfort and joy to my husband as his Alzheimer’s Disease progressed. Now that he has passed, I hope these can help someone else.”
Ken, Connie’s husband of 59 years, first showed signs of Alzheimer’s in 2010. “He would forget names and ask the same questions over and over again. When we received the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, those subtle changes we noticed began to make sense.”
Ken could remain living at home with Connie, but it came with some unique challenges.
“As the Alzheimer’s progressed, things became more difficult. Ken needed someone to be with him at all times to ensure he was safe. For example, I couldn’t even take a 5-minute shower because he would wander or try to eat something he shouldn’t. It was then I knew I needed help.”
In 2022, Connie called PACE CNY after a relative suggested PACE services might be able to help. As a participant, Ken attended the PACE CNY day center five days a week, leaving on a PACE CNY bus in the morning and arriving home in the afternoon.
“Ken would be excited to go,” Connie says. “He enjoyed his time at the day center, and I appreciated the break from caregiving so I could run errands, go to doctor’s appointments, and catch up with friends. Ken being a PACE CNY participant was good for us both.”
Connie is thankful for the PACE CNY team, who brought him joy during a difficult time. “Ken and I were big fans of Halloween, and I remember this past October how happy he was to wear a costume and celebrate with his friends at the day center. When he came home that afternoon, he showed me the mask they had given him to add to his cowboy costume, which made us both laugh. He made some good memories here, and I am thankful for the support we both received from PACE CNY.”