Stories from the Orlando Senior Help Desk

Sidney was in a panic. He had taken his wife, Helen, to the mall to go shopping and have some lunch. He paid the bill at the restaurant and turned around. Helen had disappeared. He franticly looked around the area and called her name. He couldn’t find her anywhere. He had just looked away for a moment. How could this happen? He contacted mall security who found her 20 minutes later.

Helen had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease eight years earlier. The disease had been progressing, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. Sidney had trouble dealing with the changes in his wife of 60 years. He came from a generation where wives took care of their husbands and that had always been true in his marriage. He was at a loss on how to handle his ever-changing life and keep his wife safe. He didn’t know how to take care of her properly. They were 80 years old facing new, overwhelming challenges every day.

A call to the Orlando Senior Help Desk started Sidney on his way to the solutions he needed. First he was referred to a home-health company to provide an aide to give Helen the care she needed and make sure she did not wander away. Helen had always been a social person, so an adult day care was recommended to get her out and active. For Sidney, the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center’s support groups were recommended to help him understand Alzheimer’s better and help him cope with his ever changing life.

This may not have been your story but everyone has a story. As life continues to bring changes, the Orlando Senior Help Desk is there to help you. Navigating senior services is often confusing and overpowering. Visit our website at http://www.orlandoseniorhelpdesk.org to help you understand. If you need a referral for senior services, give us a call at 407-678-9363.