SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, co-ordinated in this province by the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan (ASOS), took place across Canada on May 24.
More than 20,000 Saskatchewan residents suffer from this disease and that number increases every year. Estimates indicate that number will double in the next 13 years.
Gail Goertz is one of those 20,000. Her illness has led to much sorrow in her family. Her family includes her husband, Lee, three children – Trista, Cole and Laine – and six grandchildren.
To show support for Gail, to create awareness for this illness and to raise money for Alzheimer’s research, the whole family took part in a walk held in Regina. The exception was Lee, who did a lot of sponsoring rather than walking. Lee is a cattle rancher and was pretty beat up after a season of calving. But his place in the walk was taken by his 88-year-oold mother Kay.
This was the second straight year the whole family has participated. Trista, a social worker, gave a speech at the 2024 walk and so the entire family attended to hear her. Kay went along to hear what her granddaughter had to say and this year, as the family travelled to Regina, Kay shocked everyone by stating that she wanted to do the walk.
Knowing that they would not be able to change her mind, they worked on a compromise. They suggested she walk the one-kilometre route, rather than the 5K one.
She accepted and joined the rest of the family while her son Lee provided the cheering.
In total, this year’s walk in Canada raised a record-breaking $6.8 million dollars. That was helped by an anonymous donor from Moosomin who contributed $50,000.
Kay, who has had a very close relationship with her-daughter-in-law, first began noticing some differences in Gail 10 years ago when Gail was only 55. Alzheimer’s was a somewhat unknown illness to the Goertz family and, with help from the resources offered by ASOS, they came to the realization that Gail had early-onset dementia.
Every instance of dementia is different. Lee was determined that, as Gail’s condition worsened, he would be her primary caregiver. He was able to do that for seven years. It was very difficult for him to watch his wife as her condition deteriorated.
But the time came when he realized that he couldn’t care for her around the clock. Lee had a farm to run. Gail loved to drive and time and time again, Lee would come home to learn that she had attempted to take the car out for a drive. He tried hiding the keys but somehow she always seemed to find them. When she couldn’t drive, she’d get angry.
Those early years, she was angry a lot. Lee and Trista were mostly the target of her anger. Gail even began checking Lee’s phone to see if there were messages on his phone from family members regarding her health.
Lee also became increasing concerned about Gail turning on the stove and leaving it on, or going outside without his knowledge in the winter, dressed insufficiently for the cold weather.
So, three years ago, Lee and his family made the most difficult decision they’ve ever had to make: she needed to be placed in a home where she would be cared for around the clock.
The first step was the Gainsborough Health Centre for a couple of months of respite. While there, the family awaited a decision as to where she would live permanently. Their hope was that it would be close to home in Carnduff.
Carla Laurent was very helpful in making that happen. In June 2022, Gail moved to Borderline Housing in Carnduff, where she has been living ever since.
Even though she lives so close to Lee, he and his family still grieve. Lee is thankful that he is able to visit her every other day, taking her a Diet Coke, which is her favourite drink, and some Werther’s, her favourite candy. But those visits are hard, as there are indications that she no longer knows who he Is, which is very painful.
Lee is very, very thankful to the staff of Borderline Housing who take care of Gail. He appreciates that they are able to do for Gail what he is unable to do.
The whole Goertz family has learned much about Alzheimer’s the hard way over these past 10 years. When asked if they have any advice for others who are beginning to face this disease in their homes, they answer by saying to get help at the very first sign. Although there is yet no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are helps that can slow its advancement.
This is something that they wished they had known 10 years ago.
