{ PARTNERS IN A JOURNEY } “Longtime News 8 anchor Maureen McGuire has enthusiastically accepted the appointment as this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s volunteer committee chair.”
of all of the resources, just knowing they were available provided comfort and helped us live through the toughest moments of my dad’s decline. My parents were a team and truly best friends. My father never stopped worrying about mom, even with Alzheimer’s. She was grieving as my dad continued to decline and they could no longer have a conversation. When it became clear my parents would not be able to stay at their home, the imminent move took a toll on my mom. Even if you are prepared for it, when it happens it’s a whole new level of letting go. A few months after my parents moved to an assisted living facility, my father passed away. His death had a profound effect on my mother. Two years after, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. 200
ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE :: MARCH/APRIL 2019
Q. How did your father’s diagnosis affect you?
A. I became committed to caring for my
father. I spent a lot of time with him. We would go for walks and laugh a lot. When he could no longer drive, I would take him out to dinner and to church every week. It was an honor for me to help him keep his routine going. We would just hold hands. If I felt he was in distress, I would reach over and touch his hand. This defined the six years of my caregiving. My father’s disease consumed me emotionally and physically. It became important for me as a caregiver and as a journalist to tell stories about Alzheimer’s, caregiving and elder issues. Two of my stories featured my own parents—one about planning for crises that change your life and the other
about participating in Alzheimer’s research. It was personal to me and I was comforted by all the feedback I received from viewers.
Q. Why did you decide to join the Alzheimer’s Association as a chair of the Rochester Walk to End Alzheimer’s?
A. After my father passed away, my entire
family got involved with the Walk, raising money for care, support and research. My father wanted to take part in a clinical trial knowing it wouldn’t benefit him, but might benefit us or our children or our grandchildren. He was committed to finding a cure or a treatment that would stop the disease in its tracks. It’s our family’s legacy to make sure that Alzheimer’s comes to an end.