Kiara's story
Meet Kiara, a beacon of strength. Her caregiving journey embodies resilience and unconditional love.
Kiara's Dad lives with Alzheimer's. She says:
"Dear Dad, I love you, and I miss you so much already. Let me start off by saying that I hope no one ever has to deal with this horrible disease. If you or someone you know is currently dealing with a loved one with Dementia/Alzheimer's, know that it is hard and that it's okay to feel sad, overwhelmed, and frustrated. You are not alone.
The past year has been extremely challenging as he hit his final stage of Alzheimer's. We've had the most visits from the EMS on our block. My mom and I constantly argued daily because we had differences on how to take care of my dad. Culturally, family stays with you till death. Keep in mind, I'm 32 and an only child trying to manage my relationship, career, social life, and parents became overwhelming- and I suffered with mental health.
On October 17, 2023, at 10 am, my father was admitted into Long term care. The decision to make this call was difficult, but after running back and forth dealing with two sick parents, I couldn't do it anymore. I needed help. The thought of him going into assisted living was positive until I signed forms to finalize it. I watched him sit with other seniors as I said goodbye. I cried.
"Kiara's story of being a care partner is one of over 30,000 right now in Alberta. By 2050, there will be over 118,000 dementia care partners who will together work over 161 million unpaid hours."
Do you have a personal experience with dementia that you would like to share? Regardless of your connection to dementia- whether you are personally living with dementia, or caring for someone with dementia, a friend is diagnosed, or more- your story is uniquely valuable. By sharing your experience, you contribute to reducing stigma, advancing dementia communities, and providing hope to others who are facing similar challenges.