Caregivers vs. the healthcare system: An unbelievable story of perseverance and hope

A lot has happened since Ted Snyder was Barbara’s guest on Dementia Discussions last April. Today he tells Barbara how his wife Rena’s condition has progressed from mild cognitive impairment to late-stage Alzheimer’s; how she is often unresponsive, although she always responds well to music. Unstable on her feet, after Rena fell several times in the long-term care facility, Ted moved her into a small “board and care” in March. When she fell and broke her hip in September, Ted and his family were faced with a difficult decision. What happened next was a situation he had never anticipated. It’s a stunning example of the highs and lows of caregiving, and how the healthcare community can be your biggest impediment or a generous and unexpected ally.