My wife who is in Alzheimers stage 6 has been living at an assisted
living facility for 5 months and seems quite happy lately in her new home.
She cried often living at home most likely because there was just the two of
us and she was expecting me to be her entertainment director all the time.
I prefer to read, surf the internet, watch the History Channel, and
work out at the gym. We are both 66 and retired to CA from NJ about 6 years
ago before the disease began. It began to take hold soon thereafter
before either of us had a chance to develop new friends. So my wife is doing
ok, at least in her own mind as she has found many "friends" at her residence.

I'm ok during the day doing some volunteer work and going to the gym but that
long period from 5 PM til 9 AM, a span of 16 hours, is taking its toll on me
as I am all by myself then with no one to talk with all that time. And eating
out
alone is no fun. I've never been on any meds but recently my doctor prescribed
high
blood pressure meds. The stress seems worse now that I'm alone. I think
it's because I realize I could be isolated for quite a long time. I can't seem
to find
any lone guys my age to "hang out with". They are all married or attached to
a significant other and hang out with other couples. An old friend living back
East
lost his wife a year ago and after grieving a few months began dating again
and said he never thought he would ever be this happy again. He says he
feels badly for me because I may not be able to achieve true happiness again
for many years because we are quite young yet. We don't communicate any more
because his conversation revolves totally around his lady friends.

Caregivers groups I've found seem to have no one in my situation. The attendees
are mostly young women who have parents with Alzheimers or old women whose
husbands have the disease. There are a couple of men but they are 15 to 20
years older than me and are content to just be home and rest all day.

I've thought of moving back East again but I no longer have relatives there and
old friends have retired and moved to the SouthEast.

Perhaps I'll find some help here.








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