Changes in roles and relationships often happen as the illness progresses and you may need more help with daily activities.

Examples:

• Feelings of being alone
• Changes in who does the chores, finances, and caregiving
• Relationship bonds may grow stronger (or sometimes weaker)
• Loss of job - losing relationships with co-workers or jobs
• Parent the parent (children)
• Feeling unappreciated and at times resented

Examples from others who have experienced these changes:

"Every transition was a major change: loss of driving, movement, thinking, decision-making ability, change in personality... he's not my "husband' anymore. He's someone else I often do not like. Our friends left and I felt totally isolated. When children came, he put on a happy face so they had no idea what was going on for me. The personality change was so gradual over the years I didn't recognize it until it was too late for me."

"Having to say goodbye to so many little things."

"Change in role. I am now my parents' main support rather than them being mine. Watching a well-educated, intelligent man struggle to get a sentence out is tough emotionally."

"My husband changed from being a hard-working farmer who could fix anything and everything to someone who basically didn't know what a screw driver was for or how to change a light bulb. It then fell on me to do these things without making him feel stupid."

"Dad isn't able to do things that he used to. It is sad to see. I spend more time with Dad, or doing things for him. I used to ask Dad for help, now he needs my help. "

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