By Matthew Eaton
For Sharron Hobbs of North Bay County, caring for her mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s, taught her to embrace the disease in a way she would have never imagined.
“It doesn’t matter that the sky is purple, that they need to go home to their childhood home,” said Hobbs. “We would ride around the block so many times that she felt like she was going home. Or we would make PB&J sandwiches for the children she could see but I couldn’t, because they were hungry. You have to embrace it, don’t correct it.”
Hobbs herself was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has used that same advice to enjoy everything life has to offer. When she eventually had to give up driving, she chose to accept what she could not change.
“I am choosing not to give up the privilege but embracing the freedom that I don’t have to worry about it or fight about it with family later,” said Hobbs. “If it’s not essential to my life, I need to give it up. Things that create stress, anxiety; I need to walk away from it.”
According to new research from the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, more than 3,500 Bay County residents aged 65 and up are living with the disease. Florida has the second highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s in the U.S., with more than 580,000 Floridians living with the disease supported by 827,000 unpaid caregivers.
Serving as a caregiver for her mother and now living with the disease gives Hobbs a unique perspective. She offers this advice.
“If it isn’t detrimental to life or health, it just doesn’t matter,” she said. “Their reality is their reality and it is very real. When I finally got my head around what that meant, it was so powerful. Life got easier when we went with it.”
For many, caregiving can be overwhelming and individuals in the role often report experiencing higher rates of stress. According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 66% of Florida caregivers reported at least one chronic health condition, 29% reported having depression and 14% reported being in poor physical health.
Practicing self-care is vital to ensure both the caregiver and the person being cared for can have the best quality of life. Services like respite care, adult day care, and support groups can ease the challenges of caregiving. Many of these are available at low or no cost to Floridians through state and local programs. For more information, call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s, an event held across Florida to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s, has been a place of support for Hobbs.
“Doing the Walk has been helpful and supportive,” she said. “When I was a caretaker for my mother, people would say they would be better off dead. I don’t see my life in that way. I still have a lot to bring to this world.”
Join others impacted by Alzheimer’s for Walk to End Alzheimer’s happening in two locations on the Emerald Coast. The Niceville Walk will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 7 at Bluewater Bay Golf Club. Register at act.alz.org/NicevilleWalk. The Panama City Walk is on Sunday, October 15 at Florida State University Panama City. The event begins at 2 p.m. with the ceremony and walk starting at 3 p.m. Register your team at alz.org/EmeraldCoastWalk.
