Taking Care of Each Other: The Morin Family Living with Alzheimers (with Peter, Cathleen & Janell Morin)

Peter, Cathleen, and Janell Morin, from the Tahltan nation, join Bernadine to chat about what happens when Alzheimers grabs hold of a family generation after generation, but mostly to describe their loving care of their mother as she makes this journey. So often we hear of older people with Alzheimers unable to care for themselves and/or plagued with a failing memory being left in care homes to wait out their lives. It is a tragic ending to a full life. But with Peter and Cathleen (their sister Nalaine and Dad who couldn’t join us), what is described is an daily act of enveloping their mother in care and loving. Ensuring she is included in family and family is included in her life. It is touching. And sweet. And what we all should be doing. But these siblings have taken it further. Recognizing the legacy of Alzheimer in their family history, they have planned to ensure that they all take care of each other if this is their future too.

Music by Robbie Robertson and Shari Ulrich