Lou-Ellen's father, Joe, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, leaving her mother, Marilyn, to serve as primary caregiver – a role that left her financially, emotionally, and physically exhausted. And yet, Lou-Ellen's mother very effectively hid that exhaustion from her children. It wasn't until a trip to Florida to visit her parents did Lou-Ellen understand the toll that caregiving had taken and just how unsustainable the situation was. After Joe died, Marilyn developed vascular dementia and Lou-Ellen became the caregiver for her. It was by serving as primary caregiver for her mother that Lou-Ellen came to understand just how difficult caregiving can be and discovered a new-found appreciation for the depth of her mother's love and loyalty.
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