“She’s a very gentle person,” says John Fedoruk, describing Arlene, his wife of nearly six decades. “She still takes care of our apartment, handling the dishes and laundry as she always has. She feels like it’s her job and I won’t argue with that. But it might be my job one day.”
The “one day” that John refers to is the uncertain future of their dementia journey, a path they have walked together since Arlene’s diagnosis in 2022.
Arlene and John Fedoruk are being honoured at the Alzheimer Society of B.C.’s biggest fundraiser, the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, presented by Go Auto, in Delta on Saturday, May 24. By sharing their stories, honourees put a face and voice to dementia, breaking down stigma and inspiring change. You can walk in honour of your community’s honouree or in support of someone in your life who has been affected by dementia. Funds raised help the organization deliver vital programs and services and enable critical research to change the future of the disease.
“We had been married a long time, and I could tell something was different,” John says, recalling when he began noticing changes in Arlene’s behaviour. Concerned, the couple had already sought medical advice, but one particular moment stood out to him.
“She always used to bake a Christmas cake,” John explains. “One year she just forgot to add the flour to the mix.”
This experience reinforced their concerns and played a role in their decision to move from their home in Tsawwassen to an assisted living home in Ladner.
Since her diagnosis, Arlene and John have sought out resources and ways of staying connected with the same enthusiasm. Arlene participated in a drug trial and a study focused on city design for people living with dementia. In seeking more information about the disease online, they found the Alzheimer Society of B.C. and they now both participate in support groups and Minds in Motion®, a social and fitness program designed for people living with dementia and their care partners.
“I feel comfortable there and I like the exercises and meeting other people,” Arlene says. “I just go along with whatever everybody wants to do.”
Talking about his own experience of being in a support group for caregivers, John says, “Early on, I didn’t really know what we were going to do. But now, in these groups, I’m learning. I try to understand what the person living with Alzheimer’s disease is going through. We don’t really know how frustrating it will be for them and that’s hard.”
“People like Arlene and John Fedoruk deserve to have access to meaningful dementia support that meets their needs, which is why Go Auto is so thrilled to be continuing to be provincial presenting sponsor for the Walk,” says Michael Hladun, Senior Vice President for Go Auto. “It’s incredibly important for people across the province to understand the impact that dementia has on their communities – but also, how they can help.”
To help make a difference in the lives of people like Arlene and John Fedoruk on the dementia journey in your community, visit WalkForAlzheimers.ca.
If you are affected by dementia, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. can help. Call the First Link® Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033 or visit alzheimerbc.org.