Dec 28, 2014 2 min read

Elaine Pfender still has her quirks, and she flashes a smile without much coaxing. One December day at Senior LIFE in North Franklin Township, the adult day care program she attends weekdays, she wore a floppy “Christmas cook” hat and playfully asked a photographer to take her picture.

Elaine, who has always been known for her congeniality, doled out kisses on cheeks and “I love you’s” to people who, presumably, were strangers to her. But the 67-year-old woman from McDonald is slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s disease, according to Fred, 69, her husband of 45 years. He said while she still has her good days, she has become more confused since readers were introduced to her in June, and often becomes anxious and inconsolable.

He has given her ample opportunities to feel helpful and independent – like washing clothes, even if she leaves out the detergent – but those options are dwindling. When Elaine recently went into their garage and gave herself a manicure with a bottle of spray paint, Fred let it slide. The second day she did it, he had to put deadbolts on the doors.

There’s the wandering, too. Elaine is physically healthy, walks constantly and dances at every chance she gets. But she also tends to walk out of their front door without warning or disappear at the grocery store, which makes it harder for Fred to take her places.

Fred said he thinks her pacing is fueled by anxiety, but he is fortunate to have a daughter who lives at home and helps look after Elaine.

“When we get home, she’ll do nothing but pace,” he said of Elaine. “And then if my daughter is working late, you can see her getting nervous, and the pacing is faster. Then when my daughter comes home, she slows down.”

Both Fred and Elaine now go to Senior LIFE five days a week instead of three, and they are happy with the care they are receiving. Fred said he doesn’t know what the future holds, but he’s taking it one day at a time.

“We’re hanging in there,” he said. “It’s getting rough, but we’re doing the best we can.”