Dec 28, 2014 2 min read

Rudy Keron was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, and he moved into the Washington County Health Center in 2012 after his wife, Judy, could no longer care for him by herself.

Judy said that Rudy, 74, has been doing well since we met him in the Alzheimer’s series’ first installment in March.

“He’s kind of quit fighting with (the staff) about changing him and getting in the shower. It seems like he’s kind of settling in,” said Judy.

Aside from Alzheimer’s, Rudy has no health problems and he eats normally. He continues to stroll the hallway in the health center’s Alzheimer’s unit. He usually carries a stuffed animal with him.

Rudy, a combat photographer in Vietnam who worked at Allegheny Ludlum, enjoyed music, woodworking and drawing. He was mild-mannered and fun to be with, Judy said, but Alzheimer’s has caused him to become angry during certain situations. He no longer talks much, and he does not remember family members.

“The impact it takes on the family is an everyday wear-down. My concern is always getting that phone call saying that something happened,” said Judy. “I don’t want to be too far from the phone. They think they can walk, but they can’t, and they end up falling, so that worries me.”

Judy still visits Rudy regularly and ate Christmas dinner with him before she went to their daughter’s house to celebrate the holiday.