Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter

Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter CNA Nancy Waters feeds Anna Snatchko some pudding after lunch at the Donnell House in Washington. Anna stayed for several days at the Donnell House while her caretaker Betty Brooks took care of her husband after surgery.

George and Anna Snatchko are flanked by eight of their nine children on their 40th wedding anniversary in January 1984. They are, clockwise, from lower left, Roger, Betty, John, Paul, Larry, Mike, Judy and Dave, who is deceased.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Katie Fehl, Anna's granddaughter, gives Anna one of her many pills before lunch.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Betty Brooks folds laundry as she and her mother, Anna Snatchko, wait for the handicapped van to take her mother to the Donnell House in Washington for two days of respit care.

Photo courtesy of Betty Brooks Anna Snatchko

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Katie gives her grandmother, Anna, one pill at a time then makes she she swallowed it before giving another.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Betty Brooks breaks into tears as she watches her mother, Anna Snatchko, get ready to leave her apartment, Burgettstown Apartments, for two days of respit care at the Donnell House in Washington.

Denise Bachman/Observer-Reporter ¬ Betty Brooks shows her mother, Anna Snatchko, how to assemble oversized, plastic Legos to occupy Anna while Betty prepares lunch.

Katie Roupe/Observer-Reporter CNA Nancy Waters visits with Anna Snatchko in the Donnell House. The Donnell House provides respite care to give caregivers a break as well as inpatient care.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Anna lays in bed around 7:30PM waiting to sleep.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Anna Snatchko mixes a deck of cards but hasn't played cards like she once did for several years.

Anna Snatchko poses for a photo in happier days with her daughters, Judy Souffrant of Weirton, W.Va., and Betty Brooks of McDonald.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Time for bed. Betty grasps her mother's pants as she moves her via a walker to the bedroom.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Betty Brooks gets her mother, Anna Snatchko,ready to leave her apartment, Burgettstown Apartments, for two days of respit care at the Donnell House in Washington.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Pills and water as Betty, Anna's daughter, makes sure her mother takes every pill.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Anna gets a kiss goodnight from her granddaughter, Katie, before the light are turned out.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Betty Brooks waits with her mother, Anna Snatchko, outside her apartment building, Burgettstown Apartments, for the handicapped van to pick her up and transport her to the Donnell House in Washington for two days of respit care.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Betty Brooks watches her mother, Anna Snatchko, being strapped into a van vanfor transport to the Donnell House in Washington for two days of respit care.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Ronald W. Wise, with the Ambulance and Chair Service in Washington, maneuvers Anna Snatchko, into the van for a trip to the Donnell House in Washington for two days of respit care.

Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter ¬ Katie Fehl, Anna's granddaughter, gives Anna one of her many pills before lunch.

Katie Roupe/ Observer-Reporter Anna Snatchko takes 13 supplements and vitamins per day at her daughter Betty Brooks' request. Betty believes the supplements and vitamins are helping keep her mother alive even with the Alzheimer's.