HEALTHY LIVING
The heart never forgets
Sharon Zimmer navigates her husband’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis with love and local support. BY LEAH CALL | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Chuck and Sharon Zimmer of Onalaska continue to make memories, even as Chuck moves through the stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Sharon relies on support from friends, family and community organizations to help them continue to “live each day.”
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hen Chuck Zimmer took early retirement in 2017, his primary plans included golfing, traveling with friends and spending quality time with family. Those plans were derailed with a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Plans also changed for his wife, Sharon Zimmer, who suddenly found herself in the position of caregiver. “For me as a caregiver, the challenge I find is I’m one person, but taking care of two. I do everything now,” says Zimmer, forced to take on responsibilities she once shared with her partner. She also had a crash course in financial and legal matters along with learning as much as she could about the disease that stole the couple’s vision for their future. But Zimmer has a healthy attitude about this disease without a cure. “When people think of Alzheimer’s, they remember the final stages, but there are actually seven different stages of Alzheimer’s,” explains Zimmer. “You can live a good life for years if you stay engaged, exercise and eat a healthy diet.” Since the diagnosis, Zimmer has made it her mission to keep Chuck engaged socially and physically. He continues to enjoy his beloved game of golf, and the couple has traveled extensively throughout the United States, though sidelined in 2020 by Covid-19. “We do something every day outside the house—even when I was working
full time,” notes Zimmer, who left her job in late 2021. “The main thing is we are living each day.” THE POWER OF SUPPORT While Zimmer has aptly taken on the challenge of navigating her husband’s diagnosis, she appreciates the support she’s found in the community. “There are so many resources in the community. If you think your loved one is struggling, don’t wait for the storm to happen. It’s better to be proactive than reactive,” she says. One of the first resources Zimmer found was a support group at a local church for both caregivers and those living with dementia. Still emotionally processing the reality of his diagnosis, Chuck opted not to go, but Zimmer did. And she was glad she did. “I learned that I wasn’t the only one in La Crosse County who was under 65 with a spouse with dementia,” recalls Zimmer. The Zimmers found additional support through the La Crosse Parks and Recreation Department’s program Club Connectivity, which meets monthly for the purpose of keeping those diagnosed with dementia active both socially and within the community. It also offers fellowship for caregivers living through the same challenges. Past activities have included an outing to Elmaro Vineyard, lunch at
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