>>> FOR MANY FAMILIES WITH A
LOVED ONE WITH MEMORY LOSS, THE
TRANSITION OUT OF PANDEMIC LIFE
HAS COME WITH NOTABLE CHANGES.
>> WE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTING THE
JOURNEY OF A RETIRED STILLWATER
DOCTOR FROM HIS EARLY STAGES OF
MEMORY LOSS TO HIS RECENT
DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S.
AFTER A LONG YEAR OF ISOLATION,
LIFE IS DIFFERENT AS SOME HARD
DECISIONS WEIGH HEAVY ON THEIR
MINDS.
>> THE FOX?
>> Reporter: THE FIRST
DIFFERENCE YOU PICK ON IS POP-
UP WITH DIFFICULTY FOLLOWING
THE CONVERSATION.
WHAT HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
STOPPED BY FOR A VISIT, A SCENE
THAT NOT LONG AGO TOOK PLACE
OUTSIDE, SOCIALLY DISTANCE,
OVER ZOOM, OR ON THE PHONE.
>> HE WAS PRETTY DOMINANT IN
HE IS MUCH MORE SIDELINED.
>> WE JUST KEPT TALKING.
>> Reporter: OUR CAMERAS
CAPTURED THOSE DAYS PRE-COVID-
19.
RELIVING THE OLD DAYS WITH EASE.
THE STORIES, FOR THE MOST PART,
ARGON.
SO, TOO, ARE SOME OF THE
MECHANICS OF THE 82-YEAR-OLD'S
YOU ROUTINE.
>> HE DOESN'T HAVE AN IDEA OF
HOW TO USE THINGS ANYMORE, SO,
WE ARE FEARFUL SOMETHING IS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> I SHOULD PICK YOU UP?
FAMILY TOOK HIS CAR KEYS AWAY.
LAST SUMMER, THE LAWNMOWER
PROVED TOO DANGEROUS.
NOW IT IS COOKING TASKS THAT
HAVE SET UP SMOKE ALARMS.
>> IT IS EXHAUSTING FOR MY MOM
BECAUSE IT IS JUST TRYING TO
AND YOU CAN'T KEEP UP BECAUSE
IT CHANGES LITERALLY BY THE
MINUTE.
>> Reporter: AS WE WITNESSED
WHEN PAUL WANDERED IN A FEW
WOULD STAY OUTSIDE FOR A WHILE.
>> IT WAS PRETTY MUCH 24/7 FOR
THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
OF GRANDKIDS' SPORTING EVENTS
OR HOLIDAYS THIS PAST YEAR, PEG
WOULD EXPLAIN THE REALITY
SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.
>> IT HAS BEEN REALLY AMAZING
THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS THIS
MAJOR IN THE WORLD'S DIDN'T
EXIST FOR HIM.
>> Reporter: WHAT DOES IS WHAT
IS IN FRONT OF PAUL AT THE
MOMENT, EVEN THAT DOESN'T LAST
LONG.
>> THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT
THAT IS ALL THAT COMPLEX HERE.
SO, I JUST GO OUTSIDE AND MOW
THE LAWN IF IT NEEDS MOWING.
>> YOU DON'T ACTUALLY MOW THE
LAWN, WE HAVE GOT TO COME INTO
IT.
>> REPORTER:.YOURS HAVE TOLD
THEM THAT PAUL SHOULD BE LEFT
ALONE.
SHE HAS OUTSIDE HELP TO THE VA
TWICE A WEEK AND DOCTORS WHO
TAKE TURNS.
STILL, HEAVY DECISIONS ARE
LOOMING, WITH PAUL POSSIBLY
NEEDING TO MOVE INTO LONG-TERM-
>> THIS SUMMER WAS THE FIRST
TIME SHE HAS MENTIONED THAT SHE
WILL SELL THE HOUSE.
>> EVERYBODY SMILE!
>> WE ALL GREW UP HERE, THE
IT IS A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE.
SO, TO THINK ABOUT THAT NOT
BEING HERE ANYMORE IS NOT REALLY
, HE IS NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE
IN THIS HOUSE WE HAVE LIVED IN
FOR 41 YEARS, DOESN'T FEEL LIKE
HIM.
>> Reporter: PEG ADMITS IT IS
GETTING TOO MUCH TO MANAGE AND
TO THE COUNTRYSIDE PROVIDES ITS
OWN CHALLENGES.
>> EVERYTHING IS DAY BY DAY.
>> Reporter: THEY ARE OPEN WITH
THEIR ADVICE FOR OTHERS.
>> ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED IS
THAT PERSON IS IN THE MOMENT,
AND YOU JUST GO WHEREVER THEY
ARE, AND IT IS OKAY.
>> Reporter: KNOWING TOO MANY
>> THEY CALL ALZHEIMER'S THE
LONG GOODBYE.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS, AN
INCREMENTAL LOSS.
IT IS STEADY.'S
>> THEY ALSO BELIEVE THE FAMILY
SHOULD RECORD THOSE STORIES
WHEN A LOVED ONE WITH MEMORY
LOSS IS TELLING THEM.
BUT AS THEY WITNESSED, THOSE
STORIES WILL END AND FAMILIES
WILL CHERISH THE KEEPSAKE.
WE HOPE YOU WILL STAY TUNED
TOMORROW FOR A TRAIN TO
SPECIAL, LIVING WITH MEMORY LOSS
. EXPERTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS, WE WILL HAVE
TIPS TO HELP YOUR OWN FAMILY
MAKE A PLAN, AND A NEW HOPE FOR