Glen Campbell's Wife Recounts Her Husband's Battle with Alzheimer's Disease

The famous American singer, songwriter, guitarist, TV host and actor, Glen Campbell died of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 81. In an interview with People, his widow Kimberly Campbell shared her experience with managing her husband's deteriorating disease, and also spoke of her challenges as a caregiver in hope that others will understand and learn from it.

According to Kim, Campbell was diagnosed in 2010 with Alzheimer’s disease. She said it was the most frightening moment of her life. However, her husband still had a positive outlook. Despite knowing his condition, he was still passionate about his work. In fact, he even went on tour, performing in jam-packed concert halls all over the country.

His battle with Alzheimer’s was fully documented from the onset of his disease until the end of his battle, which his doctors fully encouraged. Because it involved music, it helped exercise Campbell's brain. The documentary film was entitled Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me. The film was also his personal choice since he wanted to do something to help raise awareness of the disease and find a cure.

How his personality changed with the disease

Kim recounted her journey with her husband's Alzheimer's disease as both an emotional and physical challenge. She recalled being asked by Glen many times if they were married. He even stopped calling her by her name as if she was a stranger. At times, he even became hostile, so much so to give Kim a black eye. It was a blessing in disguise that she was younger than him by 24 years so she was quicker to avoid it. Through time, she had learned how to manage these sudden outbursts.

Kim shared that when having the disease, family members should not take everything personally. The surprising behaviors and incidents with the patients are part of the disease and patients should not be defined by them.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, meaningful conversation with Alzheimer’s disease is considered difficult, if not impossible. This is very crucial in the later stages of the disease. Patients who lose their cognitive and expressive abilities tend to be frustrated, which is why some patients lash out.

Putting him in a long-term care facility

Because of Campbell’s worsening condition, he was admitted to a long-term care facility at Abe’s Garden. Kim recalled that he was at peace in the facility, even cheerful at times. She even found a support group for those whose husbands were at the facility, living with Alzheimer's disease.

From facing the disease alone, she now faced it with a loving and encouraging community. She admits to being depressed for some time, but she would dance it off with others at a ballet class when it became stressful. The community she built at Abe’s Garden helped her as well, as she was fighting off her own symptoms of depression.