Source: Audra Melton for WSJ
The author of this Wall Street Journal article, Glenn Ruffenach, is a retired reporter who wrote about retirement planning for the Journal. Four years in to retirement, Glenn’s wife Karen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Shortly after, he became Karen’s fulltime caregiver. Glenn says, “[Our] days revolve almost entirely around Karen, who needs help with everything… Saddest of all, Karen rarely speaks any longer. … All the above is set against a backdrop of paranoia. … Fatigue is far and away my biggest problem. I am always tired, primarily from helping Karen navigate each day, but also from losing sleep over what lies ahead. … Worse, these anxieties, at times, are salted with moments of anger and self-pity.” Much of the article highlights retirement lessons Glenn feels he should have known, such as downsizing, traveling to dream destinations, and purchasing long-term-care insurance. And he regrets not taking his wife to a neurologist earlier.