Kansas City, Missouri — John Ross and his wife Lisa joke that they’re stuck at the waist.
The two have been married for 31 years. They used to work together at a company phoenix pictures.
“She ran the company, she ran the business, and I was just the technician doing all the camera work,” John said.
However, with Lisa’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2020, he had to take on more work at the studio.
John said he noticed symptoms in 2018 but didn’t know what was going on.
“As things progressed, we were forced to close,” John said. “I couldn’t do everything and it was a big emotional adjustment for me.”
It was also a big financial adjustment.
“If you need to hire a caregiver, it will cost you close to $600 a week,” John said.
That’s why he had to pick up his camera, get out of retirement, and open the doors of his photo studio again.
According to the doctor’s instructions, Lisa cannot be left alone.
But their studio is conveniently located next to their home.
“I have a lot of bills and things to keep her here,” Jon said. “I’ve lived in this house for 30 years, so I want you to stay here.”
Treatment and patient care for the disease currently costs $45 billion, and treatment costs are expected to rise to $1 trillion by 2050, according to a report by the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Alzheimer’s disease is a major health crisis, but it is also becoming an economic crisis,” said Michelle Garrard, a community programs expert at the Alzheimer’s Association. Heart of America chapter.
Garrard has seen the struggles of caregivers like John through his work with people and associations fighting the disease.
“I think this has been a big issue, but I’m sure long-term care prices are going up and up because of the pandemic and the staffing shortages we’ve encountered,” Garrard said.
The emotional burden of caregiving is equally difficult.
“One thing you have to be careful about is if it’s your spouse, you can’t go home,” John says. “You can’t go somewhere and rest. You can never get out of that state.”
But with Lisa by his side, John said he wanted to keep taking pictures and moments.
“We still have many years left, and I want to make sure she is 100 percent cared for here,” he said.
The photo studio will have its grand opening on Sunday, September 10th.
The details are as follows.
