By Kellie Cobb

JONESBORO -- Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer's disease is a labor of love, University of Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles told community members Thursday.

The longtime U of A athletic director was the keynote speaker at an Alzheimer's disease seminar sponsored by St. Bernards Development Foundation.

The fight against Alzheimer's disease is a personal one for 82-year-old Broyles. His first wife, Barbara, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in early 2001. She was in the middle-to-late stages of the disease at the time of her diagnosis. Barbara died on Oct. 13, 2004.

"The Alzheimer's Association and the illness that Barbara went through has given me an opportunity to have another passion in life, and that's to help people learn to be better caregivers," he said.

Broyles said he and his family approached the task of caring for Barbara with a positive attitude.

"We made up our mind as a family that we were going to look at it as the best of times, not the worst of times. Sure, it was awful. Anybody who's been through it, been a caregiver, knows the difficulty. But we looked at the good part of it. And we came closer together as a family," he said. "We cherished every minute that we could have with her."

Family members were in constant contact with Barbara. He added that they took turns each day taking care of her.

"We worked in a shift. But we were going to give her the best attention we possibly could," he said.

He said those with Alzheimer's never lose the need to be loved and touched no matter what stages of the disease they are in.

"Touch is so very important. They need to be told how much you love them. ... The longer the disease goes on, the more touching they need. We did that constantly with Barbara," he added.

Broyles was asked many times why he didn't put his wife in a nursing home when she no longer could remember him.

"I wanted to give her the same type of love and treatment she would have given me," he said. "Our family was determined to do that."

Broyles stressed that it is important for caregivers to take care of themselves.

"Twenty-five percent of caregivers go into serious illnesses while they are taking care of someone because of the stress and because of all the problems. You really, really have to take care of yourself," he explained.

Broyles took his experience caring for Barbara and put it in a book, "Coach Broyles' Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers: A Practical Tips Guide." The purpose of the book was to help caregivers and patients have a better quality of life.

More than 90,000 copies of the book have been given out in Arkansas. Broyles added that 500,000 copies are being printed to be distributed around the country.

"It's a labor of love. Caregiving for your loved one is something you'll take pride in. I take great pride in the fact that my family and I stayed with her and took care of her the whole time. ...

"There are millions of people living with Alzheimer's and millions of caregivers who are starting out just like we did," Broyles said. "Chances are, you will meet some of them in months and years ahead. Share your story with them. Share the wisdom and knowledge you gained during your journey. Let your labor of love live on."

In addition to Broyles, other speakers at the seminar included Dr. Bert Price, medical director of St. Bernards Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit, psychiatrists Dr. Cori Burdine and Dr. John White, Dr. Thomas Mulligan, geriatrician and medical director of St. Bernards Senior Services, and Jenny McGee, a licensed clinical social worker at St. Bernards Behavioral Health Unit.

kb@jonesborosun.com