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By Riley Maddox
In 2016, my grandmother stopped paying her electric bill. She began hoarding food in her
refrigerator, and she would often call me the wrong name. As just a 6th grader at the time, I had
no idea what was going on. My parents would tell me that she was “just a little confused,” but
this scared me even more. They started taking her to long, drawn-out doctor appointments and
always seemed a little more disheartened after each one. Finally, in September 2016, my
grandma, Janis Bowers, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. My dad was told
that his mother had only 3-5 years left to live.
Shortly after the diagnosis, she was moved into a nursing home. Visiting her after church
each Sunday became our family’s weekly ritual. We slowly watched as her brain began to regress
until she eventually forgot all of our names and had trouble speaking. Each and every time we
visited her brought a smile to her face. Even though she didn’t know our names or how we were
related to her, she still recognized us as family. Her fight ended in 2020 when she passed away at
just 71.
Watching her battle Alzheimer’s was an experience I will never forget. It was
heartbreaking watching someone I cared about forget who I was, but it was even worse to watch
my dad realize his mom no longer knew him. When I got to college and heard about the
Alzheimer’s Association in Louisville, I knew I wanted to get involved. Through the
organization, I began to learn more about the actual disease and how many people it affects every
year.
I became a volunteer community representative and began to give presentations to others.
I would share my story with the disease and offer comfort and support to others caring for a
loved one with dementia. It was amazing to hear other people’s stories and experiences with the
disease and make meaningful connections with others who are in the same place I was not many
years ago.
Through my work at the Alzheimer’s Association, I became a Community Advocate,
combining my passion for dementia awareness and law. As an advocate, I meet with Kentucky
lawmakers to push for legislation supporting those with dementia. It has been empowering work,
and I love being able to work directly with congressmen to make change happen. My work at the
Alzheimer’s Association has been so impactful on my life, and I hope to continue to give back to
those who need it most.
Riley Maddox is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2027. She is studying political science and criminal justice.