Lynne Freiburg led a fiercely independent life, owning and running a small ranch near Hot Springs, Montana, for around a decade before moving to Butte, settling down, then meeting and marrying Wayne Roberts. They were happy and engaged in life for several years—traveling, dining out, having friends and family over frequently.
That changed three years ago when Lynne, at 74, was diagnosed with dementia. She slowly lost interest in things she loved to do, in going places, in eating. Her declining mobility forced her from her bed and into a recliner, so Wayne moved into one, too. They lived in those chairs, ate in those chairs, and slept in those chairs.
As dementia stole more of Lynne’s mind and memory, Wayne became her liaison to the world, one that grew smaller every day. He was the cook, the homemaker, the shopper. He was her interpreter, her protector, her companion. “There is no place I’d rather be and no one else I trust with Lynne,” he said.
This project is a picture story that follows the last year of their journey, shows the tolls dementia takes to the end, and explores the rigors and rewards of caring for an older loved one. It’s a story surely to become more prevalent as baby boomers—the second-largest living generation in the United States—reach ages that require caregiving.
