Elderly man with Alzheimer’s went to school to fight off memory loss, earns a university degree

He knew there isn’t a remedy for Alzheimer’s however there was a method to enhance his psychological health. As an alternative of worrying about reminiscence loss, he fought it off by going to highschool and incomes a college diploma.

Alzheimer’s illness is a battle over 6 million Individuals are preventing. Certainly one of these fighters is 85-year-old Ron Robert.

When Robert was recognized with Alzheimer’s illness, he didn’t discover the information stunning. He has two siblings who have been recognized with the identical sickness.

It was devastating for him to lose plenty of necessary issues reminiscent of his driver’s license however he realized that this was not the top for him.

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He had two selections: to struggle again or do nothing about it. He selected to struggle it off and enhance his way of life. After such realization, he made a serious determination of going to highschool and earn a college diploma, which was on his bucket checklist.

He was anxious to return to highschool at first however he was decided to achieve his purpose. He ready by beginning a strolling regime the place he walked about 5 kilometers a day.

He needed to verify he can be bodily in form to perform quite a few college actions.

“I needed to get a college training,” Robert stated. “I knew I used to be going to be examined and I knew it was long-term. These two issues made me determine college was the best way to go.”

Ron Robert talking to students.
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Although Robert didn’t have a college diploma, he had a protracted, fulfilling profession as a journalist and a radio broadcaster in Western Canada. He later labored as a political advisor for former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

As he anticipated, Robert discovered finding out fairly difficult. He stated he was “studying to be taught once more” within the first two years of going to highschool. Although he understood info, it was troublesome for him to memorize names, locations, and dates.

“In my first 12 months at Wilfrid Laurier College in Waterloo, I went from a D in my first examination to an A in my remaining examination in Political Science,” shared Robert. “It was an actual shock and satisfying, primarily due to the progress it confirmed.”

Ron Robert
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In accordance with Robert’s spouse, Catherine Cornelius, her husband labored onerous via the course regardless of his well being situation. She additionally stated she believed that finding out onerous prevented his Alzheimer’s from progressing.

Certainly one of Robert’s professors, Jeff Preston, was one other witness to Robert’s onerous work and progress.

“We now have this notion that individuals with disabilities like Alzheimer’s are wholly incapable. I believe what Ron has proven is that every one kinds of individuals can achieve a college classroom when supplied with the suitable surroundings and helps to nurture success,” Preston stated.

After three years of perseverance, Robert lastly completed his bachelor’s diploma at King’s College Faculty in Ontario. His household, academics, and friends have been all happy with what he had completed.

Robert on stage during his graduation
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“Once I went throughout the stage, and as I’m getting my diploma, the children all stood up and yelled and clapped,” Robert recalled. “I needed to maintain again the tears. It was one thing else, simply fantastic.”

Robert is planning to pursue a grasp’s diploma and preserve discovering methods the way to enhance his psychological well being and dwell his life to the fullest.

He additionally hopes to unfold extra consciousness and details about Alzheimer’s illness. He needs folks to know that older folks can nonetheless contribute to and take part locally.

For folks with Alzheimer’s like him, Robert has one piece of recommendation: “A dementia prognosis doesn’t need to be a dying sentence. Life goes on; take advantage of it.”

Watch this video to be taught extra about Alzheimer’s illness: