LAMY CENTER CAREGIVER CONNECTION: MEET THE AUTHOR
Written By: Rudi Lamy, MLS, MAS, Consultant to the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging
Hello, and welcome to the Lamy Center’s Caregivers Corner. My name is Rudolf (Rudi) B. Lamy, and the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the School of Pharmacy has asked me to blog about my experiences as a caregiver for an older family member. Now, you may ask – other than being the son of the late Peter P. Lamy, PhD, ScD, for whom the Center was named to honor his work in the field of geriatric pharmacy and health care – what qualifies me to share my story with others in this area?
While my name has and does provide a platform from which I can be heard, I also have a significant amount of personal and professional experience from which others might be able to benefit.
Professional Background:
In accordance with family tradition, my career has been that of an academician. I received my Master of Library Science (MLS) from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Administrative Science (MAS) from Johns Hopkins University. During my career, I have worked as a professional medical librarian at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, the Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, and the American Psychiatric Association in Washington, DC. Later, I shifted specialties from medicine to law, and served as a professional law librarian at the Maryland State Law Library in Annapolis for the last 11 years of my professional library career.
My work has also been published a few times, most notably in volume XLIX, issue 2 of the American Journal of Legal History in April 2007. My father was a prolific writer, and I often served (sometimes credited, sometimes not) as an editor on his projects. Most often, I served as his fact checker for references and bibliographies.
Personal Background:
On a more intimate note, I have been married to my wife since November 1991, though we have been together as a couple for almost 30 years. I am the 63-year-old spouse of an amazing 78 year-old woman, whose problems with memory and cognition began nearly a decade ago. Although she came into our relationship after two previous marriages and with three adult children, I am her primary caregiver.
When our journey with dementia began approximately eight years ago, she had received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment. However, that diagnosis has since evolved into dementia with probable Alzheimer’s disease. We still live together in the house we purchased about 25 years ago, and I do all I can to ensure that all aspects of her health and well-being are taken care of.
Looking to the Future:
I hope that this post has provided you with enough information about both my professional background and personal experience as a caregiver to an older adult who requires complex care. Please check back here often, as you will be seeing posts from me in this space on a semi-regular basis. I truly hope that the information and lessons that I share can be of assistance to you and your families.
Thanks for reading,
Rudi Lamy
Caregiver
Dear Rudy, Thanks for passing on this information. My mother died of complications of Alzheimer’s at age 83 and in 2013 my sister Pat died of the same condition at age 84. In both cases the Alzheimer’s was confirmed on autopsy. I turned 76 in Feb. and so far so good as far as my mental status is concerned. My primary care Doc tells me I’m in excellent shape although I’m just now beginning to recover from an absolutely awful dose of the flu in spite of having had the flu shot. I really don’t recall being this sick ever before and thankfully I’m now on the mend. As a wise person said “growing old is definitely not for sissies.” My thoughts and prayers are with you as you deal with your wife’s illness. Best to you, Jim.