Woman Shares Journey Through Dad's Alzheimer's Diagnosis

WAUKESHA COUNTY, WI— William Lisocki, 83, still has a sparkle in his eyes when he glances at wife: 78-year-old Barbara Lisocki. Married for 55 years, the couple raised three girls together, according to their daughter, Sharon Manlick.

Lisocki was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2014 and receives care at a nursing home in Milwaukee County. With June being Alzheimer's Awareness Month and Father's Day coming up, Manlick is sharing her father's story with the hope of inspiring others to learn more about the disease.

Lisocki was active with his four grandchildren and attended all their school events and activities. Before his retirement, he worked in shipping and receiving at St. Lukes Hospital in Milwaukee.

Manlick told Patch her dad used to enjoy recycling aluminum cans and then use the money to buy gifts for his wife.

"He is a very sweet and loving man. His smile is super infectious and brightens every room he is in," Manlick said.

Lisocki was a musician. He played the drums and was in a polka band, The Original Premiers. He started playing when he was very young. As an adult he played for weddings and other community events.

Lisocki's family started to notice changes in his memory over time. Manlick said her father used to be meticulous and very organized.

"Everything had its place," she said.

Family members noticed he was forgetting appointments and misplacing items such as his keys and his favorite Green Bay Packers watch.

"Things would all of a sudden go somewhere. We would eventually find it," Manlick said.

In the winter of 2014, Lisocki went to see a doctor and was diagnosed with vascular dementia. People with this condition have had mini strokes and poor circulation to the brain.

For many years, Manlick and her two twin sisters Jean Lisocki and Joan Pawlak, helped their mother care for their father. His condition worsened and he began to forget to eat and was tripping and falling.

"We had to always be monitoring his eating and drinking and if he wasn't hydrated enough it added more confusion," Manlick said.

Lisocki needed round-the-clock care and assistance moving in and out of bed. He went from a cane to a walker and finally to a wheelchair.

In 2017, the family placed Lisocki in a Milwaukee County nursing facility. They visited daily until the coronavirus pandemic shut down visitation.

"It was horrible, we went from going everyday to completely stopping," Manlick said.

The only way they could see their father was by looking through the window. Lisocki would tell his family to come inside and was confused why they could not.

Phone calls and video chats are too difficult for Lisocki. He requires a nursing aide to help communicate to the family.

The restrictions are slowly being lifted and now Lisocki can have two family members in-person visit at one time. The visit has to be scheduled and COVID-19 tests are still required before visiting.

"This year for Father's Day, we are going to bring him chocolate doughnuts, which are his favorite. Also balloons and presents, he loves presents," Manlick said.

Despite the challenges, Manlick feels says she feels blessed and proud to call Lisocki her dad.

"He doesn’t even know how much he continues to teach me to be strong, press forward, and how things could always be worst. I am one of the luckiest people in the world to have an incredible father that unbeknownst to him has changed more people in a positive way then he would ever know," Manlick said.

What Alzheimer's is

Tim Harrington, community outreach coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter, said the disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

"It is the only one in the top 10 who's numbers are rising. There is no known way currently to prevent, treat or cure the disease," Harrington said.

The biggest risk factors for Alzheimer's is age, with the average age of diagnosis being 65.

Harrington also explained that the biggest misconception is that the disease is a normal part of the aging process. Everyone's brains and bodies change as they age, and it's normal to forget where you placed your keys or what day it is.

But for someone with Alzheimer's, Harrington said on a 90-degree day they may go outside wearing a coat, forgetting what the season is.

"It is a physical disease literally attacking the brain," he said.

Raising awareness

As a way of coping, Manlick started to research her father's condition and looked into the Alzheimer's Association.

"It was literally making one phone call and learning all about it. Like what I can do for my mom to help her," she said.

She learned about conferences and an annual walk held in September. This year's walk is Sept. 11 at Frame Park in Waukesha.

"We try to raise awareness as much as we can," she said.

Harrington added there are support groups and educational programs such as how to be a caregiver.

"I have been with the association for seven years and seen the transformation the families have made," he said.

Harrington added the association wants people to know they are not alone.

The Alzheimer's Association have quite a bit going on in June.

• 2021 Alzheimer's Caregiver State Conference June 9th & 10th (see the general education flyer for registration information) aimed at family and professional caregivers. CEU's are available through U.W. Stevens Point
• 30 minute Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia followed by a discussion of the books "My Two Elaines" and Author Marty Schreiber, and "Mom's Gone Missing" and Author Susan Marshall on June 17.
• A session with Dr. James Van Hoven PhD, a Neuropsychologist from the Marshfield clinic who will discuss the importance of Diagnosis in providing support and anticipating future needs.

For more information on resources, events and programs visit the Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter website.