Jessica Phelps

Photographer

Sandwiched In

Follow Hire

Tom Engeman sits apart from the...ndfather, also David.

Tom Engeman sits apart from the crowd at his granddaughter's tee-ball game. Tom has no idea he is at a tee-ball game or that it is his granddaughter playing. Tom doesn't recognize his life anymore. Eight years ago, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In the background, Tom's other grandchild, David, is being held by his healthy grandfather, also David.

Abby Engeman gently grabs the a...n who gave me him?â€

Abby Engeman gently grabs the arm of her father-in-law, Tom Engeman, to keep him from wandering away during her daughter Reese's Tee-ball game. Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's eight years ago and just moved in with his son Morgan, daughter-in-law Abby and their two children. At times, Abby has to juggle both the kids and Tom but says, â€œI donâ€™t think we see it as any special act. We just do it. Itâ€™s family. Whatâ€™s the difference? He did it for Morgan, who I love so much. What wouldnâ€™t I do for the person who gave me him?â€

Tom lights up when he sees his ...f who Tom used to be.

Tom lights up when he sees his reflection in the mirror. Tom likes to talk to his reflection, ask it questions and make funny faces. It is in these moments it is possible to see a hint of who Tom used to be.

Tom wanders aimlessly through t...fault,â€ Abby said.

Tom wanders aimlessly through the house, not recognizing that a baby is crying, and that the baby is his year-old grandson, David. â€œItâ€™s heartbreaking to get frustrated too because we know itâ€™s not his fault,â€ Abby said.

Reese sits on the couch watchin...n his clothes or bed.

Reese sits on the couch watching a cartoon next to her Grandpa Tom, who is dozing. Tom barely acknowledges Reese except when she is making too much noise, which irritates him and he shushes her. Reese, who is five, struggles to understand why her grandpa is the way he is. Her mom, Abby, catches up on laundry. There is always extra laundry for Abby to do because of the messes Tom makes when he goes to the bathroom in his clothes or bed.

Five-year-old Reese often loses...€™s brain is broken.

Five-year-old Reese often loses patience with her Grandpa Tom. She doesnâ€™t understand why Grandpa Tom can eat sweets for breakfast and she cannot. Or why her Grandpa Tom shushes her all the time. All she knows is what her parents have told her: Grandpa Tomâ€™s brain is broken.

Tom Engeman, a 73-year-old form... professional career.

Tom Engeman, a 73-year-old former professor at Loyola University, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His family was first alerted to the disease when Tomâ€™s students started to say his lectures and grading werenâ€™t making sense. During Christmas break, his wife, Susan Riis, took him to see a doctor. After hearing the diagnosis, Tom walked into his office, unplugged his computer and was done with his professional career.

Alyson Camelin, 17, a summer in...'s and Dementia.

Alyson Camelin, 17, a summer intern at the Carol Strawn Center, tosses a balloon around with Tom Engeman and other clients before beginning their daily exercise routine. Tom is dropped off everyday at the Carol Strawn Center, which offers adult daycare specifically for clients with Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Tom and his granddaughter, Rees... their two children.

Tom and his granddaughter, Reese, simultaneously go for a basket in their backyard. The difference is Reese is young and she is learning and building the muscle to throw the ball higher, while her Grandpa Tom no longer has the strength to toss the ball. Tom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's eight years ago and just moved in with his son Morgan, daughter-in-law, Abby and their two children.

Morgan helps his dad wade throu... and always watching.

Morgan helps his dad wade through the pool while his daughter Reese floats along watching. This was the first time the family had taken Tom swimming, and his face broke out into a huge smile as he enjoyed the water. Reese, who doesn't really understand what her parents mean when they say Grandpa Tom's brain is broken, is always curious and always watching.

Alyson Camelin, 17, a summer in...o clean them himself.

Alyson Camelin, 17, a summer intern at the Carol Strawn Center, gently wipes the chocolate off Tom's hands during an outing to Dawes Arboretum. Tom still knows enough of his social cues to be embarrassed at his messy hands, but unaware enough to know how to clean them himself.

Morgan Engeman decided to have ...re his grandchildren.

Morgan Engeman decided to have his father, Tom, move in with him and his family so he could better care for him. It's an interesting dynamic to see his son grow and learn, while his father, who suffers from Alzheimer's, disappears. Tom's disease has progressed far enough he doesn't know the children living with him are his grandchildren.

Tom is prone to wandering aimle...oes too far one day.

Tom is prone to wandering aimlessly, always with the same hunched posture and hands clasped behind his back. He never wanders far, but he does have an anklet tracker in case he goes too far one day.

Tom Engeman is guided by Ruthan...'s and Dementia.

Tom Engeman is guided by Ruthann Boys, a caregiver at the Carol Strawn Center, during an outing to Dawes Arboretum. Tom is dropped off everyday at the Carol Strawn Center, which offers adult daycare specifically for clients with Alzheimer's and Dementia.

Each morning Morgan wakes up, g...own job for the day.

Each morning Morgan wakes up, goes to check on his father, Tom, cleans up any messes he may have made, bathes him in the specially fitted shower, helps him brush his teeth and get dressed before heading off to his own job for the day.

Every night when Tom goes to be... when the time comes.

Every night when Tom goes to bed, Charlie, the family dog, climbs into the small single bed with him. Tom's family decided to get him the smaller bed to make the transition to a medical bed easier, when the time comes.