To the editor:

My family would like to thank all those who have helped take care of my mother over the last seven years. My mom, Elsie Miller, was born in Michigan in 1919. On top of being a wonderful mother and wife, she was a music teacher and was the leader of Elsie Miller’s Orchestra. She provided many hours of musical entertainment all over Michigan and was happy to do it. She came to Alaska to live with us in 2002. 

Elsie passed on Nov. 6 after a long battle with dementia.   We have been able to provide a home for her that she could be happy in only because I have had the support we needed to do this. 

On behalf of my sweet mother, Elsie, we would like to thank the State of Alaska for the programs that help support our elderly. You can tell a lot about a community about how we care for our most vulnerable, and I am proud of how we support our elderly citizens. It is not always easy, but all you have to do is reach out and ask for help and it is there. A sincere thank you also goes out to the Adult Day Services Center in Palmer and its employees — from the caregivers to the cooks and, of course, the wonderful van drivers. 

Thanks as well to Cindi, my care coordinator, and Gale, who works for the Alzheimer’s Resource Agency of Alaska, for all the wonderful employees she sent to our home to help with my mother; to Dr. Wade Erickson for taking my mom as a Medicare patient and treating her with the respect and dignity she deserved. And last, but not least, thanks to the many women who work for Alzheimer’s Resource Agency who have helped me take care of my beautiful, sweet mother over these years right up to the end. 

Thank you, DiAnn and Jayde. You knew when I didn’t that I needed you, and you insisted on staying way past your time to be with me and Mom right up to the end. 

From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you for helping us to make my mother’s final years as happy and as peaceful as she deserved.

Kelly Sidebottom

and family

Palmer