“Marcy Sherman-Lewis is the primary caregiver for her husband, Gene Lewis, who has Alzheimer’s.” – Credit Christopher Smith for The New York Times

by Paula Span

“For years, Marcy Sherman-Lewis went to a beauty salon in St. Joseph, Mo., every few weeks for a haircut and highlights.

“It had become something of an ordeal to prepare her husband, Gene Lewis, for this outing; he has Alzheimer’s disease, at 79, and helping him shower and dress, insert hearing aids and climb into the car was a very slow process.

“But she could no longer leave him at home alone. And once at the salon, ‘he just sat, watched TV, slept — didn’t bother anybody,’ said Ms. Sherman-Lewis, 62. Her stylist kindly trimmed his hair, too.

“Then last month, the salon owner took Ms. Sherman-Lewis aside. ‘Marcy, he makes my other patrons awfully uncomfortable,’ she said.”

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