Husband has dementia and can’t speak. I cry when music comes on or when I see pictures. Do others cry when looking at pictures of a spouse?

I just. Lost my wonderful childhood sweetheart, husband of 53 years to this evil disease. I’m crying all the time. I’ve never been without him before. He was my everything and I don’t know how I’ll live without him. I have 2 daughters and they each have one son and husbands. I don’t want to burden them with my sadness as they are grieving as well . I’m so sad and lost.

When we are losing a loved one to dementia, its known as "the long goodbye". Because that's what it is. Watching them wither away, losing them to the wretched disease, day by day, as they lose themselves and their memories. I went thru it with my mother, and now that I'm arranging her memorial service, it saddens me to see photos of her as a young woman and a young mother, before dementia took over.

"Tears are God's gift to us, our holy water. They heal us as they flow."
-Rita Schiano

I always remember that lovely quote when I cry or hear someone talk about crying themselves. It brings me comfort. I hope it does you too.

You are definitely experiencing a loss of your husband, day by day, so I think crying is a normal response. Is he at home with you caretaking?

Yes. It is terribly hard. But normal.