Alzheimer’s Care for Allan Ott

Some of you may know Allan Ott from the eight years he served on the Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners or the six years he served on the Board of Directors for Cloverland Electric Cooperative. Some may know Allan from his life’s work as a licensed residential builder or from his time volunteering as the Manistique Farmers Market manager for the past thirteen years. Others (like myself) met Allan through his wife, Kerry, who works for the health department. And to some, Allan is a good friend or a beloved family member who they have known for a long time.

What some of you may not know is that Allan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in May 2022. Kerry first noticed changes in Allan back in early 2020, but Allan refused to talk to his doctor about it. In early 2022, Allan finally agreed to see his doctor who then referred him to a neuropsych specialist. After lots of testing and a full cognitive assessment, Allan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and frontal lobe dementia, which affects the language center of the brain. In Allan’s particular case, his ability to speak, read, and write has been compromised. Sadly, Allan has also lost his most basic carpentry skills so he is no longer able to do the work he loves or even help Kerry with basic tasks around the house. For someone with a master's degree and years of building experience like Allan, this is a tremendous, rapid loss of abilities. Allan also, at times, does not even recognize his wife or daughter - the two people who he has loved and adored for many years.

While all of this by itself is devastating enough, a POA on Allan was unknowingly taken out by a family member while Allan was visiting. Allan has no recollection of this interaction, and Kerry has incurred many legal fees in trying to undo the POA. Kerry is left to navigate through both the emotional and financial trauma to their family since Allan’s diagnosis and his unfortunate manipulation. Due to circumstances out of her control, medical and legal fees have reduced their savings to move downstate to seek better care options for Allan. Kerry would like to be able to provide Allan with the care he needs and to improve the quality of life for her and their daughter, Hannah.

I started this GoFundMe to bring awareness to their family's struggles and to try to help ease the financial burdens they are facing. Kerry is a brilliant and caring person who has been struggling a lot lately - often silently and out of sight of others. I invite you to offer support to these dear friends and faithful public servants as they navigate through the uncharted waters of Alzheimer's. Every donation will be of help and comfort to Allan and his family, so please contribute if you can and share widely so we can help the Ott Family receive greater care downstate.