Full Time Care for Mama Rissi

My name is Christine Ertz. I was introduced to my boyfriend’s mother Mary a little over a year ago. Many of you may know my boyfriend, Matt. He is a local DJ and promoter that has been putting together amazing music events in Iowa for over 15 years. Matt prides himself on the fact that his music brings people together and makes them happy. He got this love and hard work ethic from his mother, Mama Rissi.
Mary, 2007.

What many of you may not know is Mary has been fighting Alzheimer’s disease since 2011, with the past year being a time of loss and the most challenging year of their family’s lives in so many ways.
Mary, 2016.

At only 58 years old, Mary has been living her life completely disabled.  She can no longer care for herself. Eating, walking, talking, using the rest room, taking care of her own personal hygiene all pose major challenges for her.  Mark has been caring for her day and night (some very sleepless nights) with the help of his sons Matt & Don for over a year now.
Mary with sons Don (left) and Matt (right), 2017.

Although love and the comfort of home is what Mary longs for, we’ve come to terms with the facts; the safest place for her is now in a full time memory care facility.

At her age, under 65, it has been difficult to find a place that will accept her, or any form of insurance that will cover any of her expenses. Assisted living facilities & social workers are relaying the message that we’ll probably need to have Mary in full time care for a month or two before she will be able to qualify for state assistance or facility Medicaid.

To have the care she deserves and the comfort she needs to live out the rest of her life safely, the cost would range from $4000-$5500 a month.

She is in the “donut hole” of social security when many folks are still working. Mary has worked diligently for the past 45 years. She has contributed to our society, she has been “Mom” to dozens of Matt and Don’s friends, as well as a wonderful wife to Mark.
Mary with husband Mark, 2013.

Her situation is a clear look into the problems within our country’s medical care dilemma.  She’s in between a rock and a hard place. She needs help.

Mary spends her days at Milestones Adult Day Care while Mark is at work.  The cost of this, in addition to her medical bills quickly eat up Mark’s salary from his full-time job at Transamerica and all of Mary’s SSI income.
There are zero funds available for the full-time memory care that Mary has needed for nearly a full year now. Her doctors and her family fear for her safety while she is home without nursing staff, as she simply can’t be left alone for even a few minutes without supervision.

I have spent many days thinking about what a sweet woman Mary is and how hard it is to see the Rissi family go through this.
Mary with granddaughter Dru, 2016.

To know she’s needed full time care for over a year , which her family just can’t afford, is heartbreaking. I have thought over and over and over about what I can do to help.
Mary and myself, 2016.

I hope the answer is through you. I know we can’t stop this disease, but maybe with everyone’s help we can raise enough money to get Mary into a full time memory care facility where she will be safe and cared for. I would like to raise enough funds to pay for two full months of care for Mary. Once she is there, we will be able to work with the facility staff to get her facility Medicaid which will then cover her until the end of her days. 

Thank you for taking the time to read Mary's story. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to seek me out! Again, thank you so much for your love and support. It means more than you'll ever know.