Leah Barker, Neighborhood House Deputy Dir.: "By the year 2007, there will be more senior citizens ages 60 plus than there will be elementary school age children in the state of Utah. A large number of the population we serve suffer from Alzheimer's."

Salt Lake County Aging Services conducted that study about our state's population, and Neighborhood House is just one of a number of facilities, helping Utahns cope with Alzheimer's. News Specialist Carole Mikita has the story of how one couple is living with what more and more American families are facing.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's can be devastating to an individual and his or her family. For 17 years now, Jimmie Hales of Magna has been caring for his wife, Gladys.

Panic and fear, he says, have never been a part of their lives. They have simply handled this one day at a time.

Gladys and Jimmie Hales have always harmonized, from the beginning of their courtship through their nearly 59 years of marriage and eight children.

Her family wanted to document these moments to remember her as she was, because at this point, she had already begun to deteriorate.

Gladys had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

"SHE WAS WHAT YOU CALL SHARP. SHE COULD DO EVERYTHING."

Seven years later, Gladys was physically and mentally weaker, not remembering all of the words to one of her favorite songs.

And less than a year later, she had become more introverted, still remembering the tune but now, not making much eye contact with Jimmie.

Today, 17 years after it began, Jimmie says Gladys never asked her family what was happening to her. But early on, a doctor told her she had Alzheimer's.

"ON THE WAY HOME, SHE SAYS, 'WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO TELL ME? ARE THEY TRYING TO TELL ME I'M CRAZY?' AND I SAID, 'HONEY, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT AGAIN.'"

Caring for Gladys now encompasses all 24- hours everyday. Jimmie gets some help from Neighborhood House, where she goes for daycare on Tuesdays and Thursdays, just so he can do the chores and have a little time for himself.

"I HAVE TO BE THE ONE THAT DOES BOTH FOR THE COUPLE. AND THAT'S ABOUT THE LIFE OF IT. BUT THAT'S OK. I MEAN, IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE."

Jimmie says when he looks back on their early family life, he remembers how tough he was. He has come to realize and recognize qualities about Gladys that he never did before.

"I WAS SORT OF A HARD PARENT AND, I THINK, I WAS SORT OF AN ORNERY HUSBAND TO GET ALONG WITH."

"ANYTHING I DO NOW, IS JUST A PLUS FOR ME, AS WELL AS FOR HER."

Gladys rarely speaks now. But some days, there is a spark of recognition, a window opens in her mind.

Jimmie doesn't feel burdened. He says they hold onto hope, and to each other.

"EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD HAS THEIR TRIALS. AND WE JUST KNOW THAT THE FUTURE HOLDS OUT A BRIGHT HOPE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT."

"WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND WE'LL CARE FOR EACH OTHER. I PRAY THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO HELP HER AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP ME."

Jimmie says Gladys remains the same kind, polite woman she has always been, still saying "thank you" and "excuse me."

He also says he is beginning to think about another kind of change-- caring for Gladys and the home and yard are beginning to be difficult at age 78.