DAUGHTER, 13, EXPANDS ROLE FROM CAREGIVER TO ADVOCATE.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO

Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Thirteen-year-old Lindsey Jordan sings and acts, but for most of her life, she's had a real-life role foreign to most children -- caring for a parent with Alzheimer's.

Her father, Charles, began showing signs of dementia in his late 40s and in 2002, at age 51, was diagnosed with the disease, becoming one of a growing number of people with early-onset Alzheimer's.

"Lindsey doesn't remember her dad ever working," said her mother, Darlene, 50. "All she remembers is him being ill."

Rather than be defeated by the mind-ravaging ailment that has robbed her of her father, Lindsey has expanded her role of caregiver to include that of an advocate.

She has raised awareness about the disease by lobbying Sacramento lawmakers about the importance of funding Alzheimer's research, appearing in an Alzheimer's Association video and sharing her story with others. The family also was featured this year in an article in Newsweek magazine.

In recognition of her efforts, Lindsey was named Caregiver of the Year by the Alzheimer's Association's Southland chapter.

"It's unbelievable to be getting this," she said. "At the same time, if my father wasn't ill I wouldn't be getting this award, so it's kind of bittersweet."

Lindsey will be honored in March at the 16th annual Night at Sardi's at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, an event that traditionally raises more than $1 million to fight Alzheimer's.

"She has been a hands-on caregiver for most of her young life," chapter spokeswoman Barbara Goen said. "She exemplifies the fact that this disease touches young people. It's not simply what many people see as an old person's problem."

Charles Jordan's symptoms began with confusion, misplacing things and being unable to find his way to work as a radiology technician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.

His condition worsened, and looking after him became a round-the-clock job -- not only caring for his personal needs, but "losing and finding him" as well, Darlene said.

Once, the family found Charles more than three miles from their home, walking down Sierra Highway in his slippers and holding car battery cables.

"My son asked, 'What are you doing?' and he said, 'I'm going to find me a car,'" she said.

The family placed Charles into the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles in May after he hit a fellow patient at a Lancaster adult day-care center.

Last month, they made the difficult decision to move him to a nursing home in Chatsworth.

Darlene Jordan, a marketing representative for HomeTown Buffet restaurant, and her husband have been together 23 years and married for 17.

"Lindsey is so strong. Me, I'm an absolute emotional wreck," Darlene said. "In May, I couldn't go out of the house. I couldn't talk to people. Every time someone asked me about Charles, I would start crying."

The teenager now plans to start a support group for other teens whose parents have Alzheimer's.

"Caregiving gives you the opportunity to educate others," she said. "That's one of the good things that comes out of this."

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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If you go

A silent auction and concert to benefit Charles Jordan's family will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10. Call [phone].

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Lindsey Jordan, 13, of Palmdale, whose father has Alzheimer's, has been named Caregiver of the Year by the Alzheimer's Association's Southland chapter.

Jeff Goldwater/Special to the Daily News

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