A Caregiver’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Shark Tank star and business mogul Barbara Corcoran is opening up about a deeply personal struggle, caring for her late mother, Florence, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease.

Corcoran says she was prepared for memory loss, but not the agitation and behavioral changes that came with the disease. 

For nine years, she watched as her mother became unrecognizable, experiencing restlessness and outbursts that took an emotional toll on the family.

News 12 spoke directly with Barbara Corcoran, who opened up about the lesser-known challenges of Alzheimer’s caregiving, particularly what the disease can truly look like.

“Symptoms of agitation Alzheimer’s dementia are actually very different than people would believe they were. They involve restlessness, verbal aggression, and physical aggression, and if you’ve ever cared for anyone with Alzheimer’s, those are not the typical behaviors that they have, they usually are forgetful things like that.”

Now, following Caregiver Appreciation Day, Corcoran is sharing her journey, hoping to help other families facing the same heartbreaking challenges.