Devotion never wanes in man's care for wife

NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Devotion is routine for Dudley Shaw.
He dresses and cleans his wife, Evelyn, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 10 years ago. He feeds her water from a spoon every hour to keep her hydrated. He prepares her meals, cleans the house and does the laundry.
An estimated 4.5 million Americans have the incurable brain disease. One in 10 Americans has had a family member with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Mrs. Shaw, 90, lost her mobility a year after being diagnosed and was confined to a bed. Four years ago, she lost her ability to speak.
She naps most of the day. Television -- especially cartoons with their bright colors -- runs continuously to entertain her.
"My hope is that she wakes up and watches," said Shaw, 91.
A home care aide and Shaw's daughter help out.
"It makes a busy day," Shaw said. "And then it starts all over again."
His reward is that his wife's blue eyes still gaze into his. During their 67 years of marriage, the couple built a home together, raised a family and endured the loss of three of their four children.
"She wants to stay around and keep an eye on me," Shaw said.