Essentials of Caregiving – Unique Roles of Male Caregivers

C. Byron Cordes, LCSW, C-ASWCM, CMC

Byron is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts in Geriatric Care Management/Aging Life Care, derived from over 30 years in the social work field. He has had his writings and interviews on geriatrics, families and caregiving published nationally. Byron served as the 2012 President of the Aging Life Care Association(TM) (formerly the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers) and is a Past-President for the South Central Chapter. He received his Masters in Social Work from the Worden School of Social Services at Our Lady of the Lake University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Oklahoma State University. Byron is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Texas and holds an Advanced Certification in Social Work Case Management from the National Association of Social Workers. He served as an Assistant Professor at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, is Fellow of the Leadership Academy of the Aging Life Care Association, and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. In 2018, Byron was appointed to the Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders by the Texas Speaker of the House. He additionally serves on several boards including President of the National Academy of Certified Care Managers, Past-President of the Alzheimer’s Association: San Antonio & South Texas Chapter, an0d Past-Chair of the South Texas Adult Protective Services Community Board. Byron enjoys traveling and watching movies with his wife (of 35 years) and their daughter.

Rudy Gomez, Jr, AE, BBA, MBA ; Caregiver and Retired Associate Dean of Finance and Administration, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

Rudy Gomez is a caregiver and retired administrator for the UTHSCSA School of Nursing with 41 years of service in a variety of non-clinical support positions.  He and his wife Barbara are blessed with 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. They were happily married for nearly 51 years before Barbara’s passing in 2023.
Shortly thereafter Rudy and Barbara’s retirement in 2014 their children and other family began to notice subtle cognitive changes in Barbara, which Rudy initially ignored until she began getting lost while driving and seemed to struggle with simple activities of daily living.  Family strongly suggested to have Barbara evaluated.  In 2016 Barbara was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Dementia.  This was the “formal beginning” of their 7-year Alzheimer’s Journey.   At first, because of the negative stigma society attaches to Alzheimer’s, Barbara did not want to tell anyone outside of close family of her diagnosis.  Rudy had no idea what caregiving responsibilities would lie ahead and what struggles and challenges he and Barbara would encounter in navigating healthcare services.  He will share his story and elaborate how Caring for the Caregiver program supported their journey and why he claims this program is “San Antonio’s Best Kept Secret.

Jim Beach is a dedicated professional with a rich and diverse career spanning several decades. He embarked on his academic journey at North Texas University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Education in 1961. Continuing his pursuit of knowledge, Jim attained a Master of Science degree from Nova University in Davie, FL, in 1984.

For over three decades, Jim served the Broward County School System in various capacities, including as a teacher, librarian, media specialist, and instructor for introductory microcomputer classes. His commitment extended beyond the traditional classroom setting, as he also taught computer classes in the Adult Education night program.

Upon retiring from the Florida School System, Jim relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where he transitioned to a role as a librarian within the Texas Prison System (TDCJ) from 1996 to 2001. He played a pivotal role in the opening of the Dominguez State Jail library and managed operations at the female unit in Burnett, TX. Additionally, Jim provided support to other prison librarians as needed.

In 1996, Jim married his wife, Phyllis, and together they navigated the challenges of her health journey when she was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in 2013, followed by Alzheimer's disease in late 2016. Jim became her primary caregiver, dedicating himself to her well-being around the clock until he recognized the need for support to preserve his own health.

In fall 2022, Jim made the difficult decision to transition Phyllis to a memory unit for three months and later moved her to a smaller residential facility due to her health needs. Despite the challenges, Jim remains steadfast in his devotion to his wife and finds solace in the Alzheimer's support group he attends weekly. His resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to caregiving define his character, making him an inspiration to all who know him.

Gary and Sarah Miller

Gary and Sarah live in San Antonio and have been married for 34 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Gary retired from Engineered Air Balance Co., Inc. in 2016.

Sarah is in her last stage of Alzheimer’s and has also been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia. She is currently 70 years old and started showing small indications of dementia when she was approximately 60 years old (2013). Because her older sister had Alzheimer’s, Sarah refused to be tested at first, so she was not formally diagnosed until 2019, even though her family and friends knew for several years.
Gary was her sole caretaker at home until November 25, 2023, at which time Sarah moved into a memory care facility.