Couple uses artwork to cope with Alzheimer's diagnosis

WhenSandra LeeGroepler was moved to a care home last year, she was separated from the love of her life and her love of artwork.

RichardWiddifieldand his partner,Groepler, have been togethercreating art for almost 30 years.

In 2011, the pair received some devastating news:Groeplerwas diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

"It was very difficult," said Widdifield. "She had often kind of thought about it, and I wouldn't want to say expected it, but in some ways she did really because of the diagnosis of father years before."

Last year,Groeplerwas relocated from her home inRadisson, Sask., to theParkridgeCentre in Saskatoon for more care.

"It's quite a change to be suddenly, as they say, involuntarily separated,"Widdifieldsaid.

Two Lives: One Love

Now, their love and work is on display for all to see.

"What I've assembled is an exhibition," Widdifield said. "A sort of retrospective of work of both Sandra and myself from the past just about 30 years of being together."

The collection of artwork iscurrently displayedat theParkridgeCentre Atrium, an area in the care homewhereGroeplerfrequents daily.

Widdifieldsaid this was the first time the two had ever had their work shown together.

"This exhibition has kind of brought us together again in a different sense," he said. "It's been great for me to connect again with all the work that we've done over the years and to see them both on display together."

The exhibition, called Two Lives: One Love, will be on display until the end of November.