I promised to care for my mom with Alzheimer's. I'm building a tiny home in our yard instead of choosing a care facility.

Lena Koropey, her mother, and dog Lela.

Courtesy of Lena Koropey

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lena Koropey, 48, whose mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Koropey's mother currently lives with her, but Koropey plans to build an ADU in her backyard and move into it. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease 10 years ago, and her condition has gradually progressed. It's definitely getting harder each year.I'm Ukrainian American, and in our culture, there is a strong understanding that family members care for one another. So, although my mother has a live-in caregiver, I oversee her care and well-being — she let me know early on that that was her wish.In many ways, it feels like carrying on a family tradition. Years ago, when my grandparents became ill, my mother moved into their Long Island home and became their sole caregiver. I am grateful to do the same for her.

Koropey's mother.

Courtesy of Lena Koropey