loved ones with Alzheimer's

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Two separate events bring this to mind for me today. The first was a news item, it was about a elderly man who killed his wife, called the police and told them he had shot her, and then he killed himself. The wife had Alzheimer's, and this husband had cared for her, lovingly, patiently, and well, for several years according to neighbors. I just found this very, very sad. The second, more personal, event, was the lunch date my hubby and I had with a dear friend and her son. This woman has been a dear friend for a long time, her husband died very suddenly three years ago. While the early signs of Alzheimer's were present when the husband died, it has only been since that it has become so very obvious. It is hard to see our friend's personality slipping away, at the same time, it is so 'good' to see her son stepping up and taking such sweet care of her. She often says and does things in public that must make him cry inside, but he is so patient and loving with her. Sadly, we seem to be among the very few of the old friends who stay involved with them. I am wondering how/why people would just drop a sick friend like this. Any ideas???