12/1/18 Uncertainty is an Everestesque challenge for me with caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s. I am anal retentive about planning/preparing. I am not always/often organized, but I have a method to the madness. I drive the same path. I pile the papers in the same place ala Radar O’Reilly. I study, learn, study more,…
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Musical Reflections
Posted 11/29/18 Reports are from my sis that mom was in a pretty good mood today. Always love hearing her play piano regardless whether she hits all the notes. The power of music to help or enhance memory is stunning. Sadly, mom says more cogent things singing than she does in conversation these days. Martin…
4 Things
Posted 11/28/18 Had a pretty good visit with mom today. She was less anxious than normal if somewhat quiet. She was a tad silly too. Her morning saw a bad bath experience on a non-bath day after failing on yesterday’s bath day necessitated a second try. She struggled on piano today. Piano songs skipped and…
Gathering
11/27/18 Quick note if you are now entering Alzheimer’s-land with a loved one. (That is surely the worst amusement park name idea ever!! Sorry…if you can’t cry, sometimes laughing is just as good 😉 ) Gathering. Sigh… My mom has, for at least the last 13 months, been a gatherer. When you fear losing stuff,…
Is There Something Wrong With Me??
Posted 11/26/18 by Pam: She was very quiet while I was there, tired. Out of the blue while she was holding my hand she said, “Is something wrong with me?” She seemed very aware and concerned. I reassured her that nothing was wrong with her and she was loved very much. She was good when…
Nice Visit
Posted 11/26/18 Had a nice time visiting mom today. She had a challenging day and wouldn’t accept her bath (very common for her). Sad to have to be “given a bath” for a proud person as she is/was. 🙁 By the time my stepdad got there after lunch, she started settling down and by the…
Guilt in Caregiving
11/24.18 I have never been a 24/7 caregiver for mom since her Alzheimer’s arrived, yet I can, at least a little, recognize those in the trenches as kindred spirits. As many (greatly appreciated) kind words as I get for chronicling my visits with mom and the Sweet 17, those who deserve accolades infinitely more than…
Black Friday
Black Friday: Can’t come up with a treatment for Alzheimer’s, but by golly we can produce a $1 one-size-fits-all thong! #EndALZ
Thanksgiving Day
Had a nice family get-together today. Lots of kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and a dog to boot. Challenging Thanksgiving day. 🙁 #EndALZ
Routines
Posted 11/19/18 Mom was stressed out today. A visitor came to talk to one of mom’s friends and mom got confused and frustrated by the broken routine… again. The next hour or so was spent speed-pacing the hallway and crying, trying to find my stepdad. By “normal standards”, it wasn’t a big deal. My stepdad…